Broken Phantoms: understanding visually identifiable and invisible disabilities
If there is any one particularly great experiential divide in the vast disability community, it may be that between the visually identifiable and the invisible disabilities. It’s the difference between a world of unwanted pity, and one of unwanted judgment.
We’re turning our kiddos into gardeners — and they love it
Becoming a homeowner and having a patch of my very own earth renewed my enthusiasm for gardening, and my pregnancy a few years later roped my husband into the process. Lumbering, exhausted, and vaguely afraid of toxoplasmosis in the soil, I coerced him into carrying out my vision of the vegetable garden until he’d fully drunk the Kool-Aid.
We pulled off a Star Wars Day birthday party for our six-year-old in under six hours
The Internet was ablaze with Star Wars Day references on May 4. At first I was bummed — why didn’t I think of it as a possible date? Then it hit me: if Luca’s friends were available, why not throw a last minute party?
How I explain race to my mixed-race children
Being mixed has shaped my identity, made me who I am. I’ve always felt different, but in a good way. Sure, I’ve had my share of racist insults and rejection hurled at me, but nothing that I wasn’t able to shake off. Now, I’m raising mixed-race kids and I have the challenge of helping them discover and embrace their unique identity.
Tips for helping your offbeat student navigate the waters at public school
No one wants their child to miss out on the opportunity to be themselves, and creativity and individuality can seem impossible in a large, standardized school environment. I have seen, though, that it can work.
Collaborative photography with my autistic five-year-old
Lately, the line in my photography and Remy’s is blurring just a teeny tiny bit. (No, I am still not letting him shoot with my DSLR. It just weighs too much and would be too expensive to replace if he dropped it.) Remy has moved on from the Canon point-and-shoot I was letting him use when there were fresh batteries to be found. He has also discovered a love of the iPod camera, just as I have.
Forging a relationship with my new step-daughter
Sophia’s technically not my step-daughter yet, and if I stick with just the off-hand comment of how my fiance has a child, it sounds like I’m not involved in her life. “Soon-to-be step-mom” is awkward and clunky, and referring to her as a room mate is clearly not an option.
Trusting my child to choose his own adventure: democratic unschooling in action
I’ve been answering the question, “What grade is your son in?” for nine years, and even now I’m never quite sure what will come out of my mouth. My son has been attending The Clearwater School since age four. Clearwater is a Sudbury school, a democratic school based on freedom, trust, and responsibility. Kids have as much of a say in running the school as adults.