(Note: This is the fourth in a series of health-related posts that frames each topic in terms of the particular struggles busy, stressed-out, exhausted caregivers experience and pulls from current research that might be most beneficial for them). Let’s start with a universal truth: Almost everyone knows what a healthy diet consists of. They just don’t know how to make that diet actually happen . These days we aren’t dealing with a knowledge gap, but an implementation challe

(Note: This is third in a series of health-related posts that frame each topic in terms of the particular struggles busy, stressed-out, exhausted caregivers experience. Information is pulled from current research that might be most beneficial) First, the bad news when it comes to sleep research: It never takes people like caregivers into account. This is often because we have a set of challenges so intractable and unique that they exist in a category of their own. When we tak

(Note: This is second in a series of health-related posts that frame each topic in terms of the particular struggles busy, stressed-out, exhausted caregivers experience. Information is pulled from current research that might be most beneficial) We all know how much stress can creep into our daily lives when we are caregivers. But what can we do about it when we are already mentally and physically exhausted and our time is so limited? There is certainly no shortage of advice a

(Note: This is first in a series of health-related posts that frame each topic in terms of the particular struggles busy, stressed-out, exhausted caregivers experience. Information is pulled from current research that might be most beneficial) We all know that acting as a caregiver for a disabled or medically complex loved one comes with a large amount of stress. But did you know that caregiving can actually rewire your brain ? Neuroscientists have begun exploring this topic,

Before becoming a medical parent to my youngest daughter, JJ, I was pretty happy with the way my brain operated. I juggled many work-related tasks and details of our daily life, but it never felt like more than I could handle. And although I experienced some busy moments, I had just as many when I could focus intensely—usually while at the office. I worked as a Graduate Writing Specialist at a university writing center and enjoyed the job immensely. I explored topics as varie

Like many life altering events or experiences, parenting a child with disabilities and medical complexities can profoundly impact one’s spiritual beliefs. I recently listened to an episode of the Rare Life podcast during which host Madeline Cheney dove into this topic by asking three mothers of children with rare diseases to explain how their parenting journeys have changed their religious and spiritual beliefs. As you might imagine, responses varied greatly. While one mother

A few days before kindergarten was set to begin, I gathered up all the school supplies I needed to deliver during my daughter’s Back to...

It should come as no surprise that advocacy is a large part of special needs parenting. More times than I can count, I have had to fight...

As I write this, my family is at the tail end of a long series of illnesses. For nearly four weeks, at least one of us was sick. We...

Before I had JJ, I never thought much about hope—at least not in any profound way. To me, it was just another verb to slip into...

When you are a special needs parent, you are often forced to face a host of heavy questions. What will happen when my child gets too big...

I came up with the idea for a post about coping strategies during a particularly difficult period in my family’s life. It was the middle...

The world of special needs parenting is full of paradoxes. One of the most unexpected is how we and our children can both be highly...

The first time I became aware of breaking points as a special needs parent was when I was sitting in the dentist chair one month after my...

When we found out my youngest daughter, JJ, has Rett Syndrome, the genetic counselor who helped deliver the news told me that the...

My gym has a bank of televisions placed right above the only line of available treadmills. I’m not a fan of daytime television or local...

I am a words person. Given a choice, I’ll always show a preference for language and vocabulary over math. But numbers are inescapable,...

One of my favorite gym songs is Suit and Jacket by Judah & The Lion. I love the way it begins quietly but builds to a crashing crescendo....

Since my daughter’s diagnosis many things in my life have transformed. It’s not only my hopes, dreams, and plans for the future that are...