Except for the occasional limerick, which does not count, I do not write poetry. I’m too self-conscious, too aware that this is not a medium for a dabbler. You’ve got to really know what you’re doing to write a good poem. (Or be really lucky.) But I do know a good poem when I read […]
Last night I walked into Scottsdale Center for the Arts and smack into two of the coolest women I know. No surprise, it was a Friday night and the place was bustling. This is one of the best places in my town to see a show. Over the years I’ve gone there for Ira Glass, David […]
“Hey Mom, look!” I glanced up from the computer the other morning to notice Sophie standing at the kitchen counter, all the way up on her tippy toes. I mean all the way. In her sparkly purple Toms. This could explain why those shoes are so trashed — the ends are basically gone. I’m hoping […]
The athletes emerged from the staging area onto the dusty track, ready to begin their heat in the 100 m run this past Saturday — one of dozens of heats as hundreds (thousands?) competed in the Special Olympics state track meet. Sophie was the smallest. Waiting to race, she was tiny next to her competitors, […]
Good morning, welcome to Starbucks! This is (insert perky name, I think it was Marissa), how are you today? Hi. Could I please get a hot grande non-fat latte? Pause. How are you? Oh fuck. I pissed off the Starbucks girl. Everyone who’s ever heard the one about the Jack in the Box clerk who […]
The girls were chattering in the back seat one evening this week, when Annabelle’s tone suddenly got dark. I turned down the radio for more effective eavesdropping and when that didn’t work, hollered, “What’s going on back there?” Turns out, they were discussing Sophie’s new friend at school (we’ll call her Sally) and something Sally’s sister […]
My wise friend Noan gave me permission to share this note she sent me earlier this week, in response to last week’s post about Sophie’s IEP and the psychologist’s year-old comment that she has the cognitive skills of a 3-year-old. I met Noan in Mothers Who Write, the class I co-teach, and each week students […]
Today is Sophie’s IEP. Not my favorite day of the year, though (knock wood) I don’t anticipate any big bumps this time. Sophie’s lawyer (she has one after last year’s IEP) reviewed the draft copy and assures me the accomodations we want — most notably, the classroom aide — are in place. Which is good, […]
Sophie had her first official Special Olympics experience Saturday — a regional track meet. It was pretty freaking awesome. Not a lot of pomp and circumstance, no opening ceremonies as promised in the email, and the whole thing felt a little disorganized (although the volunteers were all terrific). But there was a medal ceremony for […]
Sophie takes the AIMS test next month, along with her third grade classmates. There will be some accomodations — more time, some (literal) wiggle room — but she will take the AIMS test. Let that sink in. It drives me nuts. I get the argument for standardized tests — I just don’t agree with it, […]
