Writing about life, motherhood, disability advocacy and more.

Late Birthday Post

Friday, July 4, 2014

Oh ma’goodness. People…things be crazy up in here. The past week has included a 17 hour drive in one day, Lamps birthday, a new house, no hot water/cold showers, no internet (I’m at Panera) moving vans, feeling overwhelmed and incredibly lucky at the same time. I had planned to put this up on Tuesday, but...

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The Good, The Bad and Balance

Friday, June 27, 2014

Earlier this week we were at the park having a good time connecting and re-connecting with new and old friends alike. At some point Lamp informs me she needs to use the bathroom. I pick her up and off we go. A few paces from our table a girl–think older teenager–catches a glimpse of Lamp...

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KateJune 27, 2014 - 6:37 pm
Dear Miggy, I'm a reader from Germany and never commented before (I just quietly enjoyed your beautiful writing and getting to know your crazy cool family). I just find it amazing how your handle hurtful situations like the ones stated above. You even keep in mind the challenges other people might have and you show your daughter how to stay polite even if people are being rude. I'm sure it's not easy to decide when to talk to people and when to just ask them to leave. I just wanted to say that I admire you and that you are a role model for sure! All the best to you and your family and especially to little sassy Lamp who is so smart and cute.ReplyCancel
- MigonJuly 11, 2014 - 1:37 pm
  Thanks Kate!ReplyCancel
KayliJune 27, 2014 - 7:04 pm
So happy for your good balances. ReplyCancel
Jason and KristinJune 28, 2014 - 1:21 am
In love with this.ReplyCancel
Jen ReevesJune 28, 2014 - 3:41 am
I have experienced similar overwhelming moments – but not with that many pity latchers. ((hugs)) for continuing to live and know there are days that balance it out.

I also wanted to let you know 3 and 1/2 is when Jordan had the biggest cries and "why me's." Letting our little ones mourn a bit is fair. It can be shocking how young our kids can identify and react to adult things like cultural expectations. It's not fair but it also makes our girls a special brand of sass. ReplyCancel
AnonymousJune 28, 2014 - 5:58 am
For those offenders who are old enough to read, passing out cards that say whatever you want on them is an idea. Autism families do this.
MelReplyCancel
Faux FuchsiaJune 28, 2014 - 7:32 am
I feel for you and Lamp. I think you are a great mum. It must be hard not to scream at these kids. Take care xxxReplyCancel
DebbyJune 28, 2014 - 11:05 pm
It broke my heart reading about what the girls at the park said to Lamp. Lamp is so bright and you know she understood it all. The bathroom incident had to be scary for sure. I think you handled it a lot better than I would have,
We have had similar experiences but in a different way. Our adopted son looks perfectly normal. He has mental disabilities along with social ones. He always has been very verbal and appears to be very bright. But then when his true colors would show and his behaviors, it would take people back. No one could understand why he did the things he did. We had an adult at our neighborhood pool say 'What's wrong with him is he stupid." My older son (now a special ed.teacher) picked his little brother (hah….he was probably 100 lbs. then) and carried him up the hill back home. All this while his little brighter was screaming because he didn't know what he did to have to leave the pool. Later, several months later, this adult apologized to me. I don't think I even responding to that. Other instances happened as he grew up. It's hard to explain something you can't see. And at the same time, you shouldn't have to explain when you can see. Parents need to talk to their children and educate them. I know you don't want people to feel sorry for Lamp. My gosh, she is just beautiful and I love her spirit. But I feel bad that her feelings were hurt. ReplyCancel
miss diddlyJune 28, 2014 - 11:57 pm
So, how 'bout you guys just come over to my house for a while. I want to give you some more balance. Only if…… 😉ReplyCancel
pallaviJune 30, 2014 - 12:26 pm
Sorry Lamp has to go through this…but I want to say you handled it so well..ReplyCancel
AnneJune 30, 2014 - 2:31 pm
That was some weird shiz indeed (haven't heard that before but I'll be using it)! Nicely played. That photo is just so sweet xReplyCancel
AnonymousJuly 2, 2014 - 7:28 pm
Miggy, I am long time reader of your blog, first time commenter. I just wanted to express my admiration for you. You handle these difficult situations with such grace and I am so impressed by how well you keep your cool when I know your inner mommy lioness is ready to break free to protect your cub. Thank you for sharing these experiences for the rest of us to learn from. ReplyCancel
AnonymousJuly 3, 2014 - 8:44 pm
That was a freaky encounter you & Lamp had. Yes, sometimes out in public, we meet freaky people. What is scary is that this girl/young woman was following you into the bathroom stall and was touching Lamp. Besides her bothersome comments, I bet you and Lamp would have liked some privacy in the bathroom.

