tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107315062012-01-27T09:29:29.619-05:00On raising a son on the autism spectrum, progressive politics, pop culture, and coffee addiction.MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.comBlogger6921100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-63321964199108092242011-10-26T13:23:00.004-04:002011-10-26T14:19:50.151-04:00

I have the coolest friends ever. Some of my very cool friends are working on the coolest project ever - Flummox and Friends, a live-action video series designed to help kids with social impairments develop the skills and understanding they need to navigate the complex world of peer relationship. It's fast-paced.  It's engaging.  It's clever. It's exactly what Bud - and millions of kids like

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-5984901397135824342011-10-21T19:00:00.002-04:002011-10-21T19:14:24.215-04:00

A friend of mine is teaching a Creative Nonfiction course this semester and he's asked me to cover a couple of classes while he's out of town. He wants me to focus specifically on blogging and the aspects of writing creative nonfiction in the blog format that make it unique. I'm delighted to have the opportunity - and not just so I can be the cool, fun substitute teacher - but I could use the

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-15918058715003851872011-10-19T18:34:00.000-04:002011-10-19T20:33:23.911-04:00

Two great tastes that taste great together. Click here to listen to Melissa Block's recent interview with Dierks Bentley on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. In it, Dierks talks about his latest single, "Home" - a song that pays tribute to the U.S., not by glossing over its troubles, but by acknowledging them. It's a song that reminds us that our country was founded on struggle

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-2502356382143626562011-10-06T18:02:00.006-04:002011-10-08T07:41:24.731-04:00

I have to admit, I'm surprised by the intensity of my reaction to the news of death of Steve Jobs. I'm devastated. I'm stunned. But, of course, I know that his death really wasn't a surprise. We all knew that it was coming, right? What was I expecting? Did I think he would show up unannounced at the next shareholders meeting with "one more thing," as he pulled the cure for cancer out of his

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-83917057654698152612011-09-11T17:30:00.008-04:002011-09-12T12:32:24.003-04:00

It's been a hard week. I've written before about my dad's Alzheimer's and about the beautiful relationship that he and Bud have. Both of these things have been weighing heavily on my mind this week. My dad fell on Tuesday. He was alone in the yard when it happened, so we don't know the circumstances, don't know how hard the fall was, don't know how long he was down, don't know what he had to

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-30299683821453060762011-09-11T17:17:00.003-04:002011-09-11T17:53:12.106-04:00

I've been thinking a lot today about the post I wrote a year ago on September 11.  The messages in it are helpful to me today, as I confront the bittersweet realities in our lives right now.  I'm re-posting it here in its entirety and, like everyone else in the country today, I am remembering. This post originally appeared at Hopeful Parents on September 11, 2010. Some weeks ago, when I

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-41313159136849275332011-09-08T08:33:00.004-04:002011-09-11T17:55:14.781-04:00

I've gotten a lot of great feedback about the series of posts I wrote about talking to Bud's fourth grade class about autism.  The initial post - A Hairdryer Kid in a Toaster-Brained World - has been especially well-received. I've also gotten feedback that the posts are difficult to find and that people stumble upon them after they Google something like "talking to kids about autism" and are

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-13673974485543508222011-08-28T21:13:00.006-04:002011-08-31T15:42:08.902-04:00

We're prepared. I'm not talking about Hurricane Irene, though we were, indeed, prepared for that, too - the lawn furniture in, the kitchen stocked with bottled water, the counters covered with flashlights and batteries, the cell phones charged, the bathtub filled to the top in case the pump house flooded.  Luckily, though, we survived Irene unscathed. The real preparation that has had our

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-72992869245907997492011-08-28T21:11:00.001-04:002011-08-28T22:04:11.918-04:00

I have a whole lot of partially-written blog posts bumping around in my brain.  I compose them in the car, I compose them in the shower - I compose them virtually everywhere I go.  I just don't compose them very often when I'm sitting at the keyboard.  There are plenty of reasons; I have plenty of excuses - and some of them are even good ones.  But the upshot is this: I'm just not writing as

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-24565420037868498142011-08-14T14:27:00.002-04:002011-08-15T23:31:16.422-04:00

UPDATE, 8/15:  Nathan has been found.  He's safe and the autism community is breathing a collective sigh of relief. Nathan Carman, a teenager with autism, has been missing from his home in Connecticut since Thursday morning.  Family members think he may be trying to get to New Hampshire. Please spread the word to friends who live in the Northeast to keep their eyes open for him. 8/15 - Edited

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-77866769851947468512011-07-06T21:04:00.006-04:002011-07-18T10:21:02.066-04:00

My high school drama director passed away today.  He was a Catholic priest teaching in a public school - irreverent enough to be cool, but stern enough to be respected by a theater full of unruly, hormonal teenagers. I probably haven't seen him in twenty years, but I still feel his influence in my life every day. He taught me how to challenge myself and how to take risks. He taught me the value

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-38009345704127494422011-06-12T11:05:00.001-04:002011-06-12T11:14:05.366-04:00

I've tendered my resignation at Hopeful Parents, and will no longer be appearing there on the eleventh of every month.  I want to be clear, though:  it's not them; it's me.  It was an honor to be affiliated with that talented collaborative of writers - people writing honestly about the challenges and heartache inherent in raising a child with special needs, while continuing to stay focused on the

