I didn’t grow up playing outside all that often. Partially because of my disability, and partially because we weren’t raised playing outside of the house. When I was younger, it wasn’t something we did and looking back on it, the lack of outdoor activity doesn’t make me feel like I missed out on a great […]
reflections
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 […]
Mother: Reflections from a Mother with a Disability
I am a mother. I carried my child in my womb and I felt his movements. His heartbeat kept time with mine because he came from me… He is mine. I am his mother. I use a wheelchair. And yet, that has never changed the fact that I am his mother. There is pain, (there […]
Playground Anxieties as a Mom with a Disability
Springtime is finally here! My five-year-old is beyond excited to finally be able to get out of the house and go to the playground. While I love the warm weather and spending time outdoors, going to the playground with my five-year-old fills me with instant anxiety. Let me explain: I have a physical disability that […]
Working as a Disabled Mom: What Senator Duckworth’s Achievements Mean for Other Mothers with Disabilities
Last week, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) made history as she became the first United States senator to cast a vote on the Senate floor with a newborn in her arms. Senator Duckworth is also the first United States senator to give birth while in office. In and of themselves, both achievements are important steps in achieving […]
Ableism and Parenting
Ableism is real. Ableism is painful. Yet, for many of us disabled people, it can be difficult to paint the picture of what ableism looks like, or how it affects our lives, and, as disabled parents, how it affects our children and the way THEY see us. Going through some old photos I came across several […]
A Normal Life
They cried when I went back to work. They cried, and begged me not to go —begged me to stay with them like I’d done for so long. And although I might have appeared tough when I told them not to cry, my heart was already broken when I kissed them goodbye, and boarded the […]
Everything is a Process: Musings from a Mother with a Disability
This is something I am repeating to myself constantly. It has become my mantra. Parenting is a long walk with children, featuring endless questions, lots of laughter and tears, and sometimes, if I’m being honest, anger is present. The munchkin is a fiery ball of energy, and I have to strategize when parenting. My expectations […]
Your Mama’s In A Wheelchair
You came home crying one day because a boy at school insulted you —said something “bad” about your mama. Tears of anger and hurt rolled down your little boy face when you explained the boy had said that your mama’s in a wheelchair, and you punched him for saying that, I guess, because in your […]
Holiday Traditions: Reflections from a Disabled Mother
My family has always been big on Christmas. I started shopping in the middle of October this year. I am officially a Christmas freak! I love the lights, the music, and the nog! Try not to the judge me for putting up the tree before Thanksgiving, but I have to strategize where the “parking space” […]