As I am writing this, my son is watching an animated feature film about accepting others unconditionally via monsters! At six, his questions are incessant. Some of those questions involve my disability: “Mommy, why can’t you walk?” “Will we need an elevator in this house forever?” “Why don’t they build steps that can turn into […]
disabled mom
Spastic Mama: You Must Think Moments
A friend of mine has always amazed me. She has juggled three kids; two of them twins, has lived abroad with her family, has forged a deep commitment to her faith and community and is a writer. She balanced all of this while acknowledging her own needs for personal and professional growth. None of this […]
5 Misconceptions about Maternity Leave and Why ME-ternity is Ridiculous
So this article is trending: “I want all the perks of maternity leave — without having any kids.” It’s an interview with Meghann Foye, author of a book entitled “Meternity,” about how she believes that American society, and particularly woman, need to stop allowing our careers to control our lives and make more time for ourselves. […]
Spastic Mama: It’s hard for you Mommy. Let me Help.
My son is nearly three and loves to cook, especially for friends. It’s not uncommon for him to wake me up in the morning, pull the pillows and blankets off the bed and declare we are having a party. “Mommy get up, get up! Friends are coming! Let’s make muffin cakes.” With muscles not yet […]
Making it Work: Caring for an Infant as a Mom with SMA
I certainly thought I knew myself as a parent, before I was one (ha!), better than I did. This has by far been the greatest, best, most difficult and even most anxious time of my life as a settle in. My current anxiety is about Gia becoming mobile. I already have help and am never […]
Unique…Like Any Other Mother
I tend to not sugar coat things. I have that sass that can be blunt and I get stuck in my head a lot by thinking out every detail. I write to share this because I know I’m not the only parent experiencing life with a disability, and because I’ve realized how ignorant our society […]
The Truth About the Short Bus
Now that I have a little boy getting ready to start kindergarten, I’ve already been thinking about the school bus. He’s fascinated by large vehicles and wants nothing more than to ride the school bus to kindergarten. He loves “The Wheels on the Bus” song and book. I’m pretty sure the day will quickly come […]
Diving in, Wheelchair First
Dreaming of becoming a parent chooses you. You don’t get to choose the journey. With Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and using a power wheelchair while requiring care for my basic needs, many would think being a parent wouldn’t be a dream I’d have, let alone pursue. I am a mother to a nearly 5 month-old […]
A Tale of Toilets: Happy Unbirthday to You!
The other night my husband and I took my 98-year-old grandmother out to dinner with our two young children. My son, age 4, seems to always need to use the restroom. Seriously – his record is 5 pitstops in one meal! Anyway, this was a small Mexican restaurant with a single use bathroom. We were […]
Self-Preservation and Saying “No” as a Parent
Saying “no,” is something I have learned is essential to my self-preservation. As much as I don’t like it, I’ve found that saying no can actually make me a better parent and spouse. I recently had to turn down speaking at a large conference in my field, something I’d actively lobbied for, pursued, and then […]