While perusing adoption Facebook groups, I regularly come across a particular type of post. “My husband and I are starting the adoption process, we are looking for a young, minor needs girl ages 0-3. What are some minor needs that you would recommend that don’t require surgery or life long care.” Inevitably someone will ALWAYS… [Read More]
Book Praise: Real MVP Kids Celebrates Diversity in a new Children’s Book Series
One of the great things about being in adoption groups is getting to know a variety of families. A few weeks ago another mom shared a new children’s book series that hopes to expose children to a variety cultures, abilities and experiences. After checking out their Kickstarter campaign, I reached out to one of the… [Read More]
Praise: Milton the Mealtime Companion Helps Kids Eat Healthy
There isn’t a parent in the world that hasn’t struggled with trying to get their children to try (and eat) a variety of foods. Vegetables, starches, fruits, meats, dairy. You name it, every tyke I know has gone through at least one food aversion period. With my last two kids (Lulu and Ezra), I spent… [Read More]
Parenting Survey – Church Attendance & Special Needs Children
Disclaimer: I am using the term “special needs” to include children with a range of medical, physical and sensory disabilities. While I prefer to use positive and affirming choices, I believe “special needs” best defines the intentions of the survey. Have you ever looked around your church and realized that there are no families with special… [Read More]
Ughh, I Hate the Word “Thrive” Used to Describe Deaf Children
In my new identity as a parent of a “special needs” child, I am continuously annoyed by parents regular use of the word “thrive” when discussing their children. It happened the other day when I dared to venture out into a cochlear implant discussion. The parent that was 100% against the use of sign language lambasted… [Read More]
Disney World Sign Language Interpreter Services
Disclosure: My family was invited to the 2015 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. I paid a conference fee to attend and received discounted and complimentary items from Walt Disney World as part of the experience. I was not asked to write about the conference or our family trip. All opinions and experiences are entirely my… [Read More]
My Deaf Child is Not a Tragedy
My Deaf child is not a tragedy. As Ez has gotten older and more communicative, my decision not to tell strangers that my child is Deaf doesn’t really work. When he was little, I always let the little old church lady, the waitress or that nice neighbor down the street go all goo goo and gah gah… [Read More]
Island of Lost Things at Disney World
Disclosure: My family was invited to the 2015 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. I paid a conference fee to attend and received discounted and complimentary items from Walt Disney World as part of the experience. I was not asked to write about the conference or our family trip. All opinions and experiences are entirely my own. During our… [Read More]
Sign Development – 12 to 14 Months
Ever have one of those conversations about something that you wish you would have approached differently or that it might have gone a little more smoothly? I had one the other day with a random mother at a birthday party. I was caught off guard when I saw a little girl swimming in the pool… [Read More]
Training the Baby to Respond to Lights #Deafness
Being the Mom to a Deaf baby is a lot more different than I would have ever thought. I wrote a few months ago about nothing being able to verbally console him. Another issue that I have found particularly difficult is getting his attention. As an adult who grew up in a Deaf house, my husband… [Read More]