Raising an Angel — Mary Kay

For the longest time, my daughter’s motto was, “I may not know where I’m going, but I want to get there fast.” Jessie wore overalls as a kid, which gave me something to hold…

For many kids, September typically means it’s time to go back to school. But for my daughter, Jessie, it was a continuation. Jessie was fortunate to have a year-round program, or at least I felt…

If my daughter, Jessie, doesn’t like what she hears, she will walk away. When her boyfriend — more of a buddy than a romantic interest — gets frustrated, he raises his voice and curses like…

I was on sabbatical this summer and didn’t write for Bionews Services or my blog. Sometimes you don’t realize how burned out you are until you stop. But the longer I went without…

This past weekend was action-packed from front to back. There was Jessie’s last dance of the season, a wedding to which the whole family was invited (doesn’t always happen), and another wedding that Jessie was expected to…

Last week, on a clear, sunny day, we decided to go on a hike. My daughter Jessie complained every step of the way, and I loved every minute of it. Not really, but I’ve learned to accept…

Jessie took the Goober Grape out of the cabinet and handed it to me. I said, “Oh, you are hungry, I need to find some bread,” and proceeded to look for a loaf. Then I…

Well, well, well, if Jess isn’t turning into a regular 007. Typically, when caught, she’s a deer in headlights, but not this time. While we were getting dressed for a…

Fear, anger, and disbelief were just some of the emotions experienced upon realizing my daughter was not making her milestones. These stages came in no particular order. I kept asking myself, “Why her, why me,…

When it rains, it pours. When it snows, we play hooky. Today we are taking advantage of (hopefully) the last snowstorm of the season. We’d decided the night before to have a girls’ day. Jess had…

Board games are meant to be fun, but they have not been a source of lighthearted entertainment for our family in the past. My daughter’s poor fine motor skills have hindered her manipulation of the…

After writing this column for a year, quoting Forrest Gump sums up my state of mind: “And that’s all I have to say about that.” I’ve come to a point…