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.
Category: Lifestyle
Bat Sh!+ Bedlam
Mitch and I were watching The Gilded Age. As usual, I was half-asleep on the couch when I saw something flying.
“Is that a bird?” I asked.
Mitch already knew it was NOT a bird and was trying to decide what to do with me and the EEEEK! BAT!
UNIQUE Little Red Book: Our Daughter, with a Severe Intellectual Disability, Story in an International Book 📕
A rare genetic diagnosis gave us a name, a global community—and a spot in the not-so-little UNIQUE Red Book.
Buffalo News My View: Meals on Wheels – More Than Food
If You Do Not Have a Subscription to the Buffalo News, the Story is Copied Below: The Meals on Wheels volunteer knocks on the door; there’s no answer. He strikes again, but still no answer. He calls the elderly gentleman who typically answers his cell phone, but the phone keeps ringing. He’s about to leave […]
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 to assure us that Jess was fine. I continued to question all her delays. Welcome to Motherhood.
Tow Tow Tow our Boat
I am not a boater—there, I said it. On the other hand, my husband Mitch loves fishing on his rented boat. I have a 2-3 hour ADD attention span for the high seas while he is just getting started. But our last boating experience was the first one for me!
Write, Delete, Repeat: The Blogger’s Block and Navigating Views
Blogger’s block: the struggle is real. Symptoms include excessive deleting, obsessive view-count checking, and questioning life choices. Write Delete Repeat!” #writersBlock #BloggersBlock #Communication #RareDisease #Creativity #RaisingJess
From Typing to Spectacles to Screens: Dad’s Cute 1st Guest Blog at 94
My Dad, Monroe, was born in 1930. Today, at age 94, he is sharing his first blog. Well, technically, he didn’t call it a blog—he just sent our family an email. But as I read it, I knew it was meant to be shared. When I suggested turning it into a blog, Dad agreed to […]
Vegetarian Chili for the CHILLY Weather
It’s a teeth-chattering degrees outside, and you know what that means? Time to grab my actual, no-joke, award-winning Vegetarian Chili Recipe
My View: Life’s Battles Continue Regardless of Circumstances: Medical Appointments with our Daughter with Severe Intellectual Disabilities 
As seen in Buffalo News, Jessica’s hygienist writes a new chapter each visit— “How to dodge bites, flails while using sharp tools!” 🦷
Bet You Never Saw One of These
Years ago, Mitch brought home an Amish contraption that I immediately schemed to throw out. Bet you have never seen this household hack!
Thankful for Superhero Healthcare Folks: Bones, Scopes & Hopes
An essay about scopes and Jessica’s colonoscopy? EWWW – Don’t despair; no details are given other than a heartwarming story about healthcare providers’ unique kindness and compassion. And we are talking about Jessica, our daughter was severe, intellectual disabilities , and things are never how you expect with our Jess.
R- Word Cuts Like a Knife
(Article written in 2008) This article was posted in the Buffalo News in 2008 – I am re-posting it today because Former President Donald Trump called Vice President Kamala Harris “retarded” while attempting to convince top Republican donors to pour more money into his campaign, The New York Times reported Saturday. In most homes a […]
Noa and Nana’s Birthday Extravaganza
Noa was due on my birthday but, of course, she had her own plans! Now we’re celebrating together—Noa style, adoring, adornment and all! #Birthday #Nana #Generation #Celebration #Diva #foodanddrink #RaisingJess #Daughter #Granddaughter #Birthday
I Hired a Tomato Plant Hitman
From falling for 2-cute tomato plants in a big box store to hiring a Tomato Plant Hitman —discover the juicy tale behind the Toms!
Rocking Babies in the NICU: Bringing Comfort and Connection to Newborns
Volunteering as a NICU Baby Rocker, I comforted fragile infants in a Level 4 NICU, providing essential touch and care. Touch is crucial for newborns, especially for those too weak to leave the incubator. Despite fears and mishaps, the experience was rewarding. My daughter’s own challenges inspired me to give back, and I am grateful for the privilege.
WOW! Memorial Day Wishes and Kind of a Writing Break
Book promo isn’t easy, but WOW! moments keep me going. When I receive your feedback about Raising Jess, It Reminds me why I do what I do!
I’m Not A Whippet -A Tail of IGGY Misidentification!
I am Not a Whippet! I am an IGGY. But the worst inDOGnation, is my dog stroller. Oh, paw-lease! How did I succumb to this?
Epiphanies of a Writer: My Top Seven A-Ha Moments
What is it like to write and promote a book? Epiphanies of a writer, discover the top 7 A-Ha Moments from writing ‘Raising Jess’ #Writer #Author #RaisingJess #Memoir #Motherhood #Parenting #Reviews #Success #NeverTooOld
What She Really Meant by, “Do You Play Sports?”
Mitch’s hearing aids are off, and now my mumbling, as well as everyone else’s, is back. A funny short story about What she really meant by, “Do you play sports?”
Candlelit Glow of Remembrance and The Empowering Fist Pump
My beloved Mom, DiaNNe (with two N’s, or you will hear it!), battled Alzheimer’s. This year is my mom’s fourth Yahrzeit, the anniversary of her death. The date is based on the Hebrew calendar, a lunar datebook with 29 monthly days alternating with 30 days. It’s too confusing for me to calculate, so I rely […]
Princess Diana, King Charles, and Me
I was a Princess Diana Fan. Wasn’t everybody? I wasn’t much of a Prince Charles (now known as His Majesty the King) fanatic at the time. Diana and I had more in common; she taught young children, and I also have a degree in early childhood. If that isn’t enough, we had our kids at […]
Domestic Dishwasher Duet: Tetris Architect VS. Chaotic Mess
January 1st, New Year’s Day, is a time for new beginnings, even though it’s just the day after December 31st. Like the first day of school, it’s an occasion to start a new page. Such as, this year, I resolved that I will have better time management skills. I will attempt to put things away […]
2024
A blank slate to start- as we enter 2024A metaphorical closing of 2023’s doorWhat are our hopes and dreams for this yearOf course, Health, Happiness and Peace – that’s clearBut if I sit down and ponder the world’s turmoilIt’s enough to make one recoilHow will Israel’s war end How will Jews around the world defendWho […]
Happy Anniversary, Mitch
Happy Anniversary, Mitch. Today, December 1, 2023, is our 44th wedding anniversary. Mitch and I were married in 1979. I remember when our parents were married for 25 years, and we thought that was unbelievable. 25 years sounded like an eternity, considering we were married for only 6-months. And now our marriage is 44 years, […]