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-82700076787034874912011-06-10T18:31:00.006-04:002011-06-10T19:20:13.551-04:00

Dear IEP team members, I'd like you to have a copy of the e-mail I sent this afternoon to Bud's IEP team - a combination of classroom teachers and special ed staff from the elementary school he is leaving and the middle school he will enter in the fall.  It's the kind of letter that every special needs parent wants to be able to write, but - based on what I've heard from parents whose IEP

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-87366724000476113492011-05-17T20:41:00.004-04:002011-05-17T20:45:46.974-04:00

Yes, I know. I know that the 11th of May has come and gone.  I know that I made a commitment to post at Hopeful Parents on the 11th of every month.  I know. But knowing it and doing it are not the same thing, are they?  And I didn't do it.  I know. Have you read this post from Jess at Diary of a Mom?  She talks about pulling back, saying no, scaling down expectations - other people's

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-26131143468528900912011-04-11T23:33:00.000-04:002011-04-11T23:33:54.641-04:00

I'm at Hopeful Parents today with an easy way to affect the political landscape in five minutes or less. Click here to get started...

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-70528924546112790242011-04-02T23:37:00.006-04:002011-04-03T12:38:33.647-04:00

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. Homes and buildings and landmarks around the world are shining blue lights in its observance. All across Facebook and other social media, links are being shared, videos are being posted, status updates are being written, and avatars are being changed to shining blue lights. But so what? Does it really matter? In a world full of wristbands and ribbons and

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-7184803697694751872011-04-01T14:04:00.007-04:002011-05-17T17:03:20.537-04:00

When autism speaks in my life, it doesn’t come through a single channel or through the filter of a single organization. Often, it doesn’t even use words. When autism speaks in my life most powerfully, when autism speaks directly to my heart, autism speaks to me through Brooke, and Miss M, and GP, and Andrew, and Nik, and Ben, and Oliver, and Charlie, and John, and Sam, and Charlotte, and Isaac,

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-91864625321270674972011-03-22T19:22:00.001-04:002011-03-22T19:25:52.645-04:00

Last week, the incomparable Jess from Diary of a Mom posted an open letter to Barack Obama, urging him to participate in the Autism Speaks "Light it Up Blue" campaign, by having the White House join other landmark buildings around the world to shine blue lights on April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day, to show visible support to the autism community.This week, a slightly more polished version,

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-77151510087025793532011-03-11T20:55:00.002-05:002011-03-11T21:00:15.595-05:00

I'm ranting writing at Hopeful Parents today.And I'm, duh, winning!

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-43693921656786864642011-02-18T12:37:00.005-05:002011-02-18T17:45:12.431-05:00

N.B.: I typically wait a few weeks to re-post my Hopeful Parents entries on my own blog, but this one seems to have resonated with parents to a degree I hadn't anticipated. Between the comments and e-mails I've received and the notification on Facebook that says 254 people have shared the link, I'm thinking that this is a subject that has not gotten enough attention and that it's a message that

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-42711589563942620052011-02-11T19:44:00.002-05:002011-02-11T19:47:41.419-05:00

I'm over at Hopeful Parents again today - my goodness, the months pass quickly - with a post that I truly hope will not resonate for you.If it does, though, I'll be glad that you read it.

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-40964528847320255342011-01-11T22:37:00.002-05:002011-01-11T22:41:29.183-05:00

Happy New Year, friends!There's a lot going on in these parts - many half-written posts in my head that I hope to - plan to - finish up and get posted in the weeks to come. My absence in the blogosphere is not masking difficulty behind the scenes, though. Our holiday were lovely and we've plowed into the new year with force.Last year, I resolved to post every day in January - and I did it, more

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-43011935360050389842010-12-25T21:56:00.004-05:002010-12-26T17:29:13.745-05:00

My mom and I are a team. We play in the Double-A league - Autism and Alzheimer's - my son's and my father's. Our life is a series of in-depth strategy sessions, finely-choreographed hand-offs, and reviews and critiques of the play-back tapes. Our game plans are constantly evolving as the needs and issues change - as one of our teammates seems to lose ground as rapidly as the other gains it. We

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-29170026265887088442010-11-25T20:46:00.004-05:002010-11-25T20:54:40.416-05:00

...for peaceful holidays and new traditions. Happy Thanksgiving from Bud and me.

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-27063338032223010402010-11-23T17:23:00.001-05:002010-11-23T17:23:00.107-05:00

I'm hoping to start a new Thanksgiving tradition this year.Here's why: our current tradition, as it has played out in recent years, typically involves Bud dissolving in a muddle of tears and dysregulation by bedtime. I understand it. I really do. Thanksgiving is a high-build-up, low-pay-off holiday for Bud. It gets bundled as part of "The Holidays" in our national culture, aligning it

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-12396574902035139122010-11-22T09:34:00.000-05:002011-02-18T14:08:51.521-05:00

This post originally appeared at Hopeful Parents on November 11, 2010.It occurred to me a few days ago that the eleventh was rapidly approaching and with it, my posting date for Hopeful Parents. Could it really be the eleventh again?, I thought. So soon?But, of course, it was. Is. The 11th. 11-11, actually. Elevenses.I Googled "elevenses," because I knew I'd heard the word somewhere before, and I

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-88973411423985541562010-11-11T07:11:00.000-05:002010-11-11T07:41:44.272-05:00

Are you the type to make a wish when the clock reads 11:11? If you are, I'm guessing that your wish will have double the come-true power today, November 11: 11/11. (And just WAIT until next year!)For me, all the elevens are a reminder that it's time for my monthly post at Hopeful Parents. You can click here to read it or check back in a week or two, when I'll post it here - whichever you wish.

