relationships Archives - Page 2 of 9

How Do We Protect Our Daughters With Disabilities From Abuse?

Nov 27 2014

We allow men of authority into our lives because why wouldn’t we? Celebrities, clergy, teachers, doctors—all intelligent, successful, well respected, and charming men—why wouldn’t we trust them? It’s hard to believe it when they turn out to be monsters. I have to wonder what happened to make them this way? You know that something happened. Somewhere along the way an incident or prolonged exposure to something dark or painful twisted them away from normal and decent. Despite what happened to them in their formative years, what they are inflicting upon others now is not okay. More than that, it’s humiliating and hurtful. It’s a hateful cycle that needs to end. All women are at risk, but our daughters with disabilities are exceptionally vulnerable. My daughter is beautiful, inside and out. She’s kind and loving and completely naive. She could easily fall prey to a monster disguised as a human man. How do I protect her online and in daily life? How do I teach her to respect and trust adults whose job it is to keep her safe at school and in activities and programs, but also council her to be cautious? How can she be wary when her eyes[…]

The Hills Are Alive, With The Sound of…. What IS That Sound Anyway?

Nov 10 2014

You’ve heard of the Von Trapps — a beloved and marvelously musical Swiss family whose music lives on amongst the hills and beyond. Our family is also musical. That is to say we attempt to make music. It may not be harmonious or even bearable to listen to, but it’s a fun way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon with family. So pull up a chair, insert some earplugs and get ready to witness the most horrendous and off-key music you’ve ever heard. I give you, the Von Crapps! You’re welcome and I’m sorry.

Nov 06 2014

The minute you think you’ve come to terms with loss, grief comes back—quietly sneaking up on you as a fleeting pang, or slamming into you like a visceral punch that forces the breath from your lungs, making you gasp amid sobs. My friend Heather said the other day in reference to the loss of her son that, “Grief has no time limit.” She and her family have been through it. They’re still going through it. They will always be in it to some degree. There may indeed be five stages of grief, but there’s definitely no fixed schedule or order to them. My husband’s mom passed away last February. She was more a friend than a mother in law and the close bond she shared with my children was uncommon, I think. My son was ten when she died. She wasn’t sick—her death was unexpected and a shock for everyone. Of course my boy was devastated when she died, but after a month or so, the cloud lifted for him and he claimed he had made peace with it and that he was okay. He later admitted he felt guilty for not crying anymore. “We all grieve in our own[…]

Aug 18 2014

I suppose the silver lining to that golden rule is that all bad things must come to an end too. At some point anyway. Even if you’re up to your chin in moist festering crud, the tide of wretched crap will eventually recede. And though treading water in a sea of sludge isn’t pleasant, at least there will ultimately be an end to your suffering. But what about when GOOD things come to an end? Things you don’t want to let go or have torn away. Like friendships— when a relationship is meaningful one day, then missing the next. I’ve been there. You probably have too. Losing a friend is awful at any age. It seriously hurts. But what about children? How do we teach them that it happens to everyone and that’s it’s okay? Or that it will be okay once the sting subsides. This is something we’re working through at the moment. Friends grow apart. Especially when interests begin to vary. Say one friend is creative and loves to read and the other lives and breathes hockey. Once inseparable, the weekly interaction begins to wane until they haven’t spoken in months. Phone calls go unreturned and your child[…]

Aug 13 2014

Our little girl turned eight last week. Eight, not eighteen, but from her recent behaviour the line is somewhat fuzzy. First we caught her hot tubbing in mixed company. Don’t let the water wings fool you, she’s a wild woman. Later that night we found her elbows deep in coins, playing the slots, drinking (apple juice) like a sailor on leave. Then we spotted her wandering around Chicago, coffee in hand (she was probably exhausted from a late night of gambling) mixing with the locals and painting the town red. The next thing we knew, she was on her first date playing coy. Ha! It’s a ruse. She’s such a cheeky little monkey—I’m sure I spotted her playing footsies under the table. Kids these days… Kidding aside, Avery has grown up so much this year. SO. MUCH. Things we never imagined she’d be able to do, she’s doing like a boss. Running, turning a perfect somersault, swimming, talking a blue streak, traveling—the girl knows how to pack a suitcase and has a wanderlust to rival that of any explorer. As for dating, she really did meet her “boyfriend” in Chicago —a sweet ‘younger man’ who up until now, we’ve[…]

Category - relationships

How Do We Protect Our Daughters With Disabilities From Abuse?

The Hills Are Alive, With The Sound of…. What IS That Sound Anyway?

What Is The Time Limit On Grief?

When Friendships Fizzle

Kids These Days….