Coaxing Words from Shea

It has been a LONG time...

2011-11-06T12:39:00.001-08:00

I was pondering just today about how much I missed blogging. How I loved the serendipitous connections and the creative and emotional release. Why wasn't I doing it anymore? Sure, I am busy, real busy these days but that isn't the only reason.Coaxing words from Shea somehow just doesn't seem to fit anymore. I am no longer in that place. I started Coaxing when I was sad and scared about

Joy of joys! Chantrelles!

2010-10-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

Teacher conference and bad news rock throw

2010-10-21T10:06:00.000-07:00

I still feel that back to school rush in the fall. No, I'm not going to school myself; in fact it was a near miss but I did buy a whole bunch of folders, pencils, paper, binders, lunch boxes, protractors (!) recently for my two students. I still get that back to school rush.Shea seems tall and fast all of a sudden, leaping, running and being a dare devil on the monkey bars. He has taken on 1st

Gluten Free Zucchini Choclate Chip Bread

2010-10-16T09:06:00.000-07:00

I just have to share this amazing Zucchini bread recipe!I was daunted by the epic Zucchinis in the garden and how Shea NEVER eats veggies. I tweaked and experimented and deviously thought that if I could make a yummy loaf maybe he would bite.Result? Hook, line and sinker. Perhaps putting chocolate chips in it was all it took but, hey, the kid ate zucchini! That in itself is cause for

Summer camp; very affordable therapy time

2010-08-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

Since the school district dumped Shea's summer school or ESY (Extended School Year), we decided to try something new.Vashon Youth and Family Services do Chautauqua Kids program at the elementary school cafeteria. It is a nice big open space with an air hockey table, games, art projects, bike riding club and a different field trip each week. Off island even!The program directors and teen mentors

Going comfortably gray and interviewing at 46

2010-08-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

Initially as an austerity measure I stopped coloring my hair. Plus the reality of all those chemicals grew nightmarish. Why was I paying big buck for organic produce when I was smearing god knows what toxins on my head!?Not that I am saying no one should. I loved my hot red head hair-do for years and faithfully dumped hundreds of dollars on it every 6 weeks or so. But those red hot days are

Feeling blue? Take a look at this amazing life

2010-07-25T09:48:00.000-07:00

Allergies and all the attached woes

2010-07-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

This has been a particularly weird year for allergies. Those of you in the NW will know what I mean. Summer didn't even start here until well into July.Yes, that's right. July! Summer in the NW never was kookier.The good news was we did not have our normal horrible allergy June because it was so wet and cool. The bad news is that now that it is behaving like summer, our grass and pollen

Mid-life crisis? Probably.

2010-07-19T20:06:00.000-07:00

I feel there is a very large omnipresent someone with a giant foam hammer smacking me on the head repeatedly just trying to get my attention.Smack, bang! "Hey, what's that?" I notice something but then the phone rings and then I notice the laundry needs folding and I guess I should run to the bank, gas station and the grocery story and figure out what to feed the family for dinner because the

Zero, 6, 12...

2010-07-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

I have always been fascinated by math. I am no mathematician but intuitively numbers make such perfect sense to me; the balance, the nice tight little packages, the process to get the correct answer.You know your are slightly nuts if you find equations beautiful. But, I sort of do.I also love the slightly mystical aspect of what different important numbers mean. Like your birthday divided by

@#$%&*!!!!!

2010-06-17T12:09:00.000-07:00

This is what an oil soaked wave looks like.

A teacher's good bye or the best perspective in the world

2010-06-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

I just received this e-mail from Molly's favorite teacher of her 6th grade year. Read it and you will probably guess why he was the favorite. It has been nothing less then thrilling to watch the students go from early man all the way to Rome with many stops in between this year. Somehow this one teacher was able to capture attention and interest and inspire.Thank goes to our own amazing Mr. D

Mom? Can I ask you a question?

