A Practical Guide to Down syndrome and Special Needs Parenting
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 →
Masks! Love them, hate them, or protest them, the CDC recommends that, in addition to keeping six feet of distance from others, people over the age of two should wear them to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Great! I wear a mask when I go to the grocery store (the only place I venture)... Continue Reading →
In a special needs group on Facebook recently, several parents were discussing how social situations that are new, loud, crowded, or unfamiliar can be especially overwhelming for loved ones with Down syndrome. This has been the case in our family, too. In my experience, reacting to these situations is rarely successful. When Grace gets overwhelmed... Continue Reading →
Sometime around age three when Grace started attending preschool, something shifted in her. She was testing her boundaries. She was saying "no." She was exercising her free will (gasp!). On the one hand, yay! This is developmentally appropriate for a three-year-old. On the other hand, having a child who no longer acquiesces to her mother’s... Continue Reading →
The Extra Life 