RECENT POSTS
25 Years of Marriage
Twenty-five years ago today, Peter and I stood in a big white church in front of over 200 people. We vowed to have and to
S7 E18 | Exploring the Good Life with Meghan Sullivan, Ph.D.
Apple YouTube Spotify More! What does it mean to live a good life? How do we find meaning and happiness in our everyday lives? In
Penny’s Final Dance Recital
I never ever imagined Penny would dance for twelve years. I knew dance was a good activity for her as a little kid with Down
A Deformed Imagination
When it comes to disability, most westerners have a deformed imagination. I am one of these westerners, although having a daughter with Down syndrome has
Why Belonging Matters
I’ve been thinking about the difference between inclusion and belonging. These thoughts have mostly been prompted by all the end-of-high school events for our daughter
Penny in Her Own Words: Senior Project Presentation
Intellectual disability does not need to prevent young adults from learning. With support, encouragement, and room to make mistakes and grow from them, students like
Penny in Her Own Words: Senior Prom
We’ve been talking about senior prom all year long, and I wasn’t sure whether the event itself would be a letdown after so much anticipation.
Biased Response to Patients with Down Syndrome
I just learned about a recently named condition: Down syndrome regression disorder (DSRD) from an article (read for free here) in the Washington Post. But
S7 E17 | Chasing the Intact Mind with Amy Lutz, Ph.D.
Apple YouTube Spotify More! In a society often obsessed with intelligence, can we reimagine a good life that encompasses joy, meaning, and respect for all?
Alumni Weekend
Peter and I have an odd story of meeting, and dating, and marriage. He was from New Orleans. I was from Connecticut. We met at
May 2024 Favorites
There’s so much good content out there these days, it’s hard to know where to start. Here are a few of my favorite books, podcast
What I Learned from “The Disruptors”
What makes a disorder a disorder? Does it harm us to label each other with disorders? Or does it help us to identify areas where
What Is Normal?
What is “normal?” I don’t use the word normal very much anymore. It’s just one of the many ways my language has changed in the
Ministry of Tears
How do I care for someone in pain? People have asked me this question. I’ve asked this question. And I thought it would be helpful
Wildcat Movie: Why Flannery O’Connor Matters
I am still trying to find a theater nearby that is showing the new film, Wildcat, directed by Ethan Hawke and starring his daughter Maya
A Wild Weekend
How do you make it through a wild weekend that includes one daughter’s dance rehearsals, another’s soccer games, your son’s performance in Hamlet, and your
S7 E 16 | Hope That Heals in a World That Hurts with Katherine Wolf
Apple YouTube Spotify More! How do you hold onto hope in the midst of suffering? How can we trust in the goodness of God
Mothers Who Went Before
My uncle sent me this photo for Mother’s Day. It shows my great-grandmother (far left), my mother, and my grandmother. I love this snapshot of
How Language Shapes Our Imagination
I’m two weeks into my new workshop, Reimagining Family Life with Disability. We have nearly 40 parents of children with disabilities who are Zooming in from
Visiting Kindness
So here’s a beautiful model of how to create a space that benefits an entire community. I got to visit my friend Katie Kishore in
The Power of Love
The only power that God ever chooses to wield is the power of love. And that’s a really non-coercive, gentle, patient, kind power. It’s incredibly
