And I missed it too. Despite being a psychologist, I had a poor understanding of my son’s autism. My stereotypical views of its presentation now embarrass me. Developmental psychology wasn’t my specialty, and during my schooling, our knowledge of this condition was in its infancy. I thought autistic children were mute and locked within their interior […]
Category: Family
I Had to Helplessly Watch My Son Battle Cancer
As he hovered near death It was in the middle of June’s heat when I rushed to my son’s bedside. At twenty-eight years of age, he had been living on his own for several years. I was on vacation over a thousand miles away when I got the call that something was wrong. I first […]
Do You, Like Me, Find Christmas Painful?
Here’s a few thoughts on why and what I’m doing about It It’s Christmas again, and this year, I can’t seem to get into the mood. True, the COVID pandemic with its restrictions about getting together doesn’t help, but that’s not the cause. This time of year has become associated with sad memories. It’s triggering for […]
How Poor Medical Care May Have Contributed to My Husband’s Death
He might have fought for his life if he’d gotten better support Once again, the United States healthcare system ranked last among seven industrialized countries, despite being the most costly. This finding doesn’t surprise me; I’ve seen our poor medical care firsthand and worry it may have led to my late husband’s early demise. My late husband, […]
The Pandemic is Helping My Broken Family Heal
It’s bringing us back together after we suffered a worse tragedy This pandemic has had a profound effect on my life. All of our lives. Many of them severe. Loss of income, limited contact with friends and family, difficulty balancing family and work-life are just a few of the more serious repercussions. I know people whose […]
Literacy Deepened the Relationship with My Father
My dad’s discovery of audiobooks changed everything. Growing up, I loved yet feared my dad. A strong man who worked with his hands, he rarely spoke unless he was regaling us with tales of his youth around the dinner table.But there was a painful distance and I didn’t know how to deepen the relationship. I […]
The Surprising Discovery My Grandmother Was a Feminist
How a letter written ninety-one years earlier enlightened me When I think of an example of a strong woman – someone I consider a feminist who’s fought for her rights – my grandmother doesn’t come to mind. In fact, I’ve considered her life a prime example of a typical traditional woman. As much as I’ve […]