When the New Year bell rang, I decided it was time for the Christmas tree to come down. For Mikelle, it was a bittersweet moment. Her month-long party had come to an end. She wore her disappointment stoically as she watched me take down the garland, the twinkling lights she loved, and finally, the treasured […]
The No New Year’s Resolution Revolution: Embracing Personal Growth Without Pressure Read More »
Last Year’s Disappointments Don’t Matter this Year. We all hoped it would be a better year for the Denver Broncos, but it wasn’t. Oh well, we all have our building years, right? Mikelle doesn’t really care about last year’s disappointment as long as she can hang out in Bronco’s country with two of her favorite
Mikelle’s Bronco Magic Read More »
Is the aging caregiver crisis just around the corner? Her passing set in motion a cascade of decisions that triggered deep thought about my passing and preparation for when, as one of my fellow special needs parents says, “We fall off our perch.” The Problem. In the U.S. today, there are nearly one million households
Will the Pioneer Generation become the Generation in Crisis? Read More »
A Beautiful Gift Arrives In the fall of 1983, I lived in a nice-sized three-bedroom home in a southwestern suburb of Denver. My father, a general residential contractor, had built many homes in the neighborhood. My then-husband and I purchased this house in 1979 while I was pregnant with my son, Kasey. It was
Shining Beautiful at 40! Read More »
Community Connects at Eye Level We all desire a certain amount of control over our lives in what we eat, where we go, and who we see, and Mikelle is no different. Most enjoy sitting across the table and sharing coffee with friends and family at the local cafe. We sit at eye level, read
The Big Wheelchair Debate Read More »
It is late spring. The flowers are bursting through moist soil with daffodils and tulips, and the sweet smell of apple blossoms lingers. All across America, in high school classrooms everywhere, transition plans are in progress for teenagers with disabilities who have an IEP (Individual Education Plan). These transition plans are designed to prepare future
A Must Have Tool for Transition Planning Read More »
Routine Life Most families have a routine. We have a daily set of rituals and activities that help us wake up, move around the house and help us run around our communities, and chat with each other over coffee. Yet, we all know that when the dishwasher does work, or the car won’t start, it
Our Everything, Everywhere All At Once! Read More »
Doubt Nagging doubt and uncertainty have replaced my fear. Yet, I know I am not alone as I share a cup of coffee with the unknown. Four other women, all with adults who experience disabilities and have been living an inclusive life in their own homes, feel my trepidation about growing older. What will it
Part Two: What is Next? Read More »
What are the Options? Like many mothers my age, I am at the dark end of a blind alleyway looking for the exit ramp from daily caregiving and into retirement. I love being a mom and have been privileged to support and care for Mikelle’s mom. I am just being realistic. I can’t do what
Where is the Exit Ramp? Read More »
One Christmas in Color, two-holiday parties, three great presents, four fun team members, and five golden smiles made this holiday season bright. Strung together like a strand of lights on the Christmas tree, this season’s events were brilliant and beautiful. Our hearts are full of love for our friends and family. Perhaps our appreciation is
