Special Needs | Heart of the Matter

Is it the Winter Blahs or Something More?

It’s cold. It’s dark. Getting out from under the warm blankets is more difficult. You have no motivation. It’s the winter blahs. Or is it? Maybe it’s something more. Maybe you’re really fighting...

The Literal World – Be Careful What You Say

While enjoying a nice lunch at the Japanese restaurant we were recalling that it once used to be a Blockbuster video store. It had been remodeled so well that it was hard to remember the building in its original state. An old...

Our Journey to Homeschooling

I am the mother of a beautiful 8-year-old little girl. She is bright, funny, intelligent, and an absolute joy to be around. It’s just her and me on our journey through life together, and she has been my true blessing. I look...

I Need Eleven!

photo courtesy Susan at From the Narrows Have you ever been baffled or surprised by something your child says? You may be certain that you heard the words correctly, but they don’t make sense. Having children with learning...

Meeting Your Child’s Needs

Last time I shared about my struggle to find the “perfect curriculum.” At the end I mentioned that after finally finding something that fit I was left wondering if my possibly gifted son was too advanced for the...

The “Gift” Beneath the Bow

I have a secret passion for gifted studies. I’ve always been fascinated by the brain and education, but standing in a Barnes & Noble one day about ten years ago, waiting for my husband who was about to meet me for lunch, I...

To End the School Year or Not

When Your Child’s Illness has Caused More Sick Days than School Days If your child has a serious or chronic illness (like congenital heart defects, leukemia, or severe asthma), when or if you should end the school year can be...

Can You Understand Your Child’s Speech?

When I heard the words “My ball died” coming out of the mouth of a preschool boy I was seeing for speech therapy, I tried not to show alarm. “Tommy” didn’t seem to be too upset, but he was clearly...

My Child, the Perfectionist: part 2

My most recent post dealt with coping with perfectionism. Perfectionism has its good points, but unless you can control it, it can rapidly become paralyzing and debilitating. It is hard enough to deal with perfectionism as...

Picky Eaters

If you have a picky eater, you’ve probably heard comments such as “Don’t worry, she’ll eat when she’s hungry” or “All young children are picky eaters.” While these statements may be true of most...