What have I done?

I know my 11-year-old son is a capable child.  He likes to help his dad out at the store and recently our neighbors hired him to look after their cats while they are away on vacation.  He does well in school, is a brown belt in karate, loves to play everything from "Bach Minuet in G Major" to "Moves Likes Jagger" on the piano, puts his dirty clothes in the hamper (mostly), keeps his room fairly neat, is always up and dressed for school on time, is helpful,…

** The self-checkout lanes at the grocery store are no place for morons.

** Wednesday evening was evidently "Be An Asshole" night at my house.  (I didn't get the memo.)

** It's impossible NOT to smile when you see a dog hanging out a car window, beard blowing in the breeze.

** My son claims to "love being…

By Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D. and Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D.

Remember what it was like to be in school, afraid of the big bully in the neighborhood? The documentary Bully reignited the national dialogue about this challenge for kids, following several students and their families over the course of one school year.

Bullying is pervasive in our society today – research indicates that one in three children have been…

I received an unexpected gift this Mothers Day. It was delivered from my past and came wrapped in a twenty year old quilted lavender bedspread. It was packed up in the back of our storage closet, propped up between the wooden crib where my babies slept and the plastic crates that my daughter recently brought home…

This school year is coming to an end and we are limping across the finish line (in some cases, literally).  Only two of my kids are in school, I can only imagine what it is going to be like when all three of them are.  Which, as my six-year-old pointed out, will only be one more school year because then the one-year-old will be in a morning program for three days a week and begin taking dance classes.  Oh, and as a bonus, my eight-year-old threw in the statement, "and you will be older then…

Our country continues to be in a strained economy. These past few years have been a humbling experience for me and my children. And while it has been a stressful time, many good things have come of it. We have found ways to do without, redefined our true needs and have a better understanding of what are our priorities. For example, in our family, we value time together now more than ever. And through difficult times we have grown closer and work much better as a team.

It is important,…

After celebrating Mother's Day this past weekend, I'm not afraid to toot my own horn and say that my kids are huge fans of their mama.  In fact, my poor husband is often shoved to the side when it comes to which parent they prefer.  And as hunky dory as this all may sound in theory, it isn't always sunshine and roses.

For example, I could be all the way…

If you follow me on Twitter, you've probably been subjected to my bitching about third grade math from time to time.  Call me crazy, but I'm just not a big fan of assignments that make make me feel dumber than my nine-year-old children.  Cause right now, my kids think I know everything, and this math crap is totally starting to blow my cover!!!

Take,…

There was so much to be done today, lunch and conversation to be had with a close friend, children playing behind us, dishes to be done, laundry to be folded, banana bread to be baked, tent making, giggle inducing, kisses, oh so many kisses, dinner to be cooked, baby food to be made. And amidst it all, I caught these moments, gentle, subtle moments that may have almost escaped me, life changing, breath taking moments. Moments ridiculous to anyone else but me, for me they…

There have been countless times during my parenting experience where I think we should really make religion more of a focus in our family.  Now, don't get me wrong -- I, by no means, am a Bible beater; nor is my husband.  However, little inquiring minds wanna know just who this "God" dude actually is and why so many people are always talking about him.

And…

I recently took my 11 year old son for his yearly well visit with the pediatrician.  At the end of the appointment, and after being assured all was indeed well, the doctor handed me a nifty little printout detailing the visit.  The first page listed current height and weight, any labs and tests ordered, results from vision and hearing screening, and any follow up…

“My kids tune me out!” “It’s as if I am talking to a wall!” "All I get are one word responses!" Having heard this as the number one complaint from parents for over 25 years I decided to approach the challenge a bit differently. I…

** Apparently, it's ALWAYS my fault.

** Bollywood dancing is actually pretty darn fun.

** Dogs apparently CAN eat a whole bunch of chocolate and not die.

** Turns out that I am not Super Woman.

**…

By the end of the day today my face looked like it was melting off so I decided that it was time to head to the mall to get a new type of foundation. So I head to the mall with the hubby and the little man in tow. Of course Nick abandoned me instantly to go to GNC where he could tell the little guy behind the counter yet again that their nutrition bars are WAY too expensive. Anyway... so me and Collin head to the Estee Lauder counter in Dillards. She matches my foundation shade as a…

Before Autism touched my life, I considered myself the kind of mother who pretty much had it together. Before Autism, I worked a full-time executive position, where my obsessive and control freak tendencies served me well. My three children were used to the daily routine of full-time school or daycare. Weaning, potty-training, bedtime issues, discipline, those were things OTHER mothers struggled with, for me it never seemed like a huge deal. I managed to sail through the first 9 years…

** Half days of school are only awesome if you're a kid or a teacher.  Or bat shit crazy.

** Birthdays are chock-full of calories.

** Sometimes it's better to pretend like you don't know your family.

** The front of my car is attracted to jackasses who don't drive the speed limit.

** Nothing says I love you quite…

It's so hard to believe that it's been NINE whole years since my uterus was housing those two little beings pictured above.  I welcomed them into this big wide world without having even the slightest clue how quickly time would fly.  Since then, it's been a roller coaster ride of ABC's, training wheels, boo-boo's, and temper tantrums.  They make me…

On Monday morning, I awoke to find even bigger bags under my eyes and four new grey hairs at the crown of my head.  I stared at my tired reflection in the mirror and thought, "Wow, is this REALLY what the next decade is gonna look like?"  Here I was all prepared to rock my forties like a champ, but the day sure wasn't getting off to a very good…

Okay, so my 11-year-old son’s feet grew.  A lot.

He’s been wearing the same pair of sneakers for the last 7 months.  I kept asking him if they felt too tight or if he was uncomfortable, and he kept telling me they felt fine.  I’ve offered several times to buy him a new pair of sneakers, but he’s declined.  Being a creature of habit, he likes to wear the same things over and over again, especially his shoes.  Plus, he hates any kind of shopping.  And with the mild winter we've…