Preparing Your Child with Special Needs for School

This is an old blog post and Niko is now in high school, but it’s still relevant. As school time rolls around, there are always things we can do to help the transitions become easier. Happy school year!  I can’t tell you the tears, both his and mine, that have ensued because of new schools. This is my darling Niko. … Read More

Print Date for Little Dead Red!

The publisher assured me that Little Dead Red and Other Stories will be printed by June 29. That’s this week, you guys! That’s this very week! I have a very scary sedation appointment for my sweet son the day before (Williams Syndrome/autism make everything difficult) so holding this hot little number in my hands will make it all worth it. … Read More

Christmas Gifts for Children with Special Needs

This is a toughie. It can be downright hard, because there are so many emotions tied up with the holidays. We have expectations. Christmas is supposed to be a time where we express our love and gifts are a way we do that. What if the child, who has special needs, doesn’t like their gift? What if they don’t play … Read More

The Thing No Parent Wants To Think Of

Comfortable? Not at all. Necessary? Absolutely. It’s something that my husband and I have discussed for a long time. Niko is friendly, gregarious, and just as apt to sit on somebody’s lap now as he was when he was two years old. Kisses from a toddler are darling. From a teenager who can’t read the situation? Not so much. And … Read More

A Different Kind of Christmas Present

Niko, my darling boy, is 13 this year. He has Williams Syndrome, and like a lot of kiddos with WS, he’s difficult to buy for. One year he asked for an escalator, and Santa pulled a few tricks out of his bag for that one. He doesn’t attach to typical things, generally. He doesn’t particularly care about gifts, and that … Read More

A Veterans Day Bus Ride

My son Niko, who has Williams Syndrome, has a few fixations, Washers and dryers, for example. Listening to the same song over and over. Hotels and buses. About six months ago, we promised we’d go on a public bus in November. He’s been looking forward to it for months, and has asked about it several times every day. (Anybody familiar … Read More

Frontier Girls and Williams Syndrome

My daughters are members of Frontier Girls, which is similar to Girl Scouts. They earn badges, do activities, and apparently surprise their mother. This summer Niko and I came to two meetings and taught the girls about Williams Syndrome. We shared this short video.  We talked about several of the WS characteristics. The girls asked Niko and I questions. It … Read More

Here’s a Chance to Help Sweet Wes With His Kidney Transplant

Sweet Wes is very dear to me. He has Williams Syndrome like my son, and is in desperate need of a transplant. I applied to be a donor myself, but was unable to be considered because I’m diabetic. There were many, many bitter tears that night. However, they just found a match (YAY!) but need to raise some funds very … Read More