“On page 65 and 66, you said you used creativity and silliness to encourage Wil to do things. How did you think of using silliness?” “From Wil,” I answered. “He’s the master of silly. He uses it all the time. It’s an incredible motivational tool…for me too!” I was the guest author of a book … Continue reading Perpetual Student
Simply Powerful
Kristi, Wil’s paraprofessional, sent me this photo of Wil cooking at school with his Connect mentor, Victoria. It was Cinco de Mayo and they were making tacos. Kristi told me he ended up eating 3! It’s awe-striking to me, still, even though Wil is a teenager, how powerful the simplest joys with him are. I … Continue reading Simply Powerful
Unfiltered
This morning Wil sat on his bed. He wouldn’t get dressed. The frustration rose in me. The clock doesn’t stop for him. School would start ready or not. Inside I have to give my heart a deep breath. Why do the simplest things have to take such patience? Every.single.day. I ask, in my calmest voice, … Continue reading Unfiltered
True Nature
When Wil said, “Walk to the river, Mom,” I left my phone on the countertop, took off my watch and grabbed our mud boots. With the constant tug of a virtually agenda-driven world, I was more than ready to leave behind the volitional tools that bound me to it. Woody, our yellow lab, perked up … Continue reading True Nature
For What They Do
“Wil, I miss you,” popped up in the chat box from Sarah Stommen. Virtual school started back up again a week from last Friday. Wil kicked off his virtual schedule full of steam, but by Thursday the task of getting him in front of the computer was a feat. Sarah saw the look on Wil’s … Continue reading For What They Do
With Chocolate chips on top
“Well, you have enough challenges raising Wil.” I write about the challenges raising Wil, so it’s expected to frequently hear that, and I’m thankful. I used to hear, “well, he’ll always be happy.” To wrap Wil into one emotion both undermines who he is as a person, and the value of what it means to … Continue reading With Chocolate chips on top
Girl Time
Wil sat down on the bench. I sat next to him and watched a droplet of sweat slip down the side of his forehead. It was 88 degrees and he’d already been walking for 90 minutes. Katherine was to our left crouched in front of a hyena. She snapped a few close-up photos. The hyena … Continue reading Girl Time
Getting There
“I need him to hand me his boarding pass ma’am,” the security agent behind the podium said. “Wil, here, please just hand her this pass.” Wil turned away from me. “Is it at all possible for me to hand it to you?” I asked the security agent. “Or answer any questions? I’m not sure if … Continue reading Getting There
Beyond Words
“Give me a hug.” Those were Laura’s first words when she came over for a visit. A slanderous word had been directed at Wil that he thankfully didn’t hear (when I learned about it, this careless use of a word hurt me more than him). Even as Wil grows in maturity and in self-advocacy, he … Continue reading Beyond Words
Receiving Butterflies
I was about two years younger than Wil when I hopped a fence with my friends. The top of the fence caught the back pocket of my favorite jeans and ripped them. I was devastated. Then my mom found a butterfly patch and ironed it over the rip. I loved that butterfly patch. Those jeans, … Continue reading Receiving Butterflies