2018 Blog Posts

Imperfect Action

September 30, 2018 – One thing I hear a lot - and I’m sure many other special needs moms hear a lot — is “I don’t know how you do it all.” What has become so common and normal for us, seems insurmountable to the non-special needs parents. The truth is, if you were in our shoes, you’d just figure it out, like we do.

Follow the Leader

July 18, 2018 – My child is the one having the surgery, and while I am allowed to be anxious and nervous, I really should be following his lead. If I act and look scared around him, he’ll pick up on that energy and feel like he’s supposed to be scared. If I treat him like he’s “sick” all the time, he’s going to act “sick” all the time.

Fireworks Safety Tips for the Fourth of July

July 03, 2018 – Watching the Fourth of July fireworks is a family tradition in South Florida and across the country. It's a time when parents and children share the "oohs" and "aahs" of these colorful displays that light up the night and celebrate our nation's history. It's also a time to play it safe, particularly when lighting sparklers or setting off Roman candles or other fireworks at home.

Keeping Safe this Summer

July 02, 2018 – Making sure that someone is always paying attention to the water or to the children is a huge way to avoid a drowning event. To help you with this, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is distributing free Water Watcher badges to families in the community.

From Babbling to Words: How to Stimulate Your Child’s Language During the First Year of Life

June 20, 2018 – The first year of a child’s life is full of wonderful firsts: The first nerve wracking car ride home after the hospital, the first time he or she smiles, the first time a child actually sleeps through the night (yay) and, of course, the first time you hear your child’s voice. Your child will begin to communicate with you and express himself long before you even hear his first word.

The Definition of Motherhood

May 18, 2018 – My family and I recently relocated to Birmingham, Al. One of the many things on my to do list was to find a counselor in this new city. In one of our first sessions together, she asked me this seemingly simple question. “What does it mean to you to be a mother?” I started to answer by listing off things that I do as a mother, tasks that I assume as my son’s mother, but that’s not what she asked me. I had to stop, take a breath, and answer as honestly as I could.

Caring for Rare

February 27, 2018 – In honor of Rare Disease Day 2018, I’m sharing with you my experience so far in raising a child with a rare diagnosis. So rare, in fact, he shares the diagnosis with approximately 50 other people worldwide. For us, this means many things physically, and emotionally. It requires patience, the ability to acquire and hold on to new knowledge, the openness to learn how to care for your child in a way that does not come naturally, and making peace with unknowns. Let’s dive in.

No such thing as planning in parenting

January 31, 2018 – It’s always a good idea to educate yourself and try to prepare for the challenges that parenthood will inevitably bring. There are various parenting self-help books available and, of course, an experienced mom or dad may be able to offer a pointer or two. But even if you do access all your resources – guess what? You’re going to make mistakes because you’re human and child-rearing is not a perfect science. I promise that nobody has it completely figured out.

Ser mamá de 3

January 29, 2018 – Una pregunta bastante común en estos días es ¿qué se siente ser mamá de 3? Y con el corazón en la mano y muchas ganas de compartir esta aventura, les contaré lo maravilloso y lo complicado que es.
Yo soy hija única, crecí sin hermanos y sin primitos, por lo que siempre soñé con tener una familia grande. Después de tener a mi primera hija, estaba segura que quería tener otro bebé y sin dudas ni miedos, buscamos a mi pequeña Sabrina.

Holidays in the Hospital

January 23, 2018 – ’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring because we were stuck in the Special Care Unit at our local children’s hospital fighting a terrible trifecta of pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and gastrointestinal issues. What a vacation, right? Five days of respiratory support, holding feeds, and sleeping on a couch did not really meet our expectations for a Christmas holiday this past year, but it’s where we ended up.