Tag Archives: special education
Durga’s Tool #2.1: Empty space
Even at the dawn of the Durga’s Toolbox series, I so appreciated the value of decluttering that I made it a seminal tool, giving it the #2 spot. When I wrote about it then, it was at the culmination of a … Continue reading
Durga’s Tool #421: Prostration
Here’s another in my toolbox series of techniques that inspire me to live with joy, compassion and courage, as inspired by the Hindu goddess Durga – my nominee for patron saint of special needs parents. Several years ago I heard a radio interview with … Continue reading
Leaving the safe harbor
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your … Continue reading
Waiting for the New Health Care
This morning my son fell down the stairs, using his eye brow to cushion the blow. The same place where he’s landed twice before, with the scars to prove it. This time wasn’t so bad though, so after a cuddle on … Continue reading
Bushwacking: Four stages of becoming a family leader
Tomorrow morning I’m going to lead a round table discussion for special needs parents on using advocacy skills for systems change, also known as family leadership. If you’ve known me for a while, you realize how ironic this is. A … Continue reading
Open Arms
I’ve had another one of those experiences that are so complicated that it’s not easily digesting itself into a post. But it was too good not to share: There are a lot of spectrums in the special needs world. One … Continue reading
No Pity, part 1
I bring along my son, who attends a special education school many miles away, when I pick up my daughter at her neighborhood school’s after-school program. Since he started attending the far-far-away school a year ago, the ties that bind … Continue reading
Durga Tool #5: Asking Stupid Questions, aka Beginner’s Mind
Here’s another in my toolbox series of techniques that inspire me to live with joy, compassion and courage, as inspired by the Hindu goddess Durga – my nominee for patron saint of special needs parents. When it comes to raising … Continue reading
What do you do all day?
Not too long ago I ran into an acquaintance. We were getting caught up on things and I told him how I had sold my business a year ago so that I could focus on my child’s needs full-time. “But … Continue reading
The cicada goes quiet
Less than an hour ago, I stood on the sidewalk waving good-bye to my little guy as his bus pulled away from our curb. He’s on his way to his new out-of-district special education school. He started yesterday, settling in … Continue reading
