Many of us who parent special needs children are concerned about their ability to live independent lives as adults. My pastor’s wife was just asking me last week; what level Lyn was at academically, and what I thought her long-term potential was. No, it wasn’t out of line for her to ask, we’ve attended the same church for the past 15 years. She has known Lyn since we got her a few weeks before her fourth birthday and frequently comments on how far she has come.

Frequently, Lyn makes the mistake of doing what others tell her to do, without checking... more

Do you have a special needs child that is obsessed with personal possessions, even if they belong to someone else? Does your child actually cry if you throw something away that hasn’t been touched or brought out of the toy box in a year? Do you have to purchase certain toys or movies again if they become broken to keep your sanity?

According to Wikipedia “

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder most... more

Super Dad absolutely loves Martina McBride’s voice; well he also loves her eyes. Before fire works, he was switching back and forth between two of her live performances with TIVO trying to decide which one he liked better. Lyn, our teenage daughter diagnosed with FAS, was sitting on the couch beside him, listening to Martina sing and also listening to Super Dad praising her vocal abilities.

It is rather unusual to hear him praise singing or instrument playing because he frequently complains about what he hears on the radio or TV.... more

The other day, two of my daughters were sitting in the shade of a big maple tree with a pile of extra large leaves, probably nine inches long and six inches wide. Sitting beside that pile, they had a pile of long blades of grass, I’d say 12 to 15 inches long. They were using the long blades of grass, to sew the leaves together.

They were sitting on the ground with their legs crossed, chatting in a friendly manner, and sewing. Intrigued, I asked them what they were doing. Lyn, my 13-year-old daughter excited answered, “We are sewing blankets out of these leaves.”

I... more

I was reminded as I read an apology letter that a friend’s son had sent to her that my daughter no longer has Reactive Attachment Disorder. This young man basically told his parents that he was sorry that he got so upset when they treated him shabbily. That he loved them when they gave him what he wanted and didn’t ask him to take on any responsibility, and that he felt like others in the family had it much better than he did. In other words it was a “no apology” apology letter. And it just underscored this young man’s lack of attachment to his... more

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and the University Of Cincinnati College Of Medicine, all reported that boys with autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had higher levels of growth hormones than their non-autistic peers. This may help to explain why children... more

In April I shared some information with you that I learned at the dentist office and the pediatric office. First, the dentist suggested that I have some of my children assessed for tonsillectomies for multiple reasons. The dentist had actually seen children with straight teeth just a few months after their tonsillectomies, who previously were candidates for orthodontics. In addition, the children were mouth breathing, which causes calcification,... more

An exciting story in HealthDay News by Krisha McCoy on Monday, June 25, 2007 caught my eye immediately. Scientists have actually found a way to reverse the symptoms of autism and mental retardation. Ok, it was only in mice, but isn’t that usually the first step. It didn’t even involve any radical surgery, just inhibiting a certain enzyme.

The enzyme that was inhibited affects the number, size, and shape of the connections between neurons and the brain and... more

I vacillated for weeks before we went to family camp about whether we would take the nine year old with us or use respite care for her that week. I am always willing to provide respite care for the children of other families, but rarely am I able to convince myself to use it. I struggle with good parent versus bad parent syndrome whenever I consider not taking one of my children on a family outing.

This was supposed to be my week of vacation and I really needed time to relax whether on the beach or in our rented cottage. The... more

I always knew that I didn’t like mice sneaking into the house although they seem to do it every year when snow comes, looking for warmth and food. However, I didn’t know that they could make your family sick and cause pregnant women to miscarry. Rats and mice can cause more than 35 diseases, worldwide.

One virus that rodents may carry called LCMV (Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus) can cause severe birth defects such as hydrocephalus, psychomotor retardation,... more