RECENT POSTS
“Good Genes” and the Gift of Being Human
What if the real beauty of humanity isn’t found in “good genes,” but in the people our culture is most inclined to screen out? Last
Super Babies and the Cost of Control
I recently read a Washington Post essay entitled “Inside the Silicon-Valley Push to Breed Super Babies.” It describes the latest technology to screen embryos for
How Love Disrupts the Hierarchy
You may have noticed that I didn’t write a Substack last week. I took the week off because I was at Hope Heals Camp in
Life, Animated
Journalist Ron Suskind’s son Owen was diagnosed with autism at age three. Over the course of the previous year, Owen had stopped talking and seemed
“The Work of Caring for My Daughter Will Never Be ‘Efficient’”
I am very grateful to Julie Kim for writing about the importance of the Department of Education—and her concern over the Trump administration’s cuts to
Choosing not to worry about your children (and how to turn worry into prayer)
“Big kids, big problems.” I’ve heard the phrase for years, and I’ve been a little dismissive of it. I love having teenagers. I love the
July 2025 | Things Worth Your Time
Books, essays, podcasts episodes, and more that I think are worth your time, plus recent cultural news that I’m paying attention to… BOOKS BOOK: The Hospitality
Our daughter has Down syndrome. Can she live a full life?
Here’s what I know… Penny has different capacities when it comes to learning, but she has no limits on her capacity to love, or to
Assumptions Without Curiosity
We just returned from two weeks in Italy as a family. It held all the things we had hoped for. We peeked into churches with
The Big, Beautiful Bill?
As we return from vacation and I get back up to speed on the news, I’m trying to wrap my head around the implications of
Kids, Disability, and Relationships
Here’s what I wish parents of typically developing kids knew about disability and relationships: Disability isn’t a completely different experience. It’s often a magnified version of
When the Eye Twitch Comes Back—And What That Has to Do With Hope
As those of you who have read White Picket Fences may remember, I developed an eye twitch when I was working on that book. So maybe I
When the parenting to-do list feels like a flood and I catastrophize
I get overwhelmed pretty regularly by all the things I could be doing to support our kids. Marilee is heading to a new school in
True Friendship Isn’t Built on Pity
Years ago, one of our kids came home from preschool and said, “She cries a lot and doesn’t share her toys.” Our child were talking
Enjoying June
June has been full of gifts! We are enjoying 8th grade graduation, family parties, trips to the shore, our anniversary, Camp PALS, and more! 8th
“You are a human. You belong here.”
I’ve been thinking a lot about belonging—what it feels like, where we find it, and how we create spaces that nurture it, spaces that say,
June 2025 | Things Worth Your Time
Books, essays, podcasts episodes, and more that I think are worth your time, plus recent cultural news that I’m paying attention to… FILMS/MOVIES/DOCUMENTARIES TEDxAtlanta: Cash,
Supreme Court Sides With Student With Disabilities
I was encouraged to see that the Supreme Court ruled unanimously to protect the rights of kids with disabilities and their parents. In this case, a family
S8 E20 | The Lucky Few: Finding Delight and Belonging in Disability with Heather Avis
Apple YouTube Spotify More! When Heather Avis says she’s one of “the lucky few,” she means it. In this episode, we talk about growing
Cinderella Syndrome
Cinderella syndrome. I coined this phrase in conversation with my counselor a few years ago. I suffer from Cinderella syndrome every time I feel like
Sparkle Show
Penny decided to participate in our new church’s Sparkle Show with a friend by singing along to Taylor Swift’s Fearless. It’s no small thing that
