Holiday tips help me every year, because the holiday time can hit us out of the blue. One minute it is summertime, and the next we are seeing Christmas trees. I see it every year. I know I feel a wash of anxiety as I think of the holidays, mostly from all the things that […]
Helping Kids Cope When Missing Loved Ones at the Holiday Table
I used to think the holidays were a time to focus on the now—have fun however that looks, make our memories, and keep going even when we’re missing loved ones. That’s still true, and planning ahead can help. If it’s useful, here’s a short, gentle read on preparing your child for the upcoming holidays. Why […]
Back-to-School Tips Special Needs (Stress-Free Strategies)
A new school year is here, and these back-to-school tips special needs families can rely on will help you ease the transition. Whether you just waved at the bus or you’re already a few weeks in, these simple strategies can lower stress and set your child up for success. As you read this, you may […]
A Parent’s Perspective: Summer Planning
Quick answer: The best way to start summer planning is to plan as best you can. Research camps and activities, vet them by phone, visit in person, share your child’s needs (including the IEP), start slow, and use simple daily communication so you can catch overload early. (For more on the school-to-summer shift, read A […]
Being the Expert on Your Child- Anticipating Emotions and Planning for that
Quick answer: When multiple changes hit at once, I try to (1) keep her schedule to a degree, (2) keep talking and communicating, and (3) anticipate emotions, including delayed reactions. Graduation for her brother, Michael. Emily, her beloved sister is home on vacation. Elizabeth has her new summer schedule (her work with the schools change […]
Accepting Change and Embracing Growth Together: When Your Child’s Interests Shift
Quick answer: Special needs interest shifts can be normal for a child with special needs to love something for a season, then like it less later. It can be normal for a child with special needs to love something for a season, then like it less later. I try to reframe it as growth, keep […]
Transition from School to Summer: A Parent’s Perspective
Quick answer: To navigate the transition from school to summer, talk with the school team about summer focus areas, share the plan with private therapists, schedule therapies early, tuck “work” into everyday moments, and keep notes so fall planning and IEP updates are easier. My beautiful Elizabeth is 26 years old, soon to be 27. […]
A Parent’s Perspective: Navigating the Therapy World
Quick answer: For us, therapy worked best when (1) the therapist was a true fit for my child, (2) the schedule was sustainable long term, and (3) we planned for homework and built it into everyday routines. Elizabeth has been in therapy since she was 2.5 years old. She is now 26. That means she […]
Avoiding Backsliding: The Active Effort of Practicing Good Habits
Quick answer: When routines change, even strong skills can “backslide.” Practicing good habits helps us most. I STOP, pause my cues, and remember Elizabeth can do it and knows she can. Practicing good habits has been on my mind a lot lately. I am about 4 months out from the fall that broke my leg. […]
A Parent’s Perspective: The Journey of Feeding & Mealtime
Quick answer: For Elizabeth, feeding was less about food variety and more about the motor planning steps of self-feeding. What helped was breaking utensil use into small steps, practicing often, and staying patient as dyspraxia and sensory needs made habits hard to change. Mealtime today: slow and steady As I watch Elizabeth eat her dinner […]