I don’t remember the first day or moment when the reality of the pandemic finally set in. I don’t remember exactly when my kids stopped going to school. The past 15 months in many ways has been a blur, but today I’m taking time to reflect on disabled parenting during a pandemic. At first, we […]
About Erin Andrews
The Truth About the 100th Day of School
DISCLAIMER: I am not judging any of my fellow parents or their kiddos for participating in this, but I do hope my perspective will challenge you to think carefully about whether and how you decide to do so. I know that there is no ill intent, and that this is something meant to be fun and […]
The Place That Will Make You Actually Want to Take Your Kids to a Waterpark This Summer
Last June, I reviewed Morgan’s Wonderland, an “ultra-accessible” playground/theme park. I promised I’d visit the separate water park there, and we went in August 2019. I figured the middle of winter is as good a time as any to write about the experience! I’ll start by saying that I hate, absolutely hate and abhor the […]
How I Taught my Kids to Ride a Bike from a Wheelchair
Currently, my children are ages four (4) and eight (8); they are both non-disabled. It is important to me that they have a physically active lifestyle, even though I am in a wheelchair and limited in the range of activities that I can do. When my son was a toddler, I wanted him to be able […]
Disabled Parenting Experience Review: Visiting “Ultra-Accessible” Morgan’s Wonderland
We live about an hour away from San Antonio, Texas, and I’ve long been aware of Morgan’s Wonderland, an attraction that is equal parts playground, carnival, and amusement park. What makes Morgan’s Wonderland unique is that it was developed so “those with and without disabilities can come together.” Philanthropist Gordon Hartman developed the park in honor […]
An Open Letter to Mothers of Disabled Children
As a disabled mother, I can’t help but reflect sometimes on my own entrance into the world. As a member of several online (primarily nondisabled) parenting groups, I find myself triggered by social media posts about babies born disabled or young children being diagnosed with disabilities. As a way to process my own emotions, I […]
Why I Can’t Hold Other People’s Babies
It has been an emotional week. On Wednesday, I went to my 4-year-old daughter’s preschool to talk to three of the classrooms about my disability. I’ve done this before when my son was in preschool. It went pretty well – my daughter accompanied me to each class, including hers. We read “We Can Go Anywhere: […]
Breastfeeding Advice for Mothers with Disabilities
Presentation from February 2017 for the Ohio Lactation Consultants Association Breastfest Conference
A Gift for Mother’s Day
It is that time of year – Mother’s Day. For years, I worried I might never get the chance to become a mother. I was not totally sure, growing up with a physical disability, that I would be able to have children. I was even less sure that I could find a good partner who […]
What Every Disabled Mother Should Know About Breastfeeding
Nicky Boyte was wearing a flowered sundress when I meet her to talk about her experience breastfeeding her son. The two of us zoom into the restaurant in our power chairs, swapping crip war stories as we settle in. Nicky’s been a disability advocate for years; she’s active with both ADAPT and Not Dead Yet. We […]