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After our daughter Penny was born and diagnosed with Down syndrome, I felt as though I could no longer imagine our future as a family. The messages I had heard…
Teens, Screens, and Summer
When we turn the corner to summertime, I sink into gratitude for slower days and longer evenings, for hydrangeas and peaches, for more time together as a family. I also…
The Distinction Between Brokenness and Limitations
When Penny was young, I was wrestling with questions like, “What does it mean to be human?” And a friend of mine said, “You know, brokenness and limitations are not…
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. But here’s what Penny, our…
Prioritize Relationships
I gave our daughter Penny two choices for her senior year spring break—the Bahamas (where she has always wanted to go) or Atlanta. She chose Atlanta because going to Atlanta…
Provide Opportunities, Assume Possibility
Penny fell behind in ballet earlier this year. During cheer season, she missed a lot of classes and rehearsals. She also (unbeknownst to me) started sitting out of the rehearsals…
Let’s Drop “Low/High Functioning”
I was totally taken aback the first time someone asked me if our daughter Penny was low functioning. I didn't want to talk about any human in terms of how…
Penny Goes to College
Most people say that kids with intellectual disabilities fall off a cliff when they turn 18 and complete their time in high school. Even though most of them are still…
What Happens with Three Days Away with Your Teenager
I’ve never taken a mother-daughter trip with Marilee before. But this year over spring break, Marilee and I spent four nights together in Jamaica. I was a little worried we…
3 Ways to Interact With Your Disengaged Teenager
We now officially have three teenagers under our roof. Which means we have lots of pop music playing at all hours. And we go through more snacks than we do…
