Author Archives: jthere

I rarely show pics of V here yet can’t resist sharing this recent photo of him with a friend at the equine therapy center where he interns once a week. So apropos of nothing here’s a sweet shot. I wrote a post I didn’t publish (that happens occasionally) because it seemed so petty in lightContinue reading “Savoring May”

In the book Far from the Tree (about how families accommodate children with physical, mental and social disabilities and difference) there is a section on children with multiple disabilities. A mother talks about having her adult child with complex physical and mental disabilities who went into a group home. Her son was provided adequate careContinue reading “hoping for love”

B just moved to Seattle, after a good year in Portland, He’ll have more job opportunities and family there: his wonderful aunt and uncle and cousins, I’m so proud of him for forging his path, although I wish I was closer. We text and talk a lot but there’s nothing like spending time with someoneContinue reading “Another Move, with Anchor”

V’s 21st birthday was in February and a lot has happened since then. As of March he has been registered with a support coordination agency that oversees all the services he will receive as an adult. We already are receiving two afternoons a week of respite and in May he will have his first overnightContinue reading “toward adulthood”

Optimist: a person who is inclined to be hopeful and to expect good outcomes. Whenever there is good news I think of my mother, who despite the odds remained an optimist throughout her life. I didn’t exactly inherit her outlook, yet I’ve found that, now especially, with so much bad news out there, I positivelyContinue reading “on good news”

1. The 11 hour dental appointment V takes medication at night to help him go to sleep. We spent many years of sleep-deprived nights trying all sorts of alternative treatments but when it comes down to a major sleep disorder like his there is usually no getting around taking some sort of medication. After muchContinue reading “Side effects”

Are those roses real? Are those trees really flowering in March? Was I really away this past week? Just days ago a free woman in Portland? Back home, still recharged and energized from a wonderful trip to see B. I have mostly memories as I didn’t bring much back with me beyond some local coffeeContinue reading “Portland: 3rd time a charm”

It was so great being with family for my dad’s birthday that I decided to move up my planned spring trip to see B, whom I miss very much.   I hunker down and figure it out quickly: finding a cheap fare, using a few soon to expire free hotel nights from my credit card,Continue reading “In Person”

To Dad and my wonderful Aunt Betty, happy 95th birthday!  Since the passing of my dear Aunt Minna, this is the first year that the triplets are not celebrating together.  So there is grief at such enormous loss alongside the joyous marking of this remarkable event. Being a triplet was part of their lives andContinue reading “For Dad on his 95th Birthday”

21.  V turns 21 today, February 9th, and I need to parse out what that means in terms of his future, and what it means in the moment, to find a way to celebrate that my youngest son has reached this milestone while grappling with the huge tasks and uphill battle we face in theContinue reading “21”