2010-06-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

When this phrase tumbled out of Shea's mouth last week, I realized that I had never heard him say it before. Hard to imagine, I know.Most kids ask questions and chatter non-stop...unless, of course, they have verbal communication difficulties then questions come for their eyes and hands and word approximations. Parents intuitively learn a whole new alternate language so we know how to

Hey Dude! Where your teeth?

2010-06-05T20:49:00.001-07:00

Oh yeah.That is a mighty fine stretch of empty space where your teeth used to be there, buster!I didn't know that a kid could loose both front teeth in one weekend! One, sometime during Friday night while Shea slept. Ahem...we never found that one and believe it may be "processing". The second one happened Sunday morning at breakfast. I heard a loud crunch and Shea got a freaked look on his

Question

2010-06-04T07:41:00.000-07:00

What takes 60 hours...plus another 30 to prepare...a family striving to be quiet for 2 months so mom can study...a long drive in the rain in Tacoma...2 1/2 hours parked in front of a generic Dell laptop...ear plugs to block the noise of nervous teeth grinding...and, of course, the commitment and decision to "Just do it"?Yes, that's right, The Washington Real Estate Salesperson exam.And, I passed!

Thank you for your service, Vets, gay and straight

2010-05-31T11:23:00.000-07:00

God, how depressing...an e-mail I received this week

2010-05-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

Mass e-mail from a Vashon School Board member:The Budget Crisis: What’s At Stake for Our Vashon Schools?Do we give up the educational program we have now; a program that balances academics, arts, and athletics and that gets students who want to go to college into fine schools? Are we willing to settle for a bare-bones program, that isn't sufficient preparation for most colleges? Can we give up

Kindergarten concert; this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine

2010-05-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

Just taking a quick look at the really long buffet table was all the information that was needed.It must be the end of year Kindergarten concert where a fleet of overachieving parents of 1st children (?) brought enough food for the entire school. Food is a loose description because most of it was sugary, trans-fat, preservative laden crap which looked so damn delicious it was near torture to be

Privacy? What privacy?

2010-05-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

Learning how to put disappointment in perspective

2010-05-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

We just got back from the "Math is Cool" state championships held in lovely Moses Lake, WA.Hundred of kids from dozens of school come from all over the state to participate with parents, siblings and math coaches in tow.Most participants arrive on Friday, stay at a nearby hotel and arrive bright and bushy tailed on Saturday morning ready to "math is up".That is certainly what we did. I had the

Vanity rules or confessions of a big fat loser

2010-05-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

Middle age; perhaps the bane of our extended life span or maybe I should say the expanding waist band.We all know it sneaks up on us. A pound here and a pound there. Slower metabolism is the culprit. The habit of finishing your kid's food because you don't want to waste it! Treating ourselves because, dammit, we deserve it. You know, just getting soft.Goodies, lunches out, several delicious

Drill, baby drill? More like "Spill, baby spill!"

2010-04-29T20:50:00.000-07:00

Heartbreaking!They say this one will be worse than the Exxon Valdez. How did that turn out?

Special mommy lunch; sanity over tomato soup

2010-04-28T06:36:00.000-07:00

I have said it so many time that I am a broken record. But since I have your attention, I will say it again. Connecting with other parents of kids with special needs makes all the difference. Not all THE difference. ALL THE DIFFERENCE!It has taken awhile but I have finally pulled together my special mommy posse and we had lunch together yesterday at a local restaurant.You know how it goes,

Legalizing racial profiling? Bad ju-ju

2010-04-25T17:06:00.000-07:00

IEP Meeting de-brief

2010-04-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

Done for another year. What did I learn? That I am getting better at these meetings? Yes, I am. Although I still dread them and spend weeks prepping and stressing out.How did it go? Pretty darn good really. I have to say, the people on Shea's team do seem to know him and they do listen to us. Which is always good.Any surprises? Yes, no ESY which got me raising my eyebrows but I let it

Happy Birthday Shea!

