Blog

My Passport Photo Got a ChatGPT Makeover

I had to update my passport. It had been 10 years since I renewed, and I only used it once! But first, the dreaded passport photo. I went…

Which Ear is Bugging You?

Which ear is bugging you?” Usually, that’s just an expression. Mitch felt—and HEARD—a bug fly straight into his ear. 😳What followed involved a must-read story. You really can’t…

Wait – Are We Still Connected?

WAIT! ARE WE STILL CONNECTED? Some emails were lost (UGH!). Please subscribe—or resubscribe—so you don’t miss Vickie’s Views, my twice-a-month blog. I value my readers and hope you’ll…

100-Word Tiny Witty Window Memory

Funny 100-Word Memory - It was 1989 and my dad thought our new wheelchair van had magic windows. The truth made us both laugh!

TESTING 123

Oh, WordPress! You keep telling me my subscribers aren’t receiving my emailed posts. Can that really be true? So, I’m sending this quick test to see if everything…

Our Amish Story-One Hoof at a Time

The cell phone rings, and my husband, Mitch, answers. “Hi, it’s Jacob.” “Hey, Jacob, what's up?” Mitch replies. This is not just any friend; this is a call…

This Will Make You Stronger: Parenting a Child with Special Needs

I am not saying our life wasn't hard. At times, life was exhausting, isolating, and stressful. Yet the joys outweighed the hard times, and when I look back,…

My View in Buffalo News: Positives and Negatives of Smartphones are Tough to Sort Out.

My View in Buffalo News today: Do you remember phone numbers, paper maps, or life before Siri? 📞🗺️ Our cell phones have become our “external hard drive,” but…

Jessica’s House, Downtown Voices

In a world that often moves too fast, Jessica’s dinner table, filled with love, friendship, and music, reminds us what truly matters. I enter my daughter Jessica’s house.…

Easy Moving Tips for Families Raising Kids with Disabilities

Moving with a family member with a disability? Discover essential tips to make the process smoother and less stressful for your family.

That Mah Jongg Lady From Long Island

Somewhere between Mah Jongg tiles and a tiny library in the Florida Keys, I met a woman who shared more than my love of Mah Jongg. What happened…

Tarpon Dreams Turned into Shark Reality During a Wild Day on the Water

As seen in The Buffalo News My View— Mitch was hoping for a tarpon. I was hoping for a short trip. I was mid-phone call, half-paying attention, when…

Happy Birthday, Jessica

Happy Birthday, Jess - Chapter 1 - Raising Jess: A Story of Hope- April 11, 1982, The beginning of our story. As the months passed, the doctor continued…

Lessons from My Six-Year-Old Teacher: Presence, Patience, and Phones

In Noa’s classroom, my dog Gus and I both have lessons to learn—mine: “get off your phone”; his: “stop eating from the garbage.” We take our seats (mine…

Home My Tara

As seen in Buffalo News - My View - My husband Mitch refers to my childhood home as “Tara,” the glorious homestead featured in the movie Gone with…

OMG! Jessica and I are in Exceptional Parent Magazine: A Home of Her Own

OMG! Jessica and I are featured in Exceptional Parent Magazine! 💛 “A Home of Her Own” is about hope, independence, and keeping an open mind and heart as…

How to Help Your Child with Special Needs Engage with the Arts

It can be hard to know where to start. The paint sets get knocked over, the music is too loud, the instructions feel vague — and suddenly art…

How FaceTime Keeps Us Close to Our Nonverbal Daughter Jess

Are you snowed in this morning? Here's a heartWARMING blog to warm YOUR Hearts! FaceTime with Jess: Staying Connected with our Nonverbal Daughter: A Very Short Story

A Celebration 95 Years in the Making

This past December, our family gathered to celebrate my dad’s 95th birthday—a milestone marked not just by years, but by love, generosity, humor, and the legacy he continues…

Warning: Buying a Sycamore Means You Can Never Move!

68 is the New 13- My Adult Bat Mitzvah

The morning of October 12th, I sat at my desk practicing Hebrew for my Bat Mitzvah that evening.   I am not 13—traditional age for becoming a Bat Mitzvah…

🦃ThanksGiving ThankFULL

My Thanksgiving ThankFULL list - GEEZ! I hope I didn't forget anybody—Heartfelt, Humorous, & always Personal - HAPPY THANKSGIVING Y'ALL! 🦃 #Thanksgiving #RaisingJess #Family #Tofurkey #TurkeyDay #BuffaloTurkeyTrot #Humor…

I Am Not Defined by Disability: Seeing our Daughter Through Strength, not Disability

Our daughter Jessica is 43 and has severe intellectual disabilities. This is a parent's perspective of defining our daughter by her abilities and strengths, seeing past the disability.

Our Daniel: When Love Means Letting Go (Buffalo News)

Our Daniel: I search his eyes for an answer. He searches my eyes for a decision.

How Parents of Children with Disabilities Can Recognize and Manage Emotional Spillover

Parenting a child with disabilities brings unique stress. Learn tools to manage anxiety, find support, and build resilience.