I’m a crunchy mama. I make almost all of our meals from scratch, as much as possible from out own chemical-free garden, and I have lavender essential oil on hand at any given moment. I am a smoothie connoisseur, flax seed makes me happy, I take supplements, and prescriptions, side by side. I’m an experienced… Continue reading Research, Experts and Essential Oils

Change, change, it’s the season for change! Well, change is inevitable at any time of the year and in any phase of our life. If you have children, double the amount of change! Our year is filled with them – September, the holidays, winter break, the return to school in January, spring break, returning after… Continue reading 4 Ways to Help Kids with Special Needs Adjust to Change

Before I had kids, I loved going to the grocery store. I would get a frothy drink at the Starbuck’s and roll down the aisles at my leisure. I never carried a grocery list. I’d throw in some goat cheese, a baguette, hummus, peanut butter, bananas…maybe a pint of ice cream or two. None of… Continue reading The Grocery Store Tradition I Am Sad to Lose

Our son Ben was diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism at his one-year-old checkup, and from that day forward, he has taken a thyroid supplement every single day. In addition, he has numerous other health complications as well as an Intellectual Disability (Down syndrome) and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). This combination of medical and developmental diagnoses makes… Continue reading Tips and Tricks for Giving Medicine to Kids

The answer is a resounding “Yes.” You, as a parent, are entering into the parenting scene with your own areas of strength and weakness, and sometimes they match up with your child, but sadly, sometimes they don’t. This can lead to feelings of helplessness and lack of control, which can be traumatizing and distressing at… Continue reading Can the Stress of Raising a Child with PTSD Result in a Parent with PTSD?

The first topic in dinner party conversation is the weather. It’s easy and safe and vague and everybody has an opinion. Except, I don’t attend dinner parties so very much, so let’s shift that to the exchanges over the cash register with the check-out lady at Target. It usually goes something like this: “How about… Continue reading Let’s Talk About the Weather

By Lillian Flakes, originally published on DifferentDream.com Do you know what friends every caregiver needs? Today’s guest blogger and special needs mom Lillian Flakes discovered the ones she needed at the beginning of her parenting journey. Today she describes the three friends every caregiver needs, the ones she’s grateful are part of her life. For… Continue reading The Three Friends Every Caregiver Needs

The Occupational Therapist called us back for my son’s weekly appointment. As we wove our way through the halls, she asked Ben to lead us to her room. Ben took a wrong turn right out of the chute, and before his second step toward the incorrect door, I had my hand on him, to remind… Continue reading In Order To Help My Son I’m Stepping Back

Asperger’s Disorder is what we used to call a ‘milder’ form of Autism. That is, the young man or woman has developed language and can use it effectively.  However, according to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition), it is now known as High Functioning Autism (HFA) or Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1. These… Continue reading How to Help Your Socially Isolated Child with High Functioning Autism

Because the tracheotomy bypassed Charlie's vocal cords, he learned early on that there is a myriad of ways to express your wants and needs without words.