2010-04-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

My baby turned 6 today. That's right. 6 years ago today is when I got to meet me boy face to face for the first time.He was sleepy and they had me wake him to eat. Could he be annoyed that we had to take him a week early? His temp was not rising at first and I had to hold him skin to skin to get him warm. He had trouble latching on and I had to pump and feed him with a syringe. When I think

Now this makes sense...

2010-04-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

I feel it coming...

2010-04-14T07:22:00.001-07:00

Like a big dark cloud. Like a herd of stampeding Wildebeasts. Like a chilly fog that has wrapped itself around everything this week despite the beautiful spring like weather.Depression? Angst? Annoyance? Mid-life crisis?No, IEP meeting barreling down on us at the end of the week.I feel it coming, everyone is going to sit there and nod and look at us with compassion and then explain why Shea

Much hilarity ensued...

2010-04-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

I am sure everyone is just dying to hear how the big fundraiser went! Well, it was a rockin' success. We raised $1000 in 3 hours mainly by stuffing cash into any one dozens of gloriously decorated boots! Way to go Vashon! You really know how to party!As you can see from this picture, I was in rare form and certainly willing and quite able to make a fool out of myself for a good cause.Ah...

Assessments, feedback and placement: oh my!

2010-04-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

We had the big "Feedback" meeting yesterday. Because Shea is turning 6, the school puts him through all the assessments again to determine what services he will qualify for. The feedback meeting it to share the good, bad and the ugly with the parents and the team.Jake and I went and Molly babysat Shea and his little buddy Honon during the meeting.Shea will qualify for speech but does not

Best Census PSA! Live long and prosper!

2010-03-31T13:03:00.000-07:00

Trend spotting: high fashion rubber art boots

2010-03-28T18:15:00.000-07:00

In true Vashon style, they came out of their houses, left their gardens, stumbled to town and showed up at our "Bling the Boots" art party.Some people jumped right in. Others were sort of confused and needed some urging. But, boy! Did they deliver!We tried to keep the hot glue gun burns to a minimum as it was an all ages event.We took over the big excellent craft table at Books by the Way.

Vashon Idol & Rubber Boot Fashion Show - April 9th

2010-03-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

When I moved to Vashon 10 years ago, I noticed something right away:1.) Us islanders sure have a lot in common; mainly a high tolerance for pretty much anything - as long as we can live here. And, 2.) We are all a bunch of notorious hams and talented show offs!Therefore, I am sure you will not want to miss this much-anticipated all ages event: The Vashon Idol Talent Contest & Rubber Boot

Bubble goes to kindergarten

2010-03-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

Our beloved SLP (Speech Language Pathologist) has been threatening to make a school visit for some time.Logistics made it difficult until lately because Bubble now lives on Vashon! She spends long weekends out here and sees Shea every Saturday or Sunday depending on what is going on.I blubber my thanks and more thanks every once in a while because I don't have to drive Shea to the big city every

"Bling the Boots" free art party @ Books by the Way in Vashon March 27th

2010-03-12T17:34:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a really wonderful fund raising event comes along and everything just falls into place.The ideas roll off your tongue and plop happy and fully formed in your collaborators midst, decisions get made matter of factly, nobody has power struggle problems and the goal always stays in site.Because I am a steward for the Skate Park or BARC (Burton Adventure Recreative Center) I got pulled in

Failing schools....

2010-03-11T19:16:00.000-08:00

Rep. Bunning says "Tough shit..."

2010-03-02T12:34:00.000-08:00

When confronted with the reality of stopping the Unemployment Bill that would extend unemployment benefits and COBRA to millions of Americans, Rep. Jim Bunning of Kentucky says, "Tough shit!"Wow. I wonder if he has drowned any kittens lately too. Heartless bastard.

What is a diagnosis?