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-38973218193804931112010-10-22T18:38:00.001-04:002011-02-18T14:08:51.522-05:00

This post originally appeared at Hopeful Parents on October 11, 2010.It may come as a relief to anyone who has ever driven with me to learn that this summer, at long last, I purchased a GPS.If you have never driven with me, then I need to tell you up front that I am not writing with false modesty here. I will acknowledge that I have many talents, many gifts - however, a keen sense of direction is

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-73635352930702236242010-10-21T18:30:00.003-04:002011-02-18T14:08:51.523-05:00

This post originally appeared at Hopeful Parents on September 11, 2010.Some weeks ago, when I learned that I’d been assigned to write for Hopeful Parents on the eleventh day of every month, it occurred to me that I would be posting on the eleventh of September. September 11. I wondered how I would write an upbeat, positive post on such a tragic anniversary. To acknowledge the date would be somber

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-79449644574319909672010-10-20T23:07:00.003-04:002011-02-18T14:08:51.524-05:00

This post originally appeared at Hopeful Parents on August 11, 2010.I've been thinking lately about the very first, honest-to-goodness, back-and-forth conversation that I ever had with Bud. I can recount it to you verbatim, because it was such a big moment that I immediately captured it in writing:Me: Let's go get your coat.Bud: Outside?Me: Yes, we're going outside.Bud (getting a ball): Ball.Me:

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-46480572519667354752010-10-19T20:35:00.002-04:002010-10-19T21:37:19.332-04:00

You know how when you take a new job, you have a meeting with your employer after 90 days to see how things are working out? Well, I've been having some check-in meetings with myself now that I'm three months into my gig as a contributor to Hopeful Parents. I've stuck to the typical 90-day review agenda - 1) what's going well, 2) what's not going well, and 3) what changes need to be made - and in

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-66265332972373711272010-10-15T23:59:00.004-04:002010-10-16T00:38:40.859-04:00

This is just too good to keep to myself.First, a bit of background. It's been a rough couple of days around here. A major storm blew into our area yesterday and the low pressure system that accompanied it wreaked havoc on Bud's system, the way that low pressure systems often do. Coincidentally, Bud had an appointment with the doctor who does his medication management yesterday, so the doctor got

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-13828934643290131182010-10-11T07:00:00.002-04:002010-10-11T07:00:00.565-04:00

It's a good thing that I signed on as a contributing writer for Hopeful Parents. That commitment has given me a deadline for posting every month - and in recent months, the Hopeful Parents deadline has been doubling my output here.So far, this month is no exception.I do want to thank those of you who have e-mailed me privately. No, nothing is wrong, and no, I'm not abandoning this blog. It's just

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-29957502173568788232010-10-08T20:54:00.002-04:002010-10-09T08:25:57.345-04:00

I've been thinking recently about the idea of a "spectrum" as it relates to autism. I mean, I know that when we talk about the "autism spectrum," we're talking about a range of degrees to which a person can be affected by the characteristics that define the diagnosis. When we say "autism spectrum," we're generally talking about a spectrum of ability that ranges from "high functioning" (whatever

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-7488113766775908682010-09-11T13:01:00.004-04:002010-09-11T20:51:32.566-04:00

It's spectacular outside today. The sky is its most beautiful shade of blue. The sun is shining brightly, sparkling as it hits the just-turning leaves. There's a cool, but not chilly, breeze.It's totally unsettling.It's unsettling, of course, because nine years ago today was a day just like this. I drove the same streets, walked the same paths, and soaked in the glory of the same sort of

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-73334803465516071892010-09-01T22:57:00.002-04:002010-09-02T06:41:23.788-04:00

Sometimes it's great to be wrong.Remember a few months ago when I wrote about Dierks Bentley's latest album, Up on the Ridge? And remember how I talked about the risk he was taking by producing a bluegrass-inspired album that stood in stark contrast to the mainstream market, which, in my estimation, "is a market that sometimes seems to reward conformity over innovation, and an industry that too

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-70828713747425485192010-08-11T07:15:00.002-04:002010-08-11T07:15:00.704-04:00

Do you know about Hopeful Parents?I mean, if you're here reading this, I'm sure you know about hopeful parents. But I'm talking about capital-H, capital-P Hopeful Parents, the online community that provides "grassroots support for parents of kids with special needs" - a space where, thanks to the tireless effort of its outrageously well-organized founder Christina Shaver, parents can come

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-29885713349222121702010-08-08T10:00:00.005-04:002010-08-08T12:11:03.342-04:00

My friend Niksmom once told me I was ubiquitous. At the time, I was flattered (I'm anyone's for a word like "ubiquitous"), but it seems that these days I might be experiencing a bit of a double-edged ubiquity.A couple of years ago, I discovered that there was someone else out there on the Interwebz posting as Mom-NOS. I stumbled upon her accidentally, but, because we appeared to travel in

