One of the downsides of being a special needs mom is that we’re subjected to a variety of comments as people see fit. Some are well-intended (but still kick us in the gut) and some are downright thoughtless. Every parent has their own hot buttons. Here’s my version of “5...
Today I am here to discuss special needs homeschooling, an important topic for parents having children with special needs. Have you ever thought about homeschooling your child with special needs? Here are 7 reasons to seriously think about the benefits that homeschooling can offer your child. A Real Individual Education...
(This post was originally published last year for Invisible Illness Week 2013. I’ve made a few updates and am republishing for the 2014 Invisible Illness campaign. Please visit Invisible Illness Week for more information about this wonderful advocacy effort.) 1. The illness I live with is: Cervical Dystonia 2. I was diagnosed...
Where Have I Been? As my regular readers may have noticed, it was a busy summer and I took some time out to think about the direction of this blog. My heart has always been to encourage special needs moms and those impacted by chronic illness or disability themselves. Still,...
Here in Florida, schools let out on Tuesday for that long, long break until the third week of August. The month of May, chaotic on any given year was even more so with two of my kids graduating college and high school. Plus multiple end-of-the-school-year festivities. Plus three root canals...
Yesterday we dropped Nicman off at summer camp. It’s his third year at this particular camp. He always has a blast. His smile is so infectious that he was featured in a local newspaper as well as on the camp website. I’m always so touched by the staff and counselors who...
In my last post, I talked about 7 compelling reasons that homeschooling your child with special needs might be a good choice for your family. However, it is important to count the cost and consider the unique factors of your family that as you make this important decision. Finances – Are...
The following is a guest post by Faydra Koenig, MA who is a mental health professional, author, speaker, podcaster and certified life coach. (note from Marya) As a Christian, I am not pro-divorce and believe that wherever possible every possible effort should be made to heal marital difficulties. However, as a second wife...
In the interest of disclosure, I have not been to Disney in close to 20 years even though I live about 70 miles away, mostly due to finances but also because the logistics of navigating our family’s health in a theme park is a little overwhelming to try to implement....
The events this year surrounding the untimely and most unjust circumstances of Robert Ethan Saylor really got me thinking that there should be more of us using a social media platform for advocacy. A few of us tried in vain to tag notable people like Sarah Palin, George Will, Jamie...
Have some (or most) of your friends disappeared since the birth of your special needs child or the onset of your chronic illness? Don’t be discouraged..this has happened to many of us. At first it hurts but in time I’ve come to see it as a kind of sifting. I lost friends...
Around August of 2000, I found out I was pregnant. I wasn’t happy or excited about it. The birth of my daughter in 1999 was complicated by a diagnosis of vasa previa, a life-threatening situation for myself and her. She was delivered at 36 weeks after I spent the last...