Tag Archive for: IEP

When the Curtain Falls on Gossip and Glamour: A Mom’s Perspective on the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Lawsuit

I wasn’t going to write about this. Not because I don’t have thoughts—God, I do. But because most of the time, I’m too busy navigating real life to spare the energy. My days are full. Loud. Sometimes lonely in ways that have nothing to do with being alone. My husband, a stay-at-home dad and the […]

Educating with Grace: Why I’m Choosing Curiosity Over Outrage When People Stare at My Special Needs Daughter

Trying not to be a “Karen” about my special needs daughter when people stare or ask honest questions is… a journey. And not the kind of journey you post aesthetic Instagram updates about. Because let’s be real: it’s complicated. I get it. When people stare, when they cock their heads or whisper behind hands, when […]

Estate Planning for Special Needs Families: Protecting Your Child’s Future

Let’s be honest: estate planning sounds like something reserved for wealthy families with beachfront property and trust funds named after their dogs. But when you’re a parent to a child with special needs—like I am, raising a daughter with Pitt Hopkins Syndrome—estate planning isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline. A necessary, not-so-glamorous act of love […]

Has Everyone Lost Their Damn Minds? The Internet, Politics, and Supporting Each Other Again

It’s funny. The other day, I saw a post on Bluesky—yes, that newish social media space where all the Twitter exiles are hiding—and someone asked, “Are people who aren’t talking about politics getting any traction anymore?” I blinked at the screen and thought, Wow, what a very on-the-nose, 2025 question. It stuck with me. Not […]

Escaping to the Woods with Our RV, a Kid Named Bean, and Zero Regrets

We’re taking the RV and heading into the woods for some good old-fashioned R&R. And when I say R&R, I mean rest and real connection—the kind that doesn’t involve Wi-Fi, IEP meetings, or last-minute therapy cancellations. The twist? We’ve decided to leave the two teenagers home. Yep. We’re rolling the dice, crossing our fingers, and […]

Financial Planning for a Child with Disabilities: Long-Term Security Strategies

Let’s just get this out of the way: financial planning for a child with disabilities is not for the faint of heart. It’s like trying to build a sandcastle during a hurricane—on a budget—while also filling out 30 pages of government paperwork. Welcome to my world. I’m a mom to a daughter with Pitt Hopkins […]

It’s Not You, It’s… Actually Me: Therapy, Autism, and Learning to Be Enough

Let’s get this part out of the way: My therapist has sent me two Autism evaluations. And I keep telling her—I’m autistic. Like, this isn’t news to me. It’s not a surprise. But apparently, getting the paper trail matters. For a long time, I minimized it. I masked it. I overcompensated. I played the part […]

Healing Out Loud: Working Through Childhood Trauma While Raising a Special Needs Daughter

Here’s a truth I didn’t think I’d ever type publicly: I’m working through childhood trauma while trying to be a better mom. And yes, it’s as exhausting as it sounds. Being a mom is already a full-time, soul-deep commitment. But being a mom to a child with special needs—specifically, a daughter with Pitt Hopkins Syndrome—adds […]

Being Vulnerable Online Sucks—But Here I Am Anyway

I’ve wanted to write about this for a long time. But here’s the thing—being vulnerable online sucks. I mean, really sucks. If you’ve ever put yourself out there, even a little bit, you know what I mean. The internet can be a beautiful place, a community, a space where people rally around each other. But […]