Abby is learning to drive. Which is great and huge. Except Bridget thinks she can drive, too. Recently Abby drove to work and afterwards this happened:
Bridget was moving her booster seat to the drivers seat.
Me: Bridget what are you doing?
Bridget: I can drive, just like Abby
Me: Bridget you cannot drive
Bridget: Yes, I can drive
Me: Um, no
Bridget: Mom I got this, I can drive. I know how
Me: Bridget you are not old or tall enough
Bridget: That’s your issue Continue reading
A year or so ago Abby got an Alexa for Christmas. Have you seen that car commercial where the mother-in-law is showing up and the daughter-in-law tells Alexa to start the coffee and the roomba?
Me: Alexa clean the bathroom
Abby: mom she’s unplugged and she doesn’t do bathrooms Continue reading
In the summer of 2016 I wrote about how I blinked and Abby went from sitting backwards in a car seat to sitting next to me in the passenger seat. I wondered how the heck did that happen? When did my baby become a tween in control of my car radio? I miss having control over the radio, truth be told.
This fall Abby went from the passenger seat to the drivers. I blinked and my baby went from needing me to chauffeur to in just a few short months she will be asking me for the car keys.
I’m good with that, I have always been okay with Abby is X age this is supposed to happen. It drives my mom nuts that I don’t place a lot of significance on the “first day” of whatever milestone Abby is achieving. I usually reply, I’d be worried if she didn’t!
What I am having struggles with is having a teenager with a permit and answering her questions. The endless questions. Continue reading
The Year was 2019 and Bridget owned it.
In January of 2019 she rang in the New Year, touched the snow for the first time without panicking and rocked a Bat Mitzvah. Continue reading
Last week Bridget’s class was doing a Pen Pal project. Her class had partnered with other Unique classrooms to send Christmas Cards to one another from across the country. The parents in her class were asked to send in our family Christmas card.
Except I haven’t done a Christmas card since she was two and tortured by the fat man in a red suit. Continue reading
Every year I am asked, “What do you want for Christmas?”. This is always hard for me, because I don’t like to say what I want. I want to be happy with what I have. This year was different. When I have already been given the perfect gift and do not need anything else.
This was the first year Bridget hosted a birthday party. Continue reading
Dear Teacher (ESP/Therapist),
This is not about how much we know you care about our children. We know you struggle with them (some days) and you never give up on them. It’s about the process in reporting their progress that hurts. It also doesn’t make sense.
How can a standard report card accurately state how my child (or any child with an intellectual disability) is doing in 4th grade? Continue reading
As children get older, it becomes more difficult to be inclusive. Bridget’s age, it’s kind of forced inclusion. Every kid gets invited to the birthday party. Kids spend most of their day in one class, so a teacher is more apt to see what child needs the extra attention and what child just needs to visit the take a break chair. As her sister ages through the school system, I notice there are fewer children with special needs in her circle. Continue reading
I always miss summer. Other than hockey season, summer is my favorite time of the year. Yet this year, summer was so special for Bridget it makes autumn harder for me to accept. This year Bridget didn’t just rock summer she conquered more milestones that I could have imagined back in June. Continue reading
How often do you look at your child’s IEP? I know I used to look at it right before an IEP meeting, then I would review it afterwards, sign and move on. I learned my lessons over the years.
For those who are just entering the IEP there are a few facts to remember. Continue reading
(Un)Diagnosed and still okay 