A Practical Guide to Down syndrome and Special Needs Parenting
I’m so EXTRA! These were the perfect words adorably emblazoned on the shirt a friend made* for my daughter, Grace. Grace is extra adorable (my unbiased opinion), empathetic, and persistent. She also happens to have an extra chromosome. As parents of kids with Down syndrome, we are eager to share that this makes our children... Continue Reading →
Dear Parent, Did your child notice that mine is different? Maybe we saw you on the playground and he didn’t know how to react when Grace got a little too close before saying “hi!”. Maybe Grace is in your child’s class, and they came home mentioning that she wears headphones when she gets overwhelmed by... Continue Reading →
Recently, I have had the gift of not one but two mothers of my daughters' friends asking me for recommendations of books about Down syndrome. Double yay for people who want to learn more and talk to their children about differences, amiright? While I had already developed a list of our favorite picture books that... Continue Reading →
Do you have one of those ugly voices? Not the one you use to belt out your best rendition of Mariah Carey. I'm talking that nasty voice inside your head that questions whether you're a good enough parent, berates you for the mistakes you've made, and convinces you that your child will forever be scarred... Continue Reading →
When virtual schooling gave way to in-person learning last year, I underestimated the stress of having to get Grace ready and to school on time each day. Many mornings ended in tears. Sometimes she cried, too. I realized that while some of her stress and resulting behaviors stemmed from separating from me, much of it... Continue Reading →
1. Be prepared. See my post on 7 Ways to Prepare for an IEP Meeting for tips as well as some background information that will clarify the bolded terms presented below. 2. Remember, you are an essential part of the team. You've known your child longer than anyone in the room. Be confident and trust... Continue Reading →
If you’re anything like me, awaiting IEP meetings is always nerve-wracking. I’ve found it critical to remind myself is that I am an important member of the IEP team with valuable input. As such, I’ve found that being prepared and knowledgeable about what I would like my daughter’s IEP to look like before going into... Continue Reading →
As we prepared for Grace's kindergarten IEP meeting last year, we were all coping with a very new, terrifying global pandemic. Several of the staff hadn't even been able to meet with Grace for evaluations because schools had abruptly closed just weeks before. More than ever, I felt the need to humanize her for the... Continue Reading →
I’m not one for new year’s resolutions; frankly, January 1st is just another day closer to spring for me. But I am all about new beginnings and manageable, valuable life improvements. Today is the perfect day to start taking better care of yourself. Self-care is NOT selfish; it is not a luxury. It’s a way... Continue Reading →
**Special note: this post includes lessons I learned while my infant daughter was hospitalized at Christmastime. If you have an ill loved one or are sensitive to related content, you may want to skip this one! ** Christmas this year won’t look like Christmases past. Hopefully, it won’t look like Christmases future, either. But there... Continue Reading →
It took me more than six years of parenthood to prioritize self-care in my life. Like you, probably, I’d heard about it many times. I could rattle off lists of common activities that would constitute self-care. And I perpetually promised myself I would prioritize it - as soon as I had time. I can’t be... Continue Reading →
The Extra Life 