Category Archives: Bridget

I was THAT mom

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I recently received an e-mail from a mom who is just beginning her special needs journey.  She googled a few terms and this blog showed up in her search (wow!). As I read her e-mail I was suddenly taken back to that place. The place where I was completely overwhelmed and wanted Dr. Google to explain what was wrong with my child.

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I remember looking into this face and feeling so overwhelmed and ill-prepared to deal with a child who had health issues.  Not knowing in that moment that this would actually be the easy time. A time when we were cocooned with doctors and nurses just a call bell away.  Continue reading →

The Kitchen Table

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There are so many subjects that are very difficult to talk about. Most of us remember being told never to talk politics or religion with friends–it is probably the fastest way to be unfriended. I admit to hating that concept; to even have the idea that we cannot talk about issues. I believe that fear of discourse leads to polarization.

Yet I know I am guilty of that thought process.  There are many topics I won’t even broach with my husband because I know we cannot have a reasonable discussion.  Instead we will each take to our corners and refuse to give an inch. We are always so sure that we are right (hint: I usually am!–Kidding!).  Continue reading →

It was a treat!

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Have you ever heard of Trunk or Treat? I thought it was a crazy idea, truth be told. I mean really, what kid doesn’t want to roam a neighborhood and go trick or treating? A parking lot seemed (I admit) kind of lame. As with most things, having a Bridget in my life changed my position.

Bridget has never been able to trick or treat with success.  Unless we count her second year, but really she just hung out in the stroller. She was content, if a bit frozen.

1917357_1203211877843_5088253_n Continue reading →

Wanting normal

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Although the pain fades, it never goes away.  I will never forget the fear I had, the moment I realized something was different with Bridget.  Having to take her to the ER on her fourth day of life and bargaining for her life.  I just wanted her to live.

Now “I just want her to be normal” Continue reading →

It was a Black Day

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There are not a lot of Halloween books I have ever read Bridget.  She loves the Big Pumpkin, but only when accompanied by the audio book, not in my voice. Then a friend sent me, Black Day by Marcus Sikora.

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Continue reading →

Friendship

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Bridget made a friend.

A for real friendship.

One not based on her IEP, her placement in a Special Education class.

A friendship not because her mom told her to be nice to the girl that’s not like the rest of the class. Continue reading →

It’s love…

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Love, we all want it. Some of us don’t realize how much we need it. I know I need reminders that love comes in different moments of my life. Sometimes I have to take a moment and give thanks for the love I am so very lucky to have in my life.   Continue reading →

If only…

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If only there could be a conversation, rather than a debate about gun control. Let’s take the politics out of the conversation. Instead of having talking points designed to “stir up the base” what if both sides just took a moment and created a dialogue. If only we took out the extremes and found the middle ground. Imagine instead of reading this:

Pro-Gun Control: The NRA is killing your children and we must ban all guns
Anti-Gun Control: The Liberals are taking your guns and your children will be killed

Neither statement is true, in my opinion.  The Pro/Anti monikers could be interchangeable with Anti-Gun and Pro-Gun ownership.  Let’s take off the labels and consider instead the conversation went like this:

Person: I’m concerned about the amount of gun violence in our country. I feel there must be something we can do, as a society, to make our homes/schools/towns safer.
Person: I’m concerned about that as well (aside–who wouldn’t be?).

Imagine how the conversation would progress if we started as common stakeholders in our community’s safety? Continue reading →

Why are we not taking action?

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I have a license to carry a firearm.  So does my husband. So do many of my friends. So know this at the tart: I promise I am not trying to take away your right to possess a firearm.  What I am trying to do is make our legislature pass common-sense measures to make our society safer.

Consider what we, as a society, generally do when faced with viable threats:

A man boards a plane with a shoe bomb. We now take our shoes off at the airport.
Children suffer injuries in car accidents. Nationwide standards are created for proper restraint systems.
Drunk driving kills 25,000 people in 1980. MADD is formed and works with legislatures to pass laws to decrease drunk driving deaths by half in 2013. Continue reading →

Be a part of the problem

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Recently in a Facebook group I was messaged by a participant that I was “part of the problem”.  This person and I agreed on the topic but not the solution to the issue (more to come on that 10/21!). Here’s the thing:

I want to be a part of the problem.

If I’m not then I cannot be part of the solution.  Continue reading →