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-23904288586956690272010-07-27T21:46:00.001-04:002010-07-28T16:48:51.947-04:00

Here's a question: How do you introduce the concept of death to a child with an anxiety disorder without creating intense anxiety for him?And here's another: How do you introduce the concept if the child has autism, which means that 1) he has trouble understanding the abstract, and instead focuses on the very real and the very concrete and 2) he is prone to perseverating on issues and can zero in

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-53979705298017689482010-07-03T12:24:00.000-04:002010-07-03T12:24:14.878-04:00

You may know that Bud has been taking melatonin for years to help him sleep through the night. As he's grown, we've had to increase the dose to maintain its effectiveness, and for the past year or so he's been taking 9 mg a night - a dose that would leave most adults groggy for days, but which has been just enough to help Bud get a solid night's sleep. This spring, however, with the anxiety of

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-10549125235524442882010-06-30T21:19:00.003-04:002010-07-01T08:26:50.186-04:00

It seems Bud has decided that he doesn't like a heavy dose of melancholy in his music.This is not exactly a new phenomenon - for years, he has avoided Keith Urban's song "Everybody" because, he says, "it makes me strain." But recently, there seem to be more songs that are pulling his heartstrings in all the wrong directions, and he's having none of it. I get it, since I tend to be the same way

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-49677849464893264122010-06-12T11:07:00.000-04:002010-06-12T11:08:16.320-04:00

If you've been reading this blog for a while, then you probably have a sense of the extraordinary progress that Bud has made in recent years. If you know him in real life, then you are certainly aware of it. The progress is undoubtedly a good thing.And yet, I find myself thinking lately about a post I wrote several years ago about the down-side of being a "high functioning" child, as I find

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-21783254530526282502010-06-08T12:26:00.000-04:002010-06-08T12:27:11.386-04:00

It's June 8: Do you have your copy of Up On the Ridge yet?In case my early praise wasn't enough to sway you, I've asked an uber-fan to step in as guest blogger today to offer you his own review. I gave him the template, but the assessments are all his own.Ladies and gentleman, I give you - Bud:I like Dierks Bentley's CD Up On the Ridge because it makes me happy.My favorite song on the CD is "Up

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-40943349205424696052010-05-29T19:34:00.004-04:002010-05-30T09:14:14.290-04:00

About a week ago, the warm weather finally arrived up here on the tundra and with it came Bud's annual long-pant-long-sleeve wardrobe entrenchment. I can't blame him, really. Around here, we stay bundled from October to May, and for the most part, even a balmy day can be followed by a blast of arctic air. You don't want to be caught with your pants... er... short.Still, the forecast for Tuesday

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-5862793939605134742010-05-23T20:18:00.003-04:002010-05-23T20:29:16.115-04:00

Folks, I need a little a little technical support.You know I try to be vigilant about protecting privacy in my blog posts, right? So, without revealing too much, I'll just say that recent views of the history tab of the shared laptop indicate that:1) Someone in my household has developed some healthy curiosity, and2) Said person is a master of the art of the Google.I need software that will

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-30656344244198270592010-05-15T12:03:00.015-04:002010-05-16T21:40:43.108-04:00

Okay, first - true confession time: I've been a bad mom.It's true. It was the ultimate betrayal. I went to see Dierks Bentley and I didn't tell Bud. I know - it's terrible. There's nothing you could say about me that I haven't already said about myself.I'm trying to convince myself that I wasn't all bad, though. It was a long drive - two and a half hours - to a late-night show on a school night.

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-16330460119848026412010-04-14T17:48:00.001-04:002010-04-14T17:49:08.766-04:00

I'm guest-blogging over at ScientificBlogging.com today as part of their series for Autism Awareness Month.You can find my post by clicking here.

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-32734788728853286842010-04-02T23:52:00.010-04:002010-04-05T20:15:11.602-04:00

The story continues, and it just gets more magical.In the days that followed my meeting with Bud's classmates, every afternoon yielded a new surprise as I unpacked Bud's backpack and unearthed the treasures inside. One day, it was a tube of paper that unfurled into a long purple-based splatter-paint mural that Kallyn, Laurie, Lily, Nora, and Jennifer had made for Bud. Another day, there was a

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-24690562347482956102010-03-29T20:47:00.009-04:002010-04-01T14:04:27.247-04:00

3/31, Updated to add: Smockity has posted an apology to anyone who was unintentionally hurt by her original post.It seems that while I have been blissfully posting about my son’s wonderful classroom, much of the rest of the autism blogosphere has been on fire in response to a post written by a blogger called Smockity, who writes at Smockity Frocks.First, let me offer this caveat: I know next to

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-63895911654552302682010-03-24T22:11:00.005-04:002010-05-15T13:07:31.433-04:00

I've been asked to create a single link to the posts that describe my visit to Bud's classroom, so that it will be easier for people to pass it on to others. I'm flattered by the request and happy to oblige. Here it is.First, it's important to recognize the incredible work that Ms. Walker, the classroom teacher, and Mrs. Nee, the classroom paraprofessional, have done this year. As I wrote to Ms.

