The fairy tale ending … was not to be. Ryan’s house league team earned a spot in the peewee championship game Sunday with a dominating performance in its last round-robin playoff game Saturday. Ryan enthusiastically returned to the rink Saturday afternoon for a spirited practice. The team was ready. He was ready. And yet, the […]
Read more "Championship Sunday"Ryan carries many labels. Among them: Autism spectrum disorder. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Disorders. That word contained within, order, is so, so apt. So much of his life is about trying to create some order from all the noise. Sometimes, he does things in a different order. Other times, his actions are about Imposing some […]
Read more "A Word About Order"There’s a storm coming. A cold winter wind is already buffeting my neighborhood, with the promise of rain and snow to come later today. That’s outside. Inside the house, the storm is already here. Our decision to stop Ryan’s stimulant ADHD med has led to dramatic changes in his behavior — both good and bad. […]
Read more "Waffle Free Wednesday"I watched Ryan skate, somewhat aimlessly, in a pair of hockey games this weekend. His usual strength, positional play, was seldom seen. He looked out of sorts on the ice. After the games ended, I observed him for signs of impulsivity and to assess the frequency of his facial tic. I took him home, watched […]
Read more "Another Spin of the Medication Wheel"In the midst of a lot of BIG decisions about Ryan — things like IEPs, classroom placement for next year, and what to do about meds — it can sometimes feel like we are overlooking our daughter. Just yesterday, we had to engage her in a conversation about spring break plans, the gist of which […]
Read more "Score One for Riley"
Pucks and Puzzle Pieces 