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To the Moms

Friday, June 22, 2018 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

It’s almost Mother’s Day... Here’s to the moms wearing their clothes from yesterday. Here’s to the moms who wallow on couches strewn with goldfish and drown in sweaty boys and hands sticky from daddy’s pancakes. Here’s to the moms wondering how in the Hell anything is supposed to happen on a holiday for mothers that doesn’t actually require them to plan, cook, shop, orchestrate. Here’s to the moms thinking that motherhood has sucked them dry of motivation and accomplishment ..

Summer Camp

Wednesday, June 20, 2018 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

Two lines of boys in the month of June. Two lines of boys, roughly the same age. Two lines of boys, one group born to privilege and the other seeking a better life. Two lines of boys, one group in Tornillo, Texas and one group in Arapahoe, North Carolina. Two lines of boys, both groups hot and sweaty. Two lines of boys, one group hopeful for letters and boxes filled with candy and water guns. Two lines of boys, one group wondering where the fuck they are and if ..

To the School

Wednesday, June 20, 2018 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

Dear School, Ours is a special needs family. Next year scares me. I can’t imagine there’s a special needs parent that doesn’t feel that way. Why is it different for us? Well, I’ll tell you. My big three kids are going on to the next grade, regardless of what I do or say. There is no choice to be made unless we want to consider a different school all together or make a fuss in order to get a specific teacher. For those of us who have kids with special needs, ed ..

Ted and Amos

Monday, June 18, 2018 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

An unlikely pair, yet a match made in heaven. I wonder if that heaven phrase was born to describe things or those relationships that could only be crafted by the very hand of God? I think so. A year ago, I longed for Amos to go to Sunday school and yet, I didn’t want to have to take him. A big part of him being in the world is learning to do it without his mama. I talked to the powers that be and we made a go of it. Him in his class and me helping to teach the older group, ..

Mountain Camp

Sunday, June 17, 2018 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

He’s not terribly sporty. He plays soccer somewhat reluctantly and church basketball, a bit begrudgingly. Perhaps it’s the running. He’s not much into sweating. It took years to get him out of a collared shirt, khaki shorts and loafers. His spirit is sweet and giving, not so much competitive or cut throat. We dropped his nervous self off at mountain camp today. A birthday gift from his grandparents and after watching the promo video a half dozen times, he ..

Autism Never Goes on Vacation

Saturday, June 16, 2018 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

Autism never goes on vacation. I didn’t know that before this precious boy. At least, I didn’t think about it. Vacation is a getaway, realistically, a relocation. For autism though, it’s tough stuff. New places. New beds. New activities. Autism doesn’t like new so much. New is scary at our house and things like jacuzzi jets or gas station bathroom hand dryers can set off a great big noisy fuss. We have more of those on vacation. It’s okay, truly, ..

Yellow Bellied Slider

Saturday, June 16, 2018 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

He’s quite fetching, the boy named Amos. I’d like to call him “King of the Yellow Bellied Sliders,” but that would sound silly. I’d still like to, though. His next oldest brother has always adored creatures of this earth and when Amos stroked that big wide shell, I was fearful and proud. Autism is reflected in most everything we encounter, at least when we’re looking. Brave yellow bellied sliders born of Queen Anne’s Creek seem to be more friend than foe to Edent ..

Keeping Score

Thursday, June 14, 2018 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

Keeping Score Not me. Not his dad. Not his teachers. Only him. He keeps score and no matter our words or reassurance, he won't let those numbers go. Don't baby him, some say. You can't keep him in a bubble forever, others scoff. You'll have to let him fail sometime, you tell me. Well, I don't agree, not when the subject still calls me mommy, the sixth grader who leans in for a hug and asks to sleep in our bed when daddy is gone. That boy will be thrown to the wolves over my dead body, bu ..

Awards Day

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

It wasn’t how I thought the day would unfold. Truly. I was sick with worry and in a fit of neediness, I asked my mama to come and spend the day. She said yes. She went with me to an IEP meeting that was awfully good. Mothers know best, don’t they? Mine does. She went with me to my oldest son’s award ceremony. He won an awful lot. I never won much of anything. I was never the best at anything unless you count the second time I took Latin I, but I ..

Love of a Sister

Sunday, June 10, 2018 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

She shares so much these days. Just two since school’s been out and already, I’ve learned an awful lot. She’s squished between two older siblings and one younger. All boys and she, my daughter, is the Lone Ranger of all things lovely. Not in the most traditional of ways, but she thinks these big thoughts. This brother arrived four years behind her and she has been the most enchanting of big sisters. She works with him. Every day, she works with him. Mom ..

Tales Of An Educated Debutante

on life, loss and the joy that rules the day.

The future is far away and scary, but today is lovely.

To the Moms

Summer Camp

To the School

Ted and Amos

Mountain Camp

Autism Never Goes on Vacation

Yellow Bellied Slider

Keeping Score

Awards Day

Love of a Sister

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