2010-03-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

I am probably thinking about this because Shea is coming up on his big "6th" birthday and he will be crunched through a whole battery of new testing to define his needs for his new Elementary school IEP.I was thinking about a diagnosis and what if they decide to change Shea's. Wondering if it will change how I see his needs. Wondering if it will change our plans. Wondering if it will piss me

The earth is a shakin'!

2010-03-01T07:50:00.000-08:00

After Haiti, I thought about it. After Chili, I really started thinking about it.Living on the Pacific Rim in an earthquake zone, the likely potential of an earth shake up never quite leaves your worry sheet.Oh sure, the Pacific NW is beautiful and mild and we all those cute ferries and Orcas and stuff. But we also happened to have built this beautiful city right on top of the most active fault

We say "Weeeeee!" for Wii

2010-02-28T09:20:00.000-08:00

Being late adopters, it takes us a while to jump on the bandwagon. But for Christmas, I buckled and got a Wii for the family.First, I barely knew what I was buying and if it wasn't for my tech savvy 11 year old I would have given up with annoyance.But the contraption has arrived and has become a much bigger presence in our house than the little box implied.Secondly, who likes the Wii? Oh, I

The brainy math girl posse

2010-02-26T07:25:00.000-08:00

I was trying to describe my middle schoolers group of friends recently. Trying to define where she fit in, if she does at all. All I could come up with was that she hangs with the smart, kooky brainy kids. Kooky in the way that she is shamelessly ok with being clowny and possibly obnoxious at times but definitely unique and an individual. She has found some similarly kooky and irreverent kids

Camelia. Camelia? Camelia!!!

2010-02-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

Here in the NW we are skipping through the warmest late winter in our history. Or since anyone decided to keep track. A real honest to goodness El Nina year.Unfortunately for our dear friends to the north in Canada, they have been forced to truck and helicopter in snow to Whistler for the Olympics. Can you smell the bacon burning on that one? So much for reducing our carbon footprint.Oh well.

That time of year. Spring? No IEP meetings.

2010-02-23T19:04:00.000-08:00

Shea is almost 6. This post is not about his birthday although we will be thinking of that quite soon.6 is when the public schools crunch each kid with an IEP through all the developmental tests again plus reading, writing and math. They did the whole gambit of testing when he was three and now they will do it again for 6. Boy. Have we learned a thing or two since then.Every year there is a

Close calls

2010-02-15T10:55:00.000-08:00

It never fails to amaze me how a split second can and does change everything. One minute you are trotting along happily through life and BOOM! something happens to make it all different. Everything changes; sometimes just for a moment, sometimes for the rest of your days.The human body is a frail thing; soft mushy tissue, delicate bones, flimsy muscles. Really no match for much of what life

Blog guilt defined

2010-02-13T09:03:00.000-08:00

Noun; the act of deep remorse for not updating your blog more often due to life, taxes, clients and epic middle school ancient Egypt projects.Grows quickly and exponentially and will soon end up bigger than a bread box.The only known antidote is to stop the bleeding! Sit down and start writing, for goodness sake!Early diagnosis is helpful but doesn't necessarily shorten the duration.Healthy

Do the Dems have the Balls to get the people's work done?

2010-01-22T16:20:00.000-08:00

If it was only as easy as opening up a bottle!

On keeping the communication flowing....

2010-01-22T07:02:00.000-08:00

I haven't heard a peep from the teachers since the fall conference where we were told (again) that he was having a tough time at Kindergarten recess. You know, the one with 50+ running and screaming all over the place. It seems he gets a little over excited. (really?) and can't keep him hands to himself.But I hadn't heard anything so I sent this e-mail to prompt an update."Hi there, Could I

Is my kid special enough?

2010-01-19T19:30:00.001-08:00

I was interviewing this very nice guy today. The Director of The Father's Network, a support network developed at the University of Washington 30 years ago, now the national model for bringing dads of kids with special needs together and making some very profound, positive benefits for their families.If you haven't checked them out, you should, and can right here.He was so awesome and

God, help those poor people...

