At school yesterday, we wore our silly socks for World Down Syndrome Day. Today is actually WDSD, but since there isn’t school on Saturday, we celebrated on Friday. As the other teacher assistants and I walked down the hall to pick up our students from the bus, we talked about our socks. I said that, … Continue reading What Silly Socks Don’t Tell You
Turning the Tide: A Story of Growth and Inclusion
Growing up, Wil has loved boat rides with his Grandma and Grandpa. So when his sisters were invited on an impromptu trip around the lake with some of the neighbor's kids, they jumped on — and Wil stayed back with his grandparents. My dad noticed a shift in Wil’s demeanor. He didn’t say anything, but … Continue reading Turning the Tide: A Story of Growth and Inclusion
Down Right Perfect
I remember one day wearing a “Down Right Perfect” t-shirt as I marched up to the high school doors to collect Wil after school hours because he had run from getting on the bus. He booked it up the steps to the second floor and hid. Once he was found, Mr. Walsh walked him down … Continue reading Down Right Perfect
Paradoxical Path
A singular new word Wil calmly adds to his vocabulary, in a such a way that only I — or his closest educators — would hear stands out like a stacatto flashing me back in time to a movie reel loop when he was 5 or 7 or 10, working a skill on a repeat … Continue reading Paradoxical Path
Wil is graduating; this is a hard one. Raising Wil I’ve gone through what I think of as “3 acceptances” so far: Acceptance of Ds Acceptance of new behaviors of puberty. (That was a tough one!! That truly took a village!) Acceptance of transitioning out of high school. Wil is ready to graduate, though; he’s … Continue reading
Leaders in Life
Our Human Services leader is telling us to be weak. To be devasted by a diagnosis. To feel damaged because our children are neurodiverse and may not pay taxes. I was devastated but I CHOSE to RISE! I CHOSE to love my child for who they were and to find others that gave me strength … Continue reading Leaders in Life
Light 💡 Ranch
Not so long ago, if anyone gave Wil choices he’d pick the last choice offered. This morning I asked him, “What dipping sauce do you want? Ranch, mustard, ketchup or honey mustard?” “H — Ranch.” Wil corrected his auto-response for what he wanted. Life is full of tiny miracles embedded within everyday occurrences. Our kids … Continue reading Light 💡 Ranch
Wil rode is bike to school!
https://videopress.com/v/hezs5Vyj?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Wil wanted to ride his bike to school. We live on a busy road so we agreed on him riding from a park about a mile away. He’s 17 years old so of course did NOT want me with him. We agreed I’d meet him where the sidewalk curves to the high school. It’s … Continue reading Wil rode is bike to school!
Lift in Learning
Wil jumps on the trampoline. Free. Fun. Full of joy. His play is not forced; nor is it self-conscious. He hoots, he hollers. He’s in the moment. When tiredness sets in he rests. He sits on the black circular mat, looks around, and soaks in the feeling of his heart relaxing. This is not a … Continue reading Lift in Learning
It’s the Chocolate Chips in Life
“It has chocolate chips in it, Mom.” It’s those details that you never miss. The telling me about something, when at one time he couldn’t. I used to ask questions I knew he could answer. Because if he didn’t think he could, he’d shut down and I’d get nothing. When Wil used to eat a … Continue reading It’s the Chocolate Chips in Life