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As the parent of an Angel, I have learned that things don’t always go as planned. My 11-year-old Angel, Juliana, is getting better at a lot of things as she gets older. However, sometimes she continues to have unpredictable behavior. It is medically proven that Angels have…

If I hadn’t seen it countless times, I would never believe a smile could make someone’s day. Leave it to my 11-year-old Angelman child’s happy demeanor to do just that. The first Friday in October is World Smile Day. It’s supposed to be a day for a random act…

“Do you know what middle school Juliana is going to next year?” “Nope,” I answer, shaking my head with a smile. Juliana, my 11-year-old Angel, will be going to middle school next year. I’ve spent some time catching up with friends recently, and I’ve been getting this question a lot.

Taking my 11-year-old Angel, Juliana to the store with me is a trip that always has the potential to lead to an unexpected or unwelcome adventure. However, I received a pleasant surprise when we headed to the store on a recent hot summer day. We made it through the entire…

There’s a lot to do when it’s time to send the kids back to school. Like many moms, I work from a to-do list that helps me prioritize. As the years have rolled by for my 11-year-old Angel, Juliana, I’ve simplified my plans by changing one thing. A…

When raising a child with Angelman syndrome, life can be stressful. Taking vacations to ease that stress can sometimes have the opposite effect. Although my family doesn’t have picture-perfect exotic getaways, we do have a plan for relaxing that works for us. We don’t take a lot of vacations,…

Because many Angels are considered nonverbal, it is important for parents to get creative to help them communicate. My 11-year-old daughter, Juliana, is beginning to use her talker to communicate, but it will take some time. Through the years, I have relied on labels, notes, and even…

The Angelman Syndrome Foundation (ASF) is a bedrock for both families who are newly diagnosed and those continuing their journey with Angelman syndrome (AS). Every other year, ASF hosts a conference to bring together experts, doctors, and families in the AS community. Our daughter Juliana is 11, and we…

Practice and repetition are important factors in helping Angels learn. My 11-year-old Angel, Juliana, completes Mom-appointed homework to reinforce what she learns at school. Homework also makes a strong connection between school and home. The idea for homework for Juliana came from my 10-year-old daughter, Jessa. Jessa is a fifth-grader…

In a special needs life, change is the everyday normal. This can be a challenging realization to embrace. But once you wrap your head around it, the winding path of an Angelman syndrome caregiver becomes a tad bit easier to navigate. My 11-year-old daughter, Juliana, headed off to school this…