Dec
28
Six Reasons Why I Refuse To Make Resolutions
The beginning of each new year gives me anxiety. Full disclosure, by the end of any year, I have fully given up on any semblance of a diet I had Read more
Category: Extreme Parenting
Dec
15
The Nightmare of ‘Back To Baseline’: Why Parenting Kids On Meds Is Maddening
In November we had our six month check up with our son’s behavior specialist. We drive all the way back to Virginia (a seven hour drive) just to maintain the Read more
Dec
01
Holiday Survival Mode: How To Parent Your Extreme Child Through Winter Break
Long breaks from school can be hard on parents. As both a public school teacher, and a mother of two (one of whom has five behavioral/anxiety diagnosis), I feel like Read more
Nov
21
The Ugly Truth About ADHD and Lying: Why Some Kids Choose To Lie Even When The Truth Is Easier
I have never met a grown adult who hasn’t told a lie; usually within that same hour. It happens. We might fib because we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings Read more
Nov
16
Avoid Overwhelm: A Gift Guide For Kids With Sensory Needs
As a counterpart to the previous post, Ten Gifts For Your ADHD Child That Might Buy You Five Minutes of Sanity, this gift guide is loaded with presents that are Read more
Nov
15
Top 10 Tech-Free Gifts for Kids with ADHD and Other Impulsive Behaviors
Now that the dust has settled from the holidays, I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 media-free gifts for kids with ADHD and other impulsive behaviors that I have Read more
Nov
09
5 Truths about Parenting A Child on Mental Health Medication
Mamas, on this subject we must stop the relentless back-biting and judgmental behavior and unite to encourage each other. If you parent a child with special needs, whatever those needs Read more
Oct
23
Dear White Teachers: What Your Black Students Wish You Knew
Before I type a single word, let me start by waving the white flag–pun fully intended. I am sure I will offend some of you. I probably already did just Read more
Oct
11
Parenting A Child with Anxiety while I Manage My Own
When you have spent time parenting any children, your sanity has likely come into question a time or two. Parent a child with special needs (be they physical, emotional, or Read more
Oct
09
6 Side Effects of Single Parenting
As I drink wine and pity myself for the “Woe is Me” attitude I sometimes have after a long day of packing lunches, making breakfast, working 8+ hours, making dinner, Read more
Sep
27
This is 300
I am baffled by how many comments I get from readers who applaud me for my vulnerability on this blog. It is funny, in part, because I wouldn’t describe myself Read more
Sep
21
4 Truths Working Moms NEED to Know
Do you remember when we were young and carefree? We could stay up all hours and somehow still drag our sweatpant-clad bodies to college classes. We were in our mid-20’s Read more
Aug
18
Dear Stay at Home Parent—A Letter From The One Who Works
While my husband and I fully recognize that our arrangement at home is less than traditional, we also struggle to believe that much follows suit with what once was believed Read more
Aug
13
8 Lessons Learned Living Tiny as A Family of Four
We are still newbies to both the camping world and to tiny living, but we are getting the hang of things as we go. As I adjust into a new position Read more
Aug
06
How A Family of Four Downsized from 2000 to 200 sq. ft.
I sat in the recliner covered in spit up, nursing our two week old daughter while our son (who has multiple behavioral diagnosis) ran laps in the living room. I Read more
Jun
08
5 Reasons Parents of Extreme Children Dread Summertime (and How to Help)
Summer is supposed to be late nights, campfires, outdoor movies, s’mores and sleepovers, swimming until your hands are raisin-y, and vacations to the beach that you can’t wait to tell Read more
May
16
Five Confessions of a Real Life Mom
Let’s be real, we all make mistakes. I don’t care if your last child birthday party would have qualified you for Mom of the Year at the Pinterest Party-Throwing Awards, Read more
May
03
6 Steps to Master Parenting An Extreme Child Through Elementary School
Parenting is messy and hard. Teaching is messy and hard. Both are exhausting beyond words. So, this is a list from a teacher who is also the parent of a Read more
May
01
The Input Overwhelm for Kids with Sensory Issues
This weekend we celebrated our daughter’s first birthday. When you have family living in different states, you celebrate birthdays multiple times. I am still undecided as to whether it insights Read more
Feb
02
Mornings are the Worst: Why Readying for School can be a Complete Nightmare for Moms
In general, mornings are our extreme child’s worst behaved time of day. If he is going to yell, scream, throw himself in the floor, hurl hard plastic objects across a Read more
Oct
25
Sensory Overload in A Wedding
When my cousin’s fiance asked if our son could be the ring bearer in their fall wedding, I cringed. It wasn’t because we don’t love them, but because we weren’t Read more
Jul
27
There’s No Crying In Parenting: One Mom’s Valuable Lesson
From about eighteen months to four years old, our son kept his meltdowns private. His behavior started small at first–random hitting for no reason, throwing temper tantrums, and what seemed Read more
Jun
06
10 Things People (Who Love You) Say to People Parenting Extreme Children…And How to Respond
Parenting a strong-willed child has been a constant battle. The learning curve is steep, my friends. Handling the awkward stares from grocery store patrons and fellow soccer moms when your Read more
May
20
Epic Parenting Fails Raising a Child with Behavior Diagnoses
For the first five years that my husband and I were parents, we racked up decades worth of failures. Most of what many would call disasters, we laughed off–both because Read more