5 things I want you to know about my non-verbal child

The question I got asked this week was, “Is she deaf?”  As a mom of a daughter with special needs, I’m used to answering questions people have—or reading peoples’ faces when they have questions but are too uncomfortable to ask.  This was the first time I had been asked this particular question, but when I […]

Special Needs

Cerebral Palsy warrior

As a first time mom of a daughter with Cerebral Palsy, I didn’t spend much time at playdates with other kids Jaxlee’s age. I preferred to hang out with my friends who didn’t have kids or friends whose kids were significantly older than mine.  Looking back, I realize this was an act of protection and […]

Special Needs

How friends can support special needs parents

As a first time mom of a daughter with Cerebral Palsy, I didn’t spend much time at playdates with other kids Jaxlee’s age. I preferred to hang out with my friends who didn’t have kids or friends whose kids were significantly older than mine.  Looking back, I realize this was an act of protection and […]

Special Needs

How friends can support special needs parents

What it’s like to not speak

I am proud to be a mother of a child with Cerebral Palsy. From our stint in the NICU when she was born, to learning how to communicate using her AAC device, and to her horse therapy, Jaxlee has moved mountains. I am constantly impressed by what she can do. And also… it’s hard. Every […]

Special Needs

While I wouldn’t consider myself a tom-boy, I grew up playing sports, riding bikes outside with the neighbor kids, and taking dance classes just like a lot of my peers. When I pictured myself raising kids, I pictured the same things for them. After I had my first baby, the visions of these childhood activities […]

Special Needs

Horse therapy gave my daughter a childhood

While I wouldn’t consider myself a tom-boy, I grew up playing sports, riding bikes outside with the neighbor kids, and taking dance classes just like a lot of my peers. When I pictured myself raising kids, I pictured the same things for them. After I had my first baby, the visions of these childhood activities […]

Special Needs

Horse therapy gave my daughter a childhood

How my daughter speaks: tips for SLPs supporting parents

*This blog post is a follow up to last week’s blog on Jaxlee’s journey to communicate with us. If you haven’t read it, start here! Most of my readers know this but in case you are new here, let me introduce you to my girl Jax. She is our amazing firstborn daughter. She’s beautiful and […]

Family, Special Needs

The other night I was sitting around a dinner table with a couple of new mom friends. We were taking care of ourselves– out at a rooftop restaurant, sipping on drinks, and talking without interruption. It was everything we all needed: the food, the drinks, and the connection.  But as we kept talking and getting […]

Family, Special Needs

Friendship and connection as a special needs mom

The other night I was sitting around a dinner table with a couple of new mom friends. We were taking care of ourselves– out at a rooftop restaurant, sipping on drinks, and talking without interruption. It was everything we all needed: the food, the drinks, and the connection.  But as we kept talking and getting […]

Family, Special Needs

Friendship and connection as a special needs mom