2010-01-15T20:46:00.000-08:00

My thoughts are prayers to Haiti for the fallen and those who are digging out. And, to all who are there in mind, spirit, in reality or those who were just able to send a few bucks.Such devastation is hard to imagine.

Update on perfectionism

2010-01-13T08:37:00.000-08:00

Well, as many of you probably predicted, my middle schooler came home from school on Monday with the exact opposite of mood then when she left. She dragged herself out and bounced her way in.Meaning: she was no longer bleak and wimpy.What happened to change the dynamic so drastically?She talked with her teacher. Eureka!You know, it really is amazing what happens when you open your mouth and

Perfectionism and the art of beating yourself up

2010-01-11T09:45:00.000-08:00

Those of you who know me, know I am no perfectionist. Jake - undoubtedly but not me.So when I see that tendency in my middle school child, WSRN (who shall remain nameless) I am at a loss.Usually she just flits happily through life, not settling too heavily on any one thing. All things are pretty interesting and entertaining and she enjoys tons of activities and pursuits to fill her time.Last

Planning any airline travel lately...

2010-01-11T09:42:00.000-08:00

A brief glance at dance or The grounding of the Grind

2010-01-08T08:28:00.000-08:00

Once there were the flappersway back in the day,the way they flapped and bared their legswas considered quite risque.Then there was the "Lindy"and of course the "Jitter-bug"the adults didn't like it,all this "cutting of the rug".In the 50's it was Elviswho ground a bit himself.It took the Beatles and the 60'sto put him on the shelf.The "Boogaloo", the "Billy",the "Shimmy" and the "Twist",My older

Love is all you need: around the world

2010-01-05T07:50:00.000-08:00

Hanky alert!Sometimes human ingenuity and creativity strikes me near speechless. This is one of those time.What can we learn from the sheer coordination effort of a project like this? What can we learn about people all over the world singing the same song, in the same voice, in the same key? Beautifully, I might add.Perhaps something so huge that is seems tiny, our shared humanity. Our

Impulse control and other lessons from the playground

2009-12-29T18:50:00.001-08:00

Shea told us a relatively long and involved story tonight at dinner. In his halting way, he told us about his friend "Pete" who was mean to "Bill" and how "Pete" won't listen to "Bill" when "Bill" says stop.Disclaimer: The names have been changed to protect the innocent and the not so innocent.We had a good long talk about it and I proclaimed all sorts of parental type comments like; how a

God bless our soldiers in the field this holiday

2009-12-26T10:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks mom and John for reminding us of this wonderful (but over looked by me) Christmas tune.XO

Wicked impatience: a holiday tradition?

2009-12-24T09:23:00.000-08:00

Do you still get excited for Christmas morning? The tearing into the vast pile of gifts? After all these years, do you still get impatient for it to begin? Count down the days? Bristle with anticipation? Is the advent calendar just a tease?Me? Not really. I am such an old crunchy grown up now that the season seems to just speed by. Today Thanksgiving, tomorrow Christmas. There is still,

Joe the bummer

2009-12-19T15:35:00.000-08:00

Is this really happening?No public option. No expanded Medicare. Just a mandate with millions of new customers for the health insurance companies to exploit.I no likey!

Anybody else want to drop kick Lieberman?

2009-12-14T16:04:00.000-08:00

Talk about working AGAINST his constituents interest! Obstruct much?Holy cow!Thanks a hell of a lot, Joe!

Skating on Fisher pond, Vashon Island

2009-12-09T11:34:00.001-08:00

It doesn't happen often but skating has been known to take place on beautiful Fisher Pond on Vashon Island. Northwesterners are quick to take advantage of a unique turn in the weather such as this. Or at least some people do.During this cold snap, intrepid reporter and skating enthusiest, Happenin' Jan, documented the recent event.In fact, I did not know that there is a Fisher Pond Skating

Uh oh...

2009-12-07T17:19:00.000-08:00

Now, what the heck are we going to do about this?All suggestions welcome. All generations are welcome; past and future.

