Pointe Shoes and Developing Perseverance
Penny got new pointe shoes last week. For a long time, I thought pointe—which requires strength in both the feet and ankles that I didn’t believe Penny would ever have—would…
Penny got new pointe shoes last week. For a long time, I thought pointe—which requires strength in both the feet and ankles that I didn’t believe Penny would ever have—would…
I was recently reminded of my high schooler's independence. Last week I left the girls home alone together while I went to the grocery store. Before I went, I suggested…
This is a season of constraints. Remote learning at home. Social distancing. Celebrating holidays during a pandemic. Navigating a contentious election. This week, our kids were home for three days…
It’s been a stressful week for most Americans when it comes to the state of our nation in the election aftermath. Even without a final verdict on who will be…
I have a new essay about Amy Coney Barrett, Down syndrome, and abortion (really light topics with no controversy!) up at the Religion News Service site today. I’ve been thinking…
Download FREE E-Book Our daughter Penny was born on December 30, 2005. She was diagnosed with Down syndrome a few hours later. It’s almost hard to remember what it felt…
What is normal? Normie is a coming-of-age film about a young woman with Down syndrome. Today, Annemarie Carrigan, the lead cast member of Normie, and Kurt Neale, the director and…
William and I walked to our local library a few days ago. I pointed to the painted symbol on the pavement in front of us that designated which spots would…
How does “the built world”—the chairs, rooms, and streets that guide our bodies every day— implicitly ascribe worth to human beings? How does the built world welcome or exclude individuals…
We had a planning meeting last February for our teenage daughter, Penny, who has Down syndrome. Penny invited friends, family, and teachers to join her for this conversation. Dreaming and…