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-44320520787878082812010-03-23T22:40:00.005-04:002010-04-02T14:00:55.935-04:00

I wrapped up my presentation by thanking the kids for inviting me in to talk with them, and I asked if they had any questions."Is 'The Upside Down Show' a real show?" Noelle asked."It sure is," I said. "It's on Nick Jr., and Bud loves it."Laurie raised her hand, "What show is it from when Bud points his finger in the Name Cup at morning meeting and says 'Mrs. Nee! Mrs. Nee!'" The children laughed

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-6067821256487011912010-03-22T19:18:00.002-04:002010-03-30T16:49:20.335-04:00

"The last question that many of you asked," I said, "was my favorite question: How can I help?"I’ve already given you some ideas – talking slowly, giving Bud lots of time to answer questions, not taking it personally if he doesn’t want to do something. As we said, it’s hard for him to branch out and try new things, but you can try to take an interest in the things he likes. Ask him about them.

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-48950756215128074252010-03-21T19:15:00.005-04:002010-03-30T16:48:49.118-04:00

"The next question that some of you asked," I said, fast-tracking toward the finish line, "was 'Does Bud know he's different?'"And the answer is: I think he does, but it doesn't bother him. Bud loves being Bud. He feels great about himself. And he is one of the happiest people I know."Sometimes I forget that. Sometimes my toaster brain gets in the way and starts thinking that it's important to be

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-24535447659235974932010-03-20T22:26:00.003-04:002010-03-30T16:48:15.556-04:00

I realized that we were nearing the end of the time we'd allotted for the classroom presentation. The boys who'd gone to recess had returned in the middle of the last question, and I knew I'd need to wrap up soon. But there were a few issues I wanted to address before I left, so I kept my responses brief as I headed toward the end."The next question you asked," I said, "was, 'Will Bud always be

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-75074320871100873062010-03-19T23:05:00.002-04:002010-03-30T16:47:38.025-04:00

I looked at the next question in my notes, then at the eager faces of Bud's classmates, and I smiled."The next questions you asked," I said, "were 'How can I be a better friend to Bud?' and 'How can I be a person Bud would like to hang out with?'"First of all, I want to tell you that you already ARE good friends to Bud. You accept him just the way he is, and you let him know that he is an

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-47002028008619630452010-03-18T23:33:00.004-04:002010-03-30T16:47:00.305-04:00

"The next question that some of you asked," I said, "was about why Bud misses me so much when he's at school. And some of you asked why he gets so attached to some adults at school and always wants to be with them."Remember how I said that two of the things that Bud's hair-dryer brain has trouble with are using language and being social with people? Well, those two differences can make places

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-29003745212949625362010-03-17T20:57:00.003-04:002010-03-30T16:46:12.446-04:00

"So, okay," I said, moving on to the next topic. "'Why do noises bother Bud?' Well, we said that our brains control all of our senses, and that means that sometimes Bud's hair-dryer-brain senses are different from our toaster-brain senses."Remember when we talked about things that Bud is really good at? We said he has great hearing. We said that sometimes his hearing is even better than ours."The

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-5329271646022584172010-03-16T20:24:00.004-04:002010-03-30T16:42:57.580-04:00

Once I'd wrapped up the "language" portion of the presentation, it was time to address some of the questions that Bud's classmates had about his sensory issues."Okay," I said. "Next question. Some of you asked 'Why does Bud run in circles?' or 'Why does he need to take movement breaks?' This is the way I think about the answer to those questions."Remember how we said that our brains control

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-73719735886730811092010-03-15T23:31:00.006-04:002010-03-30T16:42:16.708-04:00

Before I continue telling you about the class presentation, I just want to thank you for the response that these posts are getting. I'm a bit overwhelmed, but I'm also delighted that so many of you are finding them helpful.And now, back to the classroom, where I was talking to Bud's classmates about the way he talks."Some of you asked why Bud sometimes says the same things over and over and over.

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-43447248350793829122010-03-14T21:31:00.009-04:002010-03-30T16:41:39.114-04:00

It occurs to me that I left out a critical piece of information that you'll need if you want to have an accurate mental picture of the circle of children and teachers I faced in Bud's classroom last week. You see, I forgot to mention that, quite by coincidence, I was meeting with the class on the school's annual Wacky Hair Day.Bud came to school for Wacky Hair Day wearing the

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-1090726701351005632010-03-13T22:50:00.014-05:002010-03-30T16:41:00.322-04:00

Okay, so: the presentation.First, I should tell you that we orchestrated it with the stealth of CIA operatives. We didn't want Bud to see me in the building, because we knew that my presence would be difficult for him. (Mom does not belong in school. Mom should only be here when she has come to take me home.) We all synchronized our watches, and as lunchtime approached, Mrs. Nee walked Bud to the

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com106tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-19535027281975029912010-03-12T20:49:00.003-05:002010-03-30T16:40:02.324-04:00

It was incredible.I met with Bud's class today at lunchtime. I was expecting it to go well. I was actually expecting it to be great. But, I'm telling you: IT. WAS. INCREDIBLE.I can't even begin to describe how affirming it is to face a circle of children who have opted to stay at their desks for lunch and recess because they want to learn more about your child. This was a completely optional

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-17415766658870426182010-03-02T17:56:00.001-05:002010-03-02T20:51:33.632-05:00

I'm telling you, sometimes medication management with a growing boy feels like an endless game of Whack-a-Mole.You work for weeks - sometimes months - to try to find just the right timing for just the right doses of just the right medications, until things balance out and your child hits his stride. And then he grows, and an issue that has not been an issue for a while suddenly becomes an issue

