God only gives you what you can handle. The line popped in my head as I pulled away from the school this morning, and I haven’t been able to get it out all day. OK, so first of all, as a committed agnostic, I’ve got some issues with the whole concept, right off the bat. But […]
Someone pinch me. I had a feeling it would be a good meeting after the principal sent that email with the exciting news that he and Sophie share a birthday — but still, I held my breath as I walked into the school yesterday afternoon for a gathering of Team Sophie. And when we all […]
I’m accustomed to correcting grammar and fixing mistakes as I read aloud — Junie B. Jones taught me well — but I admit I stumbled over Chapter 13 in Because of Winn-Dixie, the book Sophie’s been reading for class. I didn’t expect to encounter the word “retarded” in my kid’s school assignment. Why is this […]
I just got an email from the new principal at Sophie’s school, entitled “Guess What???” UGH. I can guess A LOT. Turns out, it wasn’t one of those emails. Inside it said: I am in the process of reading all of the…children’s IEP’s and you won’t believe what I discovered! Sophie and I share the […]
I have to admit that I was devastated by Sophie’s comment the other night that she doesn’t want to have kids. And a tiny bit relieved. But mostly upset. For as long as I can remember, Sophie’s begged for a baby of her own. (I did a piece about it for KJZZ/NPR in 2007.) We […]
Sophie: I want to have a house someday. Annabelle: A house? Do you want to have a husband? Sophie: Yes. Annabelle: Do you want to have a husband with Down syndrome? Sophie: Yes. Annabelle: Do you want to have babies? Sophie: No. Annabelle: No?! Don’t you want to have a little baby of your own? […]
I can’t believe Sophie’s in fourth grade. Neither could the girl behind the counter at our bagel shop. “It’s the first day of school,” I told her. “Cool!” she told Sophie. “What grade are you in?” “You tell her!” Sophie said. “Fourth,” I said. “Really?” She peered over the counter to take a closer look. […]
Many years ago, my colleague Paul Rubin profiled a local pediatric cardiac surgeon for our paper, Phoenix New Times. The headline was “Prince of Hearts.” But to me, it’s Paul who’s the prince of hearts. Maybe even the king. You should read his article about Michael Teodori. It’s a wonderful piece of journalism, well written and the […]
My friend Cate’s daughter Abby is staring kindergarten this fall, and watching the preparation play out in Facebook posts over the last few weeks brought me back. Like Sophie, Abby has Down syndrome. Like me, Cate had to fight to get Abby into the school that her older child (who, like Annabelle, does not have […]
It’s sharing week here at GIAPH…. Tuesday I showed you Trish’s poem. Today, here’s her lovely daughter Abbie’s English paper — she was asked to write about a “compelling person” in her life. Abbie, who is 17, chose Sophie. Abbie has known both my girls since they were days (hours?) old — and it shows. […]