Obama meets young girl with Leukemia, Make-A-Wish

2009-12-04T19:09:00.000-08:00

X-posted from my Examiner.com page.Make-A-Wish Foundation has made many dreams come true over the years. They continue to make the impossible somehow possible, bringing a little bit of wonder back into some very sick kid's lives. Meet Jasmina Anema; she is 6 years old and has leukemia. According to an article at The Huffington Post, the girl's trip from Manhattan to Washington D.C. was

On being thankful...

2009-11-26T09:21:00.000-08:00

I get more and more thoughtful about Thanksgiving each year. It really is my favorite holiday. I guess as we age we begin to realize just how lucky we are.Again, this year, I am thankful for family the most.Jake who can build anything and who together we have built this beautiful life.Molly who is the brightest, sweetest, bubbliest, funniest daughter a mom could ever hope for.Shea who has

Thanks for the advise....NOT!

2009-11-20T19:25:00.000-08:00

The surprising mammogram news came this week. Suddenly after years of hearing that woman 40 and above should get a yearly mammogram, we hear that they are not needed until 50? Hmm…telling adult woman NOT to do preventative screenings? What is wrong with this picture? After the news hit, there has been quite an uproar. Woman everywhere are say, "This doesn't add up!" Those screenings through

Remember the "grinding" controversy?

2009-11-17T19:07:00.000-08:00

A very smart young man decided to help us all out last week and give us the teen perspective on the grinding issue.For the record, I thought he did an okay job but the threat is a little annoying and predictable.What do you think?********************************************************Misconceptions abound about grindingI am a 17-year-old senior at Vashon High School and have followed the

Baa haa haa!

2009-11-17T19:05:00.000-08:00

Nice gams, Sarah! Look she is already for the run to the White house! Lord help us.

Progress creeps with hindsight leaps

2009-11-16T15:01:00.000-08:00

I was battling clutter the other day and I found something Shea's teacher had given us almost exactly 2 years ago, a little bit more. October 2007.It was the entire ASL alphabet with a bunch of signs for common words, a big thick heavy xeroxed thing that was psychologically weighty. She gave me 3 actually.At the top were the words that Shea could say at the time:mamadadaupbagelbeagel (?)Those

Veteran's Day; Thank you for your service to our country!

2009-11-11T19:09:00.000-08:00

A child's last wish

2009-11-10T19:58:00.000-08:00

I just received this e-mail from cousin in Minnesota.Diana Harrison Biorkman (friend of a friend) has a 5yr. old son who is in the last stages of a 2 1/2 yr. battle with Neuroblastoma Cancer. The family is celebrating Christmas next week and Noah's request is to get lots of Christmas cards. If you have a moment could you send an extra Christmas card to: Noah Biorkman1141 Fountian View

I'm in print! Well...digital print.

2009-11-10T12:28:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest edition of Parenting Special Needs, a wonderful free on-line magazine! It includes a piece I wrote called, "Apraxia; when the words just won't come".I wrote a blog post about the magazine some time back and have stayed in touch with how the magazine is doing. Apparently subscribers are up and the message is building.So head on over and give them some love, and take a minute

Green Economy

2009-11-09T21:01:00.000-08:00

Gluten Free Pumpkin Walnut Bread

2009-11-08T12:47:00.000-08:00

Eureka! I have done it!Apologies for gloating but for me finding a good GF recipe is reason to celebrate. And, if I happen to create one of my very own? Considering my usual lack of natural baking skills? Well, that is: time to celebrate - cubed.I have managed to customize a pretty generic Pumpkin Bread recipe but first we need to address the pumpkin issue. I hear you saying, "Do I have a

New Autism Speaks video: pissing people off all over the place

2009-11-06T15:49:00.000-08:00

Different people can see the same thing and get something very different. Autism Speaks, an advocacy group promoting the research for a cure, released a video for a World Focus on Autism event that coincided with the opening of the U.N. General Assembly in September. The video is called "I am Autism" and has raised concerns in the autism community. The video as written by Grammy-nominated

Alterntive autism treatment: pot?