I bet that girl has all sorts of problems dealing with people because she does not respect boundaries or have good manners. I am imagining the problems she has at school or work. I guess she has some kind of empathy.

Anyway, too bad Lamp had those encounters at the park. I'd be flustered too. Yikes.

Lena

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Molly Bice-JacksonJuly 10, 2014 - 7:47 pm
First of all–What an excellent writer you are! I'm glad you are still blogging … it encourages me to do the same. These are stories and experiences, emotions, that can't be shared in an Instagram post. Second, thank you for complimenting me on how I tried to handle the situation with Lamp. That day at the park was SUCH an eye opener for me. I learned so much about your world. I am still digesting it and figuring out how to put it into words. Third–no shout out and link to me and my blog? Just a friend? But Susan from Freshly Picked gets all the linkage glory? (Just kidding…I feel more honored being referred to as a linkless/blogless friend. Thank you!) seriously, all of these posts are so well written and moving. LOVE. ReplyCancel
- MigonJuly 11, 2014 - 1:36 pm
  Molly–You're right! Why did I do that? I don't know…I updated the post with your name and link. Please forgive me dearest fake internet friend. 🙂 (I know you said, you didn't want it, but really I shoulda). And yes you handled it well… I swear I always feel like I'm fumbling through like the very first time. Oy…ReplyCancel

Utah

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Utah is beautiful. D-A-M it’s beautiful. I lived here for 10 years (and summers during my childhood) and I must have become so accustomed to the mountains and beauty all around me I somehow stopped appreciating it, because it’s hit me like a ton of bricks. It is gorgeous here and I’m falling in love with...

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Jen and John

Monday, June 23, 2014

This is a wonderful, heart warming post script to my San Antonio home tour. I hope you enjoy! Some of you long time readers may remember almost 4 years ago when we started looking for homes in San Antonio. I started looking for houses online way too far in advance and two things happened...

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Road Trip Update

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

We are in Utah ya’ll. Let me tell you, 3 days of driving with 3 kids…. not for the faint of heart. But we made it and we’re having a great time. So glad we get to stay put for a couple weeks while we visit friends and family. We’ve made a few stops along...

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Pretend Make-Up Kit DIY

Monday, June 16, 2014

This was a tutorial I actually had planned to do around Christmas time, but then I had a baby. But here’s the story… a couple weeks before Christmas Lamp tells me she wants a pretend make-up set. Her sister has a great one so naturally she wants her own. But I had already spent the...

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Focusing Inward

Thursday, June 12, 2014

I want to talk about a general idea today using some specific examples. The general idea being focusing our energy outward–trying to change/control everyone around us– vs. focusing our energy inward–trying to change/control ourselves. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you noticed that as a culture we’re a bit obsessed with “awareness”? We want to...

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KayliJune 12, 2014 - 9:02 pm
Just had to say that both of your girls in the picture looks so beautiful and sparkly-sweet-magical-childhoodish in the picture.

On the topic at hand, I think a place where the blame is being pushed on others a lot is school. If the child is not excelling in some way or another, it must be the teacher is not presenting it in the right way or has too high/low expectations or isn't a good person… and so on. Or if it's not the teacher, it's the school district or the laws or something else. I realize that it's hard to feel like your child isn't being helped along in the way that every parent wishes for them (being engaged and challenged but still enjoying everything…) but I think that in many cases, kids can learn a LOT from just having to plug through and maybe putting in more effort on their own or whatever it is, because that's sometimes what life is. I remember my dad saying if we ever complained of a teacher being boring, that it wasn't the teacher's job to amuse us, it was his job to present information and