Envy. You want what someone else has. But it’s different than jealousy – when you worry about someone taking what you have. Both, however, are counterproductive emotions.… Read more “The Envious Parent”
Tag: special needs
Provider Fatigue – Yours and Mine
Today my son and I meet with a new mental health provider. I’m not holding my breath. I’m not expecting anything. We’ve both learned from past experience… Read more “Provider Fatigue – Yours and Mine”
Respect Thy Parent Voice
Plain and simple. Parents now their children best from years of observation and interaction. They might not used fancy terms. They might not know the latest clinical… Read more “Respect Thy Parent Voice”
What My Kids Need Oprah to Say about Trauma
On Sunday, March 11, “trauma” finally moved front and center during the highly-rated 60 Minutes. For over 13 minutes, Oprah Winfrey guided a thoughtful conversation about the… Read more “What My Kids Need Oprah to Say about Trauma”
How the “System” Nearly Turned My Son into a Sociopath
Young adults who commit heinous crimes weren’t always evil. Once upon a time, they were innocent children – like my oldest son. His story is a cautionary… Read more “How the “System” Nearly Turned My Son into a Sociopath”
Could Someone’s Child Be the Next Mass Shooter?
Once again innocent children are dead – this time in Florida. And once again a tragedy arouses intense emotion throughout the country. Will the violence ever stop?… Read more “Could Someone’s Child Be the Next Mass Shooter?”
School Inclusion Done Right
Over a dozen semesters, my 24-year-old son Andrew spent considerable time at Butler University. Always a guest. Never a student. Each April he actively participates in Special… Read more “School Inclusion Done Right”
Manipulation or Desperation
One word has been used more than any other over 20 years to describe my children’s behavior. Manipulation. It’s direct – by creating a perception of the… Read more “Manipulation or Desperation”
My Mother, My Best Natural Support
This week my mother turns 80. Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you. For the past 20 years of raising children with special needs, FASD and early trauma,… Read more “My Mother, My Best Natural Support”
I Can’t Make My Child Stop Lying
Like most adults I despise lying. And like most parents, I want my children to tell the truth. Nothing more, nothing less. You – like me –… Read more “I Can’t Make My Child Stop Lying”