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-59211538589209184192010-02-24T22:43:00.004-05:002010-03-12T15:40:37.103-05:00

Three days ago, KathieC left a comment that I can't get out of my mind."I wish," she wrote. "How much of my son's life have I spent saying those words "I wish"... My little man is Bud's age and I often feel, when reading your blog, that I am reading about him. That is, until I get to the posts about his supportive educational environment. Reading this particular post, fresh on the heels of

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-62930778445433938482010-02-20T09:50:00.004-05:002010-04-02T21:11:21.059-04:00

I've been given an incredible opportunity. It's been two weeks since the opportunity was presented to me, and I'm still reeling from the possibilities it holds.I've already told you that Bud's teacher, Ms. Walker, and his paraprofessional, Mrs. Nee, are incredible. But I haven't come close to telling you how incredible they really are - because, really, until two weeks ago, I didn't know. We'd

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-84351680165186550682010-02-09T21:43:00.008-05:002010-02-20T10:21:27.420-05:00

I wrote my first blog post five years ago today.Five years. It's wild. It was a lifetime ago. It was yesterday.Gwuinifer was the first person to post a comment on the blog and I was astounded that somebody was reading what I wrote. I think that for a long time she was one of the only people who read what I wrote. In those days, nobody in my real life knew about my blog and most of my posts

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-83965758667757030762010-02-02T21:33:00.002-05:002010-02-03T11:10:26.874-05:00

Remember a couple of years ago when I told you about the phenomenon in my life in which total strangers start disclosing personal details about their lives to me? Remember how I said I thought I just had "one of those faces?"Apparently, it's not my face.This evening, I called Capital One to close a credit card account that has been lingering for too long with a zero balance, adding nothing to my

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-89697571474560574272010-02-01T22:37:00.003-05:002010-02-03T09:52:10.314-05:00

You know how it is sometimes. It's like how you don't notice that your child is growing in tiny increments week by week until the day you look at him and realize that all of his pants are two inches too short. Sometimes you just focus on the day-to-day, taking each presenting issue as it comes, reacting and responding to each incident as a stand-alone, not thinking about what it all means when

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-60444299562451820442010-01-31T23:06:00.000-05:002010-01-31T23:06:29.236-05:00

I'm watching the Grammy's tonight, and in honor of the Best New Artist award going to the Zac Brown Band, I offer this story:One of the Zac Brown Band's smash hit singles is a song called "Toes." It's an infectious song that begs you to sing along to lyrics that go like this:I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand,not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand.Life is good today.Life is

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-90032603681495672162010-01-30T21:13:00.003-05:002010-01-30T21:28:04.830-05:00

At 5:00 this morning, I thought it would be a good idea to take advantage of the fact that it was Saturday and sleep in a bit. Bud had other ideas, though, and was up and about, checking in with me every four to six minutes to see if it was time for breakfast yet.We finally got ourselves up and moving (by which I mean, I finally got myself up and moving) and we had a nice morning at home. After

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-71613309440444889432010-01-29T23:58:00.003-05:002010-01-30T00:14:20.783-05:00

As I've mentioned, I'm currently reading Lev Grossman's latest book, The Magicians. I'm bringing it up again because in the last couple of chapters, I've twice come upon adverbs that made me stop reading and start thinking.Here they are in context:"Penny could be defensive when he was under attack, but he was so autistically focused right now that even direct mockery bounced off him." (249)"Penny

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-19784463740594022292010-01-28T20:21:00.004-05:002010-01-28T21:41:31.881-05:00

As I always do, I snuggled in with Bud as I put him to bed tonight and after a few minutes, I kissed his head, got up, and said goodnight."Goodnight, Bud.""Goodnight to you, too," he responded in a sleepy little voice."Sweet dreams.""Sweet dreams to you, too.""I'll see you in the morning.""I'll see you in the morning to you, too.""I love you.""I love you, too.""You're the best.""I am the best."

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-17603290227465035302010-01-28T20:00:00.002-05:002010-01-28T21:39:34.372-05:00

Have you seen this? If you are a mom, you need to see this. And you need to have the Kleenex handy. (My thanks to Stimey for passing it on.)

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-74391143914276675102010-01-27T17:46:00.001-05:002010-01-29T17:03:59.107-05:00

We lost a colleague at work this week. She'd been gravely ill, but had also been extremely private about her illness, so most of us didn't see it coming until it came.Which, I suppose, is how life is most of the time.

