There’s a deck of cards on the kitchen table. Corners bent, one slightly torn, creases feathering through the paper like tiny lightning bolts. They’ve been played with—really played with—the kind of wear that only comes from laughter, groaning, last-minute rule changes, and tiny betrayals over UNO reverses. The kind of wear that matters. The big […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Let’s get brutally honest: talking about life insurance is uncomfortable. It forces us to think about a future where we’re not here. And when you’re the parent of a special needs child—like I am, raising a daughter with Pitt Hopkins Syndrome—it’s not just uncomfortable. It’s terrifying. Because here’s the deal: I don’t get the luxury […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]