This week, somebody said something unfair about Tess's disability. And it came from somewhere we least expected. But luckily, a hero stepped in.
Read More#58: The Wanderer
This week, I saw progress from Tess. With my own eyes. In a hallway and in a series of offices, on a Thursday afternoon in the town of Windham, Maine.
Read More#57: What Happens When We Fight
This week, what happens next -- I'll give you the lowdown on our showdown with the school district about Tess's evaluation.
Read More#56: What School Districts Should Not Do to Tess
This week, I'm not playing games. The latest round in advocating for Tess. Fighting to get an eval that could change her entire life as we know it.
Read More#55: Big Sister Tess
This week, we spend a weekend in another world. One in which we are six instead of four.
Read More#54: I Speak for the Dads
I've been home with Tess for almost six years now. I've had some epic fails, sure, and I'll talk about some of them. But I know what I'm doing. This week, I speak for the dads.
Read More#53: Beleaguered but Still Bright
This week, we're taking Tess on the road, to see some drummers. What we find is something much more than that.
Read More#52: Hey, Who Moved My Q?
This week, we've declared: this is the year of talking.
Read More#51: One-Item Wishlist
Santa hit our house around 11pm this year, according to the Norad tracker. But something was missing for Tess. This week: Tess's favorite Christmas gift--one thing that Santa couldn't have delivered.
Read More#50: The Top 4 Most Validating Moments of 2015
It's been quite a year, 2015 has.
Read More#49: Bad Day at Dog Park
I want to tell you a story this week. It's got nothing to do with holiday cheer. It's just a thing, or series of things, really, that happened to me and Tess a few weeks ago.
Read More#48: How I Foiled the Thieves
This week, what we wish we knew. It woulda been so much easier if somebody told us this stuff. Pulled us aside and said, "Hey, I did this two years ago with my kid. Whatever you do, make sure you do X." Welp, I'm gonna give you two tips--two simple things that we've learned--and hopefully they'll help you.
Read More#47: What to Get Your Dad for Xmas
This week, what Dads really want for Christmas. We're hard to shop for, and we say we don't want anything. But is that true?
Read More#46: Tess Is an Old Soul
This is a long road. Having Tess means that we move slowly. But every once in a while, there's a moment. A breakthrough.
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#45: Animal House
This week, a different kind of birthday party. We toss out the traditional festivities and instead focus on what Tess will like. Or at least what we think she'll like.
Read More#44: Talking Is Harder Than We Thought
This week, our language quest continues. Tess listens, with mild amusement, as if to say, "Oh, look at you with your cute little communication app." So, is this gonna work, or what?
Read More#43: I Got the Toy Store Blues
This week, Tess turns six. Her classmates sing happy birthday, we celebrate her at home, and I take a shopping trip that turns out to be awful in ways that I never expected.
Read More#42: Speaking In Tongues
This week, what happens when we go all in with communication. We finally pony up for a device that'll let Tess talk. What's she gonna say?
Read More#41: The Tess Army
This week, the Tess army. We're growing. We're everywhere. And we love the T-Bird dearly.
Read More#40: Don't Push This Button
This week, we're getting back into it with language. T has increasingly complex thoughts and wishes, and we gotta unlock those for her. Hitting it hard with signing, talking, and maybe even some AAC devices.
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