2009-11-04T10:57:00.000-08:00

Yet another warrior parent is bravely stepping out front to try new treatments for her son with autism. Marie Myung-Ok Lee's 9-year-old son was so violent, aggressive and destructive that she describes it only as the "dark time". He would repeatedly scratch himself bloody and was continuously covered in scabs and wounds. The school was logging up to 300 aggressive episodes a day with teachers

Dentist buys back Halloween candy

2009-11-02T19:40:00.000-08:00

Did you see this story? A buck a lb.I saw this after I ate all of the Almond Joys in the Halloween stash.And, after Jake ate all the snickers.I am sick of candy now but the kids sure had fun.

School Dance Network

2009-10-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks goes out to Ric from School Dance Network, a website designed for school administrators to educate themselves on the latest teen dance issues.He spotted my Grinding article and invited me to visit there pretty darn cool site. They are the originators of the Do Not playlist for school dances; songs that have excessive profanity, sexual or violent lyrics. And, demystify what those wacky

Kitten-rrificness!

2009-10-29T18:02:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...you can smell the adorableness for there!Yarn, pieces of string, leaves: all the things on my messy floor are toys!Our day time position when the kids are at school. It works well until she wants to sleep on my mouse hand.Halloween spooky cat impersonation!All photos were taken my miss molly-moo and she should get all credit and critique.

Grinding

2009-10-29T14:06:00.000-07:00

What does the word "grind" bring to mind?I think of coffee first and then a tool called a "grinder" and then the sandwich.Never do I think of a simulated sexual act preformed fully clothed in a room full of people at a school dance.Or I used to not but now I do.Remember when a certain 6th grade girl (that shall remain nameless) went to her first dance? We mommys had an eye opening with the 8th

Good bye notes

2009-10-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

How would you say goodbye to your family? Its hard to even think about. What if you were 6 years old and had brain cancer? Elena Desserich wasn't really supposed to know she was dying, her parents didn't want her to dwell on it the last days of her life. Her parents always told her the treatments were making her better. They always remained hopeful so Elena could live around optimism. But

Kitten therapy

2009-10-26T11:57:00.000-07:00

As yet still un-named but oozing in adorableness, meet our new kitten. A teeny-tiny kitten has moved into our house and hearts. None are immune.Here she is doing "Cat in the Hat" for Halloween.Why now? Our good old timer cat, Hector, has gone to the great big litter box in the sky. 17 years old. He had a good long mellow life and was a particular friend of Shea's. Back when Shea would only

Raising Cain: Boys in Focus

2009-10-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

Raising Cain: Boys in Focusat the Vashon Theater Sunday, November 15 1:30 p.m. (Doors Open at 1 p.m.) 30 minute discussion period following the film FREE TO THE PUBLIC America's boys are in trouble. They are the most violent in the industrialized world. Many are unable to express their emotions. On average, boys are doing worse in the classroom than they were 10 years ago. Who is

Warrior parents; blazing the advocacy trail

2009-10-23T09:00:00.001-07:00

Parenting a child with special needs is a challenge, a promise, a gift, a heartache. It can be life transformative and may just be the hardest thing a person takes on in their life. At time, it can be a heavy load to bear and can be terribly stressing on marriages.But the human spirit can be dazzling in its creative drive while searching for hope and purpose. We see this in special needs parents

How to avoid getting sick in the first place

2009-10-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

I love preventative health and I am all about it this year! I thought this was really good advise, sort of common sense wisdom and wanted to share it.Here's to staying healthy!At a recent PATH seminar in Fargo, Dr. Goyal gave some very important, yet easy to follow, recommendations on ways to avoid getting sick.Dr.Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having

UCLA Study on women's friendships and stress!

2009-10-19T14:43:00.000-07:00