How Kids Interpret the Things Their Parents Say
I had surgery last week, and my daughter announced to the entire soccer field: "My mom can't come to practice today because she is doing a poop test." I had to do colon prep, and wasn't physically able to make it away from the bathroom. I told her that I needed to stay close to the bathroom, and her interpretation was that I was doing a "poop test." Kids seem to have a knack for spreading family secrets and having a slightly skewed interpretation of our conversations. So if y
Why I'm Nervous About the First Day of School for my Sons with Autism
The first day of school for my sons, Justin and Tyler, is getting close. This is going to be the first time in more than six years that I've only had one kid to take care of for most of the day (their baby brother). The first time I'm going to have a little free time in I don't know how long. I'm not going to be a complete ball of nerves most of the day, trying to take care and manage three very different personalities who all want my attention and never in the same way. To s
Why I Chose Summer Camp
Around my wrist hangs a clear pink plastic bracelet. It holds a mix of glitter and tap water, a simple and unremarkable combination that, typically, would never have been something that I would remember or treasure. This bracelet, however, is different. It was given to me by a friend of mine, a friend with short blonde hair and bright blue eyes, a friend whose shirt is usually on backwards or inside out, a friend with a contagious laugh, a mischievous smile and a tendency to
Man with Autism Creates App for Emergency Communication
Winner of the HuffPost What's Working Honor Roll A Belgian man with autism has created an "Emergency Chat" app for communicating in situations where speech is not an option. Jeroen De Busser, a student in computer science at the University of Antwerp, came up with the idea after experiencing an anxiety attack during which he found himself unable to communicate verbally with friends. The app allows users who are unable to speak because of a medical or psychiatric condition to
Success at School is Possible, Even if Your Child has ADHD
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can achieve success in school when they get the accommodations they're entitled to. ADHD affects about 11 percent of American children. Often, one of the biggest struggles for ADHD kids and their parents is achieving a successful school experience. Symptoms of ADHD frequently look like a lack of effort, lack of motivation, or simply not caring about doing well in the classroom. When a student with ADHD is misunders
A Letter To To The Doctor Who Diagnosed My Daughter
By Shanell Mouland, contributer to The Huffington Post Dear Dr. M, It's not like I hadn't heard of you before we walked into your office that day. Your reputation as the best developmental pediatrician around is why we stood in front of you. I had done the research on you, both professional and personal. I knew who I was looking at but I still stared a little too long during our greeting in the hospital lobby. I wanted to really understand the woman who held so much power ove