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-21261149320512254512010-01-26T21:54:00.003-05:002010-01-26T22:14:52.787-05:00

I was in my office this morning when an e-mail came through:dear mom,guess what i did? i had a spelling bee.love budUnderneath Bud's e-mail was an explanation from Mrs. Nee. Today was the fourth and fifth grade spelling bee. She gave Bud the option of working in the classroom or going to watch the spelling bee, and he opted to watch.After watching for a while, Bud said, "Hey, I would like to do

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-67366472775940029512010-01-25T22:22:00.001-05:002010-01-26T21:59:14.700-05:00

Bud stayed home from school today and after a couple of days of taking it easy, he seems to be back in good health. This evening he had two things on his mind: 1) Was there any possibility that he could parlay this into another day off?, and 2) How had poor Mrs. Nee fared without him today?I cleared up the first concern quickly: He was better. He was going to school tomorrow. The end.I had to be

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-76929540352577071632010-01-24T22:04:00.002-05:002010-01-25T20:59:36.540-05:00

I thought about calling in sick to the blog today, but it's Bud who's sick, not me.He woke up this morning around 3:00 and came into my room. I'm not sure that he ever fully went back to sleep, though I dozed off and on until he convinced me to get up around 7:00 - at which point... well, I'll spare you the details. I'll just say that everything that was on the bed at the time ended up in the

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-4143895951386493262010-01-23T22:11:00.009-05:002010-01-23T23:08:09.353-05:00

So, okay. As I promised yesterday, here is the back story on the Dierks Bentley Hair Crisis of 2007 (and if you don't know what I'm talking about, then you can either click that link and backtrack a bit or just skip this post and come back and rejoin us here tomorrow). I'm not sure why I've never told you this story before. It must have happened at a time when I wasn't blogging much.Anyway, the

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-27428976276919069802010-01-22T23:54:00.004-05:002010-01-23T00:02:05.703-05:00

It's 11:54 p.m., which means I have six minutes to get this post written and published if I'm going to meet my post-every-day-in-January goal. Tonight, an evening out with two of my closest friends took priority over blogging. I had a hunch you'd all understand.So, two questions on my mind tonight after the publication of this photo on Dierks Bentley's Facebook page:1. Did Dierks Bentley cut his

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-53833174656532404642010-01-21T20:35:00.001-05:002010-01-21T20:53:11.203-05:00

I'm loving these audience-participation posts. I have to say, you folks are a triple threat - great taste in tv, music AND books! Thanks for chiming in.Here's another.This week, a colleague of mine brought in a twelve-pack of Pepsi Throwback. Have you heard about this product? It's a limited release brand of Pepsi that is made with real sugar, as it was before they switched to high fructose corn

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-60069669882285892032010-01-20T23:04:00.000-05:002010-01-20T23:04:17.635-05:00

The clock is ticking and the creative juices aren't flowing, so my thanks go out tonight to Island Mom, who suggested that I solicit book suggestions, as I did with tv series last week. I think it's a terrific idea. I've done it a couple of times before, actually, and I read some fantastic books as a result.I don't have a lot of "must reads" to pass on to you right now, but I do have a sizable

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-9803953933373028152010-01-19T22:26:00.003-05:002010-01-20T09:02:34.646-05:00

One of the best things about blogging is that it captures moments in time, allowing me to go back to earlier posts and see what I saw then instead of relying on my memories of that time. It's especially helpful as I try to gauge Bud's development. As I often say, I try hard to avoid comparing Bud to his peers and instead try to compare him to himself. Having almost five years of blog posts to

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-50646565219227675592010-01-18T20:30:00.004-05:002010-01-18T20:56:22.004-05:00

As I was getting Bud ready for bed this evening, it occurred to me that I should talk to him about why he'd had the day off from school. I mistakenly assumed that he didn't know."So, Bud," I asked, "do you know why there was no school today?""It's Martin Luther King Day!" he cried. "Junior!""That's right!" I said, surprised. "And do you know who Martin Luther King, Junior was?""He was the

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-56521459277892169942010-01-17T20:25:00.005-05:002010-01-17T21:07:24.212-05:00

I just finished a weekend of training with our student staff and, as has become our tradition, we ended the weekend with a teambuilding exercise in which everyone contributed a song that represents them. We played a clip from each, tried to guess whose song it was, and then heard from the person who had actually chosen it about why they'd chosen that particular song.It's always a fascinating

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-80820341477228053652010-01-16T20:57:00.006-05:002010-01-16T21:18:51.214-05:00

Most of the time, I feel like I'm parenting with a paper bag over my head, with no idea if I'm saying or doing the right thing. I like to believe that this has nothing to do with Bud's autism and that many parents feel like parenting is mostly just fumbling around in the dark, trying to minimize the damage you do, and hoping that, perhaps, by chance, you just might stumble into something good.

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-86488796517434995672010-01-15T20:44:00.006-05:002010-01-15T21:01:32.814-05:00

I attended a faculty development workshop about student learning this week, and I've been mulling something over ever since.The presenter covered a lot of territory in his day-long presentation, including statistics related to the link between memory and sleep. I couldn't remember the specifics of what he said (probably because, like many parents of children with autism, I don't get nearly as

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-50113014569682629112010-01-14T23:11:00.001-05:002010-01-15T20:56:12.867-05:00

I did a really cool thing this week.Actually, I did two cool things. First, I read an advance copy of Claire Hughes-Lynch's book Children With High-Functioning Autism: A Parent's Guide. Dr. Claire is a college professor of special education and is also the parent of a child with autism. She knows her stuff and she's lived her stuff.Then, second - and this is the really cool part - I wrote a

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-52057365411252799532010-01-13T22:44:00.004-05:002010-01-15T12:44:47.735-05:00

This afternoon, I spoke to a student who was scheduled to return to campus this evening. She is currently living in the U.S., but is originally from Haiti. Her mother and brothers are there right now. She has not been able to reach them. Some of my colleagues have spoken to other students who are in similar situations.Tonight, I am watching the images coming out of Haiti and I'm listening to the

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-86132135744959778282010-01-12T23:17:00.003-05:002010-01-12T23:24:43.947-05:00

Remember back on January 1 when I told you I'd be posting every day this month? Remember when I told you to be prepared to read about what I had for lunch?Breyer's light yogurt - strawberry cheesecake flavor - with Special K Fruit and Yogurt cereal mixed in.And an apple.Honeycrisp.Frankly, it didn't stay with me very long.Kind of like this post.

