In September of 2014, I wrote the following post. It was hard to write then and it’s hard to share now. Not because I don’t believe it to be true – I do, fervently – but because I worry that I’m not the one who should be saying it. But I am. Because this time … Continue reading
{image is a giraffe in a party hat with text reading, “Giraffe Party.” It is the profile picture for my friend, Jennifer’s public Facebook page. Click on it. Go ahead, it won’t bite.} Dear Jennifer, There’s been something that I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while now. The words have played again and … Continue reading
{image is a photo of Brooke on Christmas morning, moments after opening her new phone, using it to take pictures of her Kai-LAN figurines.} In August of 2014, I wrote a post responding some comments that I’d received on Facebook when I’d referred to the fact that we’d taken Katie’s phone away for three weeks. … Continue reading
When we got home from Brooke’s chorus concert last night, I posted the following on Diary’s Facebook page: Brooke’s friend, Becky, who is not in the choir, came to the school tonight to see Brooke sing. Becky, like Brooke, is autistic. Sitting through an hour-and-a-half-long band and chorus concert is not an easy feat. But she … Continue reading
Earlier this week, I posted the following on Facebook. I talk a lot here about why assigning functioning labels to human beings is pretty much crap. I talk about the fact that labeling a human ‘high functioning’ dismisses their very real challenges while calling another ‘low functioning’ dismisses their very real abilities – often along … Continue reading
{image is a photo of Brooke, taken by Katie last weekend. She is squatting in the sand and looking back over her shoulder smiling.} Saturday … Brooke and I are at the mall. It’s not going well. In fact, it’s going pretty damned not well. She asks to go into the toy store. I know … Continue reading
{image is a photo of Brooke at Surfside Beach on Nantucket, dancing with the sea.} For years, I lamented the moments in which my girl, in the word I’d have used, “disconnected.” (I hate this next sentence, but the truth of it cannot be denied.) When my girl, as I was so sure she did, … Continue reading
. {image is a photo of an extremely cool retro convertible packed with everything needed for a trip to the beach, including a dog. it’s what came up when I googled “car packed for a trip” I sort of love it. Note: Our car will look nothing like this.} I. Am. So. Excited Seriously. It’s … Continue reading
Last night, as my dad drove us home from the amusement park, he said, “Brooke, we’re about three minutes away from home now.” In another minute, he said, “Brooke, about two minutes left, okay?” As we got close, he said, “We’re going to go around the river, up the hill, and then around one bend. … Continue reading
“Look, Mama!” I follow the little arm to the very end of an outstretched finger. I look into the distance to see what she is pointing at. “What do you see, baby girl?” I am nearly breathless. “I see the blue house.” I can barely contain myself. “I see it too, Brooke! Yes! The house … Continue reading
