Advocacy, autism, children, Communication, Education, Family, garden photos, inspiration, Life

Ready, Set, Match

I love my son more than anything in the world. To support a dangerous ideology, which would seek to dehumanize children, teens, and adults like my son is not and never will be right. There is not a right or left-winged news station quote. The source material for me to cite is in my own flesh and blood.

autism, Bereaved Parents, Child loss, children, Family, Grief, Life, Loss, Mental Health, Photography, Photos, Poetry

A Picasso Shade of Blue

Born with a different kind of mind– and not the etch-a-sketch kind with the straight edges and directions to flow–is like sitting on the steps of the shallow end without a clue of how to swim or where to go.

Advocacy, autism, Bereaved Parents, Child loss, children, parenthood, parenting

The Light When All Other Lights went Out

By the age of six, a person with autism will experience more negative interactions compared with other children.

autism, Bereaved Parents, Child loss, children, parenthood, Poetry

Dreams for My Children: a Poem for Corrie and Her Brother

In a dream, I heard her laughter. She bounced on the bed I could feel her arms around me, and see her curls wrap around her face. As always, her hair flew unkempt, unbrushed as if she'd just read Where the Wild Things Are. I'd laugh and tell her, "She was one of the the… Continue reading Dreams for My Children: a Poem for Corrie and Her Brother

autism, Education, Family, inspiration, Life, Poetry, Writing

A Reflection of my Life as a Writer, Author, and Poet, Part I

Just because I was identified as a child with learning disabilities and possibly autistic rather than academically gifted, it failed to mean that my intelligence and gifts would never show.

autism, Bereaved Parents, bereavement, children, Loss, Poetry, Writing

I Used to Sing, a Poem

Did you know I used to sing? Then I stopped performing. I walked away from the stage. I left behind a scholarship at a small college as if it was nothing more than a second hand bike  passed down three times left out between flat tires, tall grass and the rain. Truth be told, I… Continue reading I Used to Sing, a Poem

Advocacy, autism, Education, Poetry

Not Your Average Teacher: Atypical, LEGO Educator and Published

I celebrate 20 publications. I celebrate and embrace being atypical. I honor and remember that grief does not define me, but is a part of me.

autism, children, Family, parenting, Writing

What They Don’t Tell you About COVID, a Poem for my Son

What do you do when your child becomes something to remain behind the caution tape for longer than the time the doctor says he needs to be? What happens when instead of being in a contaminated room with doctors and nurses in hazmat suits the walls build up around you and your child? It's like… Continue reading What They Don’t Tell you About COVID, a Poem for my Son

autism, Bereaved Parents, Family, flowers, garden, inspiration, Loss, Photography, Uncategorized, Writing

Our House, Our Story

he land itself tells stories of love and loss and of survival. There is a love deeper than the roots of the trees torn up by the tornado. Lives continue past the human experience. The family of John, Hayes, and I continues with Corrie inside us and on the land.

autism, Bereaved Parents, Child loss, children, Family, Life, parenting, Photography, Photos, Poetry, Writing

On Another Shore: A Photo Story Poem for Brother and Sister

You are always with me. We walk on different shores. When you dig your toes into the sand, know I dig my toes in the sand on another shore.