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-76323040157829524002010-01-11T23:26:00.002-05:002010-01-11T23:33:25.596-05:00

Jess Wilson from Diary of a Mom has a phenomenal idea.If you've ever run into Bud and me when we were out and about - at the grocery store, at the doctor's office, at the library, anywhere that might be dysregulating for Bud - in other words, just about anywhere - you've probably seen Bud with earphones on his ears and an iPod in his hand. Even if you only know us through the entries on this blog

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-11665398878697454962010-01-10T20:28:00.000-05:002010-01-10T20:29:43.296-05:00

I've been on a roll lately renting (or buying or borrowing from the library) seasons of television series that either air on a channel I don't get or that somehow escaped me the first time around. I started with Dexter. I've seen the three seasons that are out on DVD, and if you breathe a WORD about Season 4 to me before it's out...But you wouldn't do that.When Dexter was done, I moved on to

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-21567570514644630602010-01-09T20:39:00.001-05:002010-01-09T21:01:59.442-05:00

As goes Santa, so goes the Tooth Fairy.Bud lost a tooth today and tonight at bedtime he asked, "Are you ready to play the game?""What game?" I asked."The Tooth Fairy game!" he answered.I assured him I was. And then we laughed.It's nice to know that even when the mystery's gone, the magic remains.

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-7872642984736908182010-01-08T17:18:00.004-05:002010-01-08T19:23:41.313-05:00

I have this theory that someday I will be looking through a new acquaintance's old vacation photos and I'll see myself in the background of a picture. Think about it: when you're snapping pictures in a touristy area, you always capture images of lots of other people standing beside the people and things you are really trying to capture. We're all walking around with photo books full of strangers

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-16718198036484739972010-01-07T18:02:00.003-05:002010-01-15T21:20:14.265-05:00

I've written before about the bond that Bud and my dad have - a bond that strengthens every day, both despite and because of the challenges that each of them faces. There's a moment that captures their relationship for me and I replay it in my mind all the time.It was late summer and my dad had recently arrived at - or perhaps been led to - the difficult decision that it was time for him to stop

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-80962906666818380512010-01-06T17:55:00.003-05:002010-01-06T18:01:37.372-05:00

There was a message on my cell phone this afternoon.Apparently, Bud was at home negotiating with Nana about whether or not he could have a Weight Watcher's cookie, or "Watcher Cookie," in Bud-speak. Nana wasn't sure if he'd already had a cookie at lunch, and told him that he'd need to call and get my approval before she'd hand over the goods.The message on my phone sounded something like this:"

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-38957241370215240342010-01-05T22:47:00.003-05:002010-01-05T23:41:47.594-05:00

We are the champions, my friends.Bud had a great visit with his pediatrician today. I've been in high-anxiety mode since late summer, when, as the result of a much-needed switch in the timing of his medication, Bud's appetite kicked into overdrive and he gained 11 pounds in three months. Shortly after that, the news was full of reports that this sort of rapid weight gain was not atypical for

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-73101323739086543962010-01-04T17:24:00.001-05:002010-01-04T17:27:16.251-05:00

Okay, I spent the better part of the weekend trying to upgrade the operating system on my HP laptop from Vista to Windows 7. I was very, very excited about the upgrade because I despise Vista, but after more hours than I'd like to admit, I'm ready to throw the laptop out the window.Has anyone else made this upgrade on an HP? I followed the instructions veeeeeeery carefully. Luckily, I backed up

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-80210394416051335492010-01-03T12:34:00.000-05:002010-01-03T12:35:42.339-05:00

Have you reserved your copy yet?Gravity Pulls You In: Perspectives on Parenting Children on the Autism Spectrum, edited by two of my very favorite bloggers, Kyra Anderson from This Mom and Vicki Forman from Speak Softly..., is slated for a February release and is currently available for pre-order from Woodbine House.Gravity Pulls You In is a collection of 33 essays and poems written by the

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-42120393279912026932010-01-02T14:20:00.002-05:002010-01-02T14:36:32.896-05:00

This has been bothering me for more than ten years now, and at this point I'm practically in crisis about it.What in the world are we going to call the decade that just ended?For ten years, radio stations have been playing "the music of the eighties, nineties, and today." But now, it's 2010, and "today" is "the teens." So what do we call yesterday?I remember reading an article in the mid-nineties

MOM-NOShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871470010300861815noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10731506.post-13802271848832111322010-01-01T17:41:00.005-05:002010-01-15T21:16:35.767-05:00

I'm usually not one for New Year's resolutions, but I have to say - I'm looking at my blog stats for 2009 and they're making me feel positively resolute.It seems I only had 31 posts in all of 2009.Thirty-one.Three-one.That's all.The number stands there in my sidebar in stark contrast to the 227 posts I wrote in my most prolific blogging year, 2006, when I had 31 posts in a single month - November

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