How Music Lessons Helped

September 24, 2017 Leave a comment

james-performs-with-daniels-music-foundation-concert

The picture is old, but the content is recent on NYMetroParents.com, featuring my latest story about James’ favorite place to rock out. Click here for the full article.

How To Help Your Special Needs Child Fly Solo

September 3, 2015 1 comment

The Central Park Zoo

Stressing out about getting onto the plane (click on the article for happier times). Stressed about getting onto the plane (click on the article for happier times).

Please excuse the lack of writing lately, it’s back-from-vacation and back-to-school time! Which means, of course, that I have quite a bit to share with you if I could just find the time.

In the meantime, please check out my latest article on childmind.org, about how we prepared and sent James on a cross-country flight. Alone.

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Categories: General

Monday Minute: James Has A Cell Phone And Knows How To Use It (Kind Of)

The Central Park Zoo

640px-LowesMeyerlandHoustonTXThis summer, we bought James his first cell phone in anticipation of him walking alone to high school (just across the street) this Fall. He seemed to get the hang of it fairly quickly, and has developed a strong preference for texting versus actually talking. And as you all know, it’s sometimes hard to gauge emotions through a text…

Today I pulled into the loading zone at Lowe’s to pick up an already-paid-for order, and noticed that Ian and Donovan had both fallen asleep. I made a snap decision. “James, stay with the boys for just a second,” I said, turning on my flashers. “I just need to wheel the cart out and load the van, but text me if either of them wake up or if there is any kind of emergency and I’ll be out in a split second.”

“Sure thing Mom,” replied James. He slipped his phone out of his…

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Categories: General

This Week In Texas

The Central Park Zoo

As summer approaches its midway point, our Texas experiences are not slowing down!

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The Chicken Adventure, Part 3: Two Birds With One Stone…. aka Chicken Therapy

The Central Park Zoo

wpid-wp-1435724053497.jpegMy 4 year old son has Aspergers, and let’s just say that despite our best efforts his social calendar mainly involves his siblings so far. His sometimes incessant ramblings about math, Minecraft, and National Geographic combined with a tendency to tantrum if “the rules” are not followed leave his preschool peers alarmed, confused, annoyed or a combination of all three.

Despite my certainty that Adam is destined for greatness someday, I do sometimes worry that he will be lonely, which is why his enthusiasm for our pet chickens came as a delightful surprise. But what has been even better is our chickens’ enthusiasm for Adam.

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Categories: General

Monday Minute: Are You Sure You Missed This?

The Central Park Zoo

wpid-wp-1433377357705.jpegDue to popular demand, I have decided not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  Though The Foorce may be left behind in NYC, Mondays and Monday Minutes are definitely still happening here in Texas. And with more kids than ever before, I figure more kids = more Monday Minutes, because everything’s bigger in Texas, right?

And yes, I know it’s not a Monday – let’s not get picky here.

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Ian (runs in, pointing to his chest): Mooommmmm, Adam drew a spot on me! 

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Categories: General

This Week In Texas

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Reader beware: this week’s photos contain graphic material that may be unsuitable for some viewers. I know I was unsettled.

This guy FLEW across the room the other night as I approached him armed with a bottle of Windex and a roll of Viva. He was like "Seriously? That's all you got?" I am only slightly embarrassed to admit running back down the hall whimpering loudly enough to wake up two children. This guy FLEW across the room the other night as I approached him armed with a bottle of Windex and a roll of Viva. He was like “Seriously? That’s all you got?” I am only slightly embarrassed to admit running back down the hall whimpering loudly enough to wake up two children.

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Categories: General

The Chicken Adventure, Part 2: Fred, Hank and Fluffy

The Central Park Zoo

wpid-wp-1429761219114.jpegThe kids had done their research, so as we headed out to get our long-awaited chicks from SeaBreeze Hens there was some bickering about whether Black Australorps or Americuana chicks would be the best, based on the virtues of “being too big for a hawk to eat it” versus “laying blue and green eggs.” We picked up a sack of chicken nuggets to commemorate the occasion (and to prevent hanger) and arrived just in time to feed some baby goats. Did I mention my kids love Seabreeze Hens?

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Categories: General
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