Please note, I would never ask a therapist, teacher, ESP or doctor/nurse work during this unprecedented pandemic.  However something is happening to families whose child has special needs and we have to talk about it.  

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Bridget is …. Bridget. In some ways she is the easiest child ever. She is easy to please, she more or less goes along with whatever we are doing.

She is also rigid. She expects on Tuesday to see Kelly and Maria. On Fridays she expects to go to the Y for swim.

She wishes every day was Friday. Continue reading →

Please note, I would never ask a therapist, teacher, ESP or doctor/nurse work during this unprecedented pandemic.  However something is happening to families whose child has special needs and we have to talk about it.

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This weekend we had a sense of normalcy.

Bridget made coffee cake. We did laundry (not as much as most weeks, bonus!). David and I went for a hike in the woods (a lot more people in there than normal) and reconnected as a couple. Continue reading →

Please note, I would never ask a therapist, teacher, ESP or doctor/nurse work during this unprecedented pandemic.  However something is happening to families whose child has special needs and we have to talk about it.

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If we were having a glass of wine, I would tell you how this third week of the pandemic is going.

I would tell you that being a working mom is still tough, but it is much easier to get to work in the morning when you don’t have to make lunches or fight with the kids to get out of bed.

I would tell you that my children have been in pajamas the entire week (they have bathed), but the amount of laundry has significantly decreased. Continue reading →

Please note, I would never ask a therapist, teacher, ESP or doctor/nurse work during this unprecedented pandemic.  However something is happening to families whose child has special needs and we have to talk about it.  

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I saw this on FaceBook the other day and felt it best described Autism Awareness Day:

Bridget lives on a routine. She does not understand why she is not going to the Y on Friday. She thinks she is on school vacation because the bus hasn’t come. She knows it is Thursday and is wondering why she does not have therapy. I’m lucky because she is not so rigid that this is causing a behavior (yet). She is used to our life which is generally barely controlled chaos. School was her savior because the routine never fluctuated.

It’s not an easy life, living with a child who has autism.  With the “social distancing” and the disruption to all of our routines, I’m beginning to understand how vital structure and routine are for Bridget. I’m hoping it will make me more patient and understanding as we navigate this new reality.

Well played Autism Awareness Month, well played.