I picked up LuLu last night, and so far so good. She was so happy to be going home last night that she quickly changed her mind about wanting to eat out (her favorite activity) and opted for going straight home. Once home, she quickly became sleepy and easily went to bed.

Up at the crack of dawn this morning (before 6:30) she was eager to eat and start her school day. Today was LuLu’s first day at Georgia Virtual Academy. It was a bit stressful trying to figure out the on-line planning and attendance system, but overall it was a great day. She did... more

Since Nancy and Sunbonnet Sue got me too humming this tune, it made me realize how lucky I am! I’ve got to tell you that in many ways I’m busier now than when LuLu is home with me. My phone seems to be jingling 24/7. Super Dad was a bit baffled by why I haven’t told more people that LuLu is in the hospital (not announced on the church-wide prayer list for example). But it’s simply because the more people who know, the more people who’ll call.

I love talking... more

LuLu is definitely the chronological age to do some basic household chores. And over the last few years we’ve worked hard to institute these at various times. But just like everything else in LuLu’s obsessive-compulsive, and often defiant, life, chores can easily become huge battlegrounds.

So, having learned the hard way with a kid who is STUCK that the goal is self-regulation (calming) more than it is to learn the chore, I’ve definitely picked my battles. So at this point, LuLu is down to only the basic contribution to the household…making her bed, putting... more

Bright and early this morning I caught that big steel bird headed north – from Atlanta to Philly and then on to Providence, Rhode Island for the ATTACh conference, where I’m connecting with hundreds of parents and therapists of traumatized and attachment-affected children. And frankly, I grateful to be able to be here, given all the hair-raising and hair-shaving events of the past few days.

Having discovered that the Stinky Cheese Monster was to blame for much of LuLu’s ills,... more

LuLu has always cracked me up whenever we talk about the Fruit of the Spirit. She is most fascinated with this topic, because she so longs for the fruit. One year it was the theme of our Vacation Bible School and the children all got bracelets with one of the fruits on the bracelet. LuLu chose Self Control.

The irony is huge here, as LuLu is truly the most impulsive child I have ever met. If the thought goes through her head she acts on it or speaks it. While I can explain that all away with the ADHD and OCD diagnoses, it doesn’t make it any easier to live with. And probably the... more

As I was finishing up LuLu’s art project from yesterday all by myself (because her hands were tired), I exasperatedly thought “why am I doing this again?” Her art project was an assignment from me to make six sets of Dalmatian ears out of felt to glue on headbands. Why? Because we have six Dalmatian-clad children riding on our church’s float in the town’s parade on Saturday.

Super Dad and I are the people “in charge” this Saturday of our huge church-wide celebration event, which includes a float, several hours worth of band and musical entertainment, kids games, storytelling,... more

I truly wish I understood what made some days easier than others for LuLu. After an incredibly rough day yesterday, she awoke with some grumbles that could have turned into another bad day. Instead, determined to “stay on the positive path” she worked hard.

And it paid off. For nearly 45 minutes she did her math lesson unsupervised, with no interaction from me. It was a chapter review and she only sought my help once (I was on the phone), interrupting me respectfully to ask if two pints were in a quart.

I waited for the major explosion, as it seems lately there have been as... more

What a cynic I’ve become, that when I meet someone with true compassion for LuLu that I’m taken totally by surprise. Especially when I meet that person in a place I didn’t expect…like wearing a doctor’s lab coat.

Yesterday I took LuLu to the pediatric gynecologist. I was both anticipating and dreading the appointment. Our pediatrician referred us to this woman because she has the background of treating girls with autism and Downs Syndrome and would likely understand our dilemma surrounding LuLu’s period and the impact it made on her trauma triggers and... more

Last spring I was searching for reading curriculum ideas, after spending the school year piecing together a reading program that included several grade level workbooks and some high interest books, mostly Magic School Bus. I ran across several programs that used The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner as part of their curriculum, usually at about the 4th grade level.

Just seeing the name of this book brought... more

Every year our church’s youth group has a back-to-school blowout event that just can’t be missed. They gather early in the morning and begin a day-long scavenger hunt that includes taking pictures in front of landmarks (if you can figure out the clues) and collecting items for donation to our local food pantry.

The event grows each year (from 4 teams originally to 11 this year), and the youth group scrambles to pick up more friends and donations along the routes.

Kay and I headed out before anyone should be awake Saturday morning to gas up the car and grab... more