My Friend

There are few things in the world better than having that one special friend that you can always go to. When you are happy and want to share your joy – when you are sad and need someone to cry with you – when you feel like the last bit of life has been sucked out of you and you need someone to help you refill.

Whether we talk every hour, every day, every week, or whenever we both have time to hold the phone in our hands for a few minutes, every moment is special. Every word shared like a warm blanket being wrapped around our shoulders.

Both our lives can spiral out of control at a moment’s notice, but we each know where to go for that hand to hold you fast.

There is never judgment, condescension, or dismissal. Just understanding, empathy, and comraderie.

You, my friend, know who you are. And I hope you know how grateful I am to have you in my life.

ATM: The smile on Ashley's face when I wake her and tell her that it is Friday!.

Effects of Adoption?

I'm really curious to hear your thoughts on this article:

What Can A Tiny Baby Know?

ATM: Every moment when I don't even think of my children as adopted, only as my children.

Special Exposure Wednesday

Last Sunday, the boys and I watched the Super Bowl, but Cooper watched the Puppy Bowl!!

ATM: The fact that Chip is now relaxing a little bit about his heavy workload at school and his internship....

Left Out

We had a party at our house this past weekend that included students, mentors and professionals in the field of disability. They were encouraged to bring their families, which some did, and everyone seemed to have a good time. Everyone, that is, but Ronnie.

Ronnie was the only Deaf person at the party. Chip and I were the only people besides Ronnie who knew sign language. (I was a little surprised at that actually.) I was busy with hostessing things - setting out food, provided drinks, chatting with guests - and Chip was, thankfully, watching Ashley for me. Sometime she does ok in large groups of people and other times she doesn't. This party was one of the "doesn't" times. So Ronnie was pretty much left to fend for himself. But that didn't work well.

He ended up staying in our guest bedroom that has some video games set up in it. He played games the whole time, and I would bring him food and drinks. At first I encouraged him to join the party, but then realized that it would be uncomfortable for him. He can read lips a little, but trying to do that in a party setting is extremely difficult.

So I've learned my lesson. At any similar events, and if Chip and I might be otherwise occupied during the event, I will need to find someone to provide signing support. I felt so bad after the party was over, and I apologized. Ronnie said he was more than fine just playing games, but I promised that next time would be different.

ATM: Watching our dog, Cooper, enjoy the Puppy Bowl on Super Bowl Sunday. Picture tomorrow....

It's Time

So a couple of weeks ago, the Department of Education released new guidance concerning school sports for students with disabilities. If you missed all the buzz, here is a link that explains things pretty well:

Sports are a civil right for the disabled

And here is one organization's viewpoint on the ruling as well as comments that they have heard from the community:

What everyone is getting wrong about special ed sports

The fact that my school district has no real sports opportunities for Ronnie (wheelchair user) has always bothered me greatly. I even floated the idea of forming a district-wide wheelchair sports team about a year ago, and the answer I got was not surprising. The school football team would let Ronnie be an honorary manager for the team. In other words, he could sit on the sidelines and hand water bottles to the players. As long time readers of this blog know, Ronnie is a wheelchair athlete. He is on a non-school related wheelchair basketball team, a team which took a trophy in a tournament last week. He also has played lacrosse and participated in track and field. He is an athlete, not a water bottle manager.

It's time my school district, as well as all other school districts, figured out how to field teams for wheelchair sports. How has your school district responded to the recent DOE ruling, and have they done well in the past for sports for athletes with disabilities.

ATM: Watching Chip take care of Ashley during a stressful time for her this past weekend. He's such a wonderful brother!

Monday's post will be up a little later than usual. It's Sunday evening and I have a Super Bowl to watch!

"The Motherhood"

Yes, this is an advertisement for a car, but I laugh at it everytime I see it. Hope you do also! Happy Friday!



ATM: Knowing that it is Friday - which means the weekend - which means at least one nap on the couch with Ashley...