Category Archives: special needs siblings

What a child with Asperger’s and her sibling would like you to know…

Yesterday I posted this on Facebook: “There are reports coming out that the CT school shooter had Asperger’s. Please on behalf of my sweet girl and others like her, PLEASE correct and stand up to any ignorance you see on … Continue reading

Posted in Asperger's, special needs siblings, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Gratitude at Bedtime

He puts the bookmark in his book, and we say prayers and he tells me what he’s grateful for. Tucking Seth into bed, I look at his sweet face long and hard and this is what I tell him. “Seth. If ever … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, special needs siblings | 10 Comments

Music Therapy

Last night was the music party which completed Riley’s year of music therapy. It was bitter sweet for me, because she will not be continuing with music therapy in the fall. Riley has a wonderful musical ear, which we tried … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Asperger's, special needs, special needs siblings, Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Hopeful Parents

I’m over at Hopeful Parents today. Hoping to be a better mother to my son. *It’s come to my attention that the HP site is not loading this piece properly. It takes a minute or two but it eventually comes … Continue reading

Posted in Hopeful Parents, special needs parenting, special needs siblings | 2 Comments

Lunch Time Compliments

We were sitting at the kitchen table for lunch yesterday, and I made a request, “Riley. Tell me something good about your brother!” Munching on a piece of apple* she said, “Well, he’s fun to play with and he does … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, family, homeschooling, special needs siblings | 6 Comments

Sister Assist

The kids are taking a play-writing class. They worked on character development the first week, and this week they are to bring a scene, already written, back to class. One scene. Riley’s written two very lengthy ones, and could go … Continue reading

Posted in homeschooling, special needs siblings, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Big Fun and Mac’s Backs After Tommy’s

We went to the Coventry area for dinner tonight. It was too hot to cook. Attached to the wonderful Tommy’s restaurant is the infamous Mac’s Backs. A local independent. A Cleveland establishment. I brought some of my bumper stickers and … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Asperger's, Daughter of the Drunk at the Bar, Parenting, special needs parenting, special needs siblings, Uncategorized, writing | 11 Comments

Proud Little Mermaid

If any of you read my contribution to the Special Gifts anthology, you would know about our early experiences with swimming pools and Riley. The sensory bombardment of a locker room, a hot day, bright sun reflecting off the water, … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Asperger's, autism, meditation, special needs parenting, special needs siblings, special needs swimming, Uncategorized | 12 Comments

((Hugs))

The only thing better than being a boy obsessed with Lego, and having a new Lego to put together… is when your sister, whom you adore, suddenly, inexplicably, begins sharing your interest with you. Here they are, beginning to work … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Asperger's, Asperger's girl, autism, family, marriage, special needs parenting, special needs siblings | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

She Has Buckets of Empathy

Today was the first day of this season’s Girls on the Run. I had the lesson prepared, my flashcards at the ready and was enjoying leading the new group. Seth usually hangs out in the gym while we meet. Smack … Continue reading

Posted in Asperger's, Asperger's girl, special needs siblings | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Speed Demon

Seth is a “typical” volunteer in Riley’s therapeutic dance class. While much of the class focuses on Riley, he also gets his time to shine. In this video he was pouring it on thick, because there was a photography student … Continue reading

Posted in special needs siblings, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 8 Comments

The King’s Speech, Stuttering, Tics, PANDAS

The other night we went to see The King’s Speech. If you have not see it yet, I’m sure you’ve at least heard about this gorgeous movie. Colin Firth won an Oscar last night for his performance in it. The … Continue reading

Posted in special needs siblings, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Seth’s Manifestation of His Puppy

One of the biggest regrets I had when I stopped blogging was not having the opportunity to share Seth’s puppy with you. Back in September, I did put up a piece about it over at my friend Betsy’s Autism Law … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham, law of attraction, special needs siblings | 8 Comments

German Shoulders

Read or listen On Tuesdays, Riley has music therapy at the Cleveland Music School Settlement. This has become a special time for Seth and I. We head to the lounge on the second floor, and I give him $0.35. He goes … Continue reading

Posted in special needs siblings, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Tucking Seth in on his last day of first grade

“So how was your last day of school?” “Good.” “Did your teacher yell at anyone?”  FYI his teacher in not one to yell at anyone ever…I just live to make him laugh with the irony of my questions. He’s used to … Continue reading

Posted in special needs siblings, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Living Laughing Loving

          This is what Seth picked out of the prize box at school. They get prizes in his class when caught doing something good. It’s a checkbook holder. He “thought it matched what we do in … Continue reading

Posted in special needs siblings | 14 Comments

The Thrill of the Ride

  Yesterday, I took my son to the Kalahari Indoor Waterpark.     He had so much fun, riding the waves on an inner tube in the wave pool.  He hasn’t been swimming for very long, and doesn’t like water hitting him in … Continue reading

Posted in family, marriage, Parenting, special needs siblings | 15 Comments

Girls On the Run Teaches Assertive Communication

Yesterday at Girls on the Run the lesson was about being assertive. We practiced using language to get our message across if someone is bothering us. Careful language, no blaming. No “you always…!” Or “you never!” No yelling. No ignoring ’til you lose your cool and explode. … Continue reading

Posted in Girls On the Run, special needs siblings | 8 Comments

Map of a Character

At school last week, Riley had to do a “character map” and of course she picked her favorite person, Seth, to focus on. I don’t know if you can read the above so I will type it out for you: Seth … Continue reading

Posted in Asperger's, special needs siblings | Tagged , | 4 Comments