When my older son Aaron with Asperger’s was young, I immersed myself in ever-evolving goals for him, including school, social skills, comprehension, extracurricular activities and his emotional development. The holiday season always presented such fun and excitement while planning for how to make our Hanukkah celebration meaningful. Our joy expanded when we had our second […]
The journey to finding out if your child has a serious disease or condition can be long and overwhelming. When my younger son confided he was having scary symptoms at 13 years old, our hearts froze with fear while keeping reassuring smiles on our faces for him. Trying to stay calm and positive that it […]
While struggling to do everything we could to help my son with high functioning autism/Aspergers progress and meet the ever changing goals we had for him, my husband and I wrestled with how and when to tell him his diagnosis. When he was little, we were so focused on his progress it was hard to […]
I will always remember sitting at the small table with my son’s kindergarten teacher in his classroom, knees knocking, heart beating, as she gently discussed the concerns she had about my son. She handled the moment so sensitively when she suggested I have him evaluated, but it is never easy to hear something could be […]
Preparing a child or teen with chronic illness or medical complexities for back to school poses a unique level of anxiety and challenges. Worrying about how the school year will go for their health, whether the teachers and school will accommodate their needs, and if they will enjoy a satisfying social outlet like other children. I […]
When your child is sick in the hospital, it feels like you’ve entered an alternative universe. That heart ache hit me like a tidal wave while caring for my desperately ill son in two children’s hospitals for eight months straight in 2015. Scared witless as Crohn’s Disease spread inflammation throughout my son’s digestive track, all I […]
May 2015 was the worst Mother’s Day and birthday of my life. Watching over my desperately ill younger son lying in a hospital bed with a maze of tubes coming out of his nose and arm. There is nothing more painful for a Mom than watching your child suffer and worrying about how to make him well. Crohn’s […]
Spending precious time with extended family during the holidays is filled with joy and traditions but by its nature can bring anxiety to children who are shy or have special needs. Starting with the customary hugs and kisses and obligatory, “look how much you’ve grown!!”, can bring unintended discomfort at the intensity of attention and sensory […]
Any time your child is sick in the hospital is beyond hard. But during holidays usually so full of happiness and family traditions, it is a true test of the heart. Add to the mix worrying about giving your other children and family members some semblance of a holiday leaves you feeling literally split in […]
If parenting isn’t a snap on an average day, it can truly be a marathon when your child needs to be in the hospital. Whether a short one-time stay or a more serious, lengthy situation, here are pragmatic and coping tips to prepare for and help your child through a hospital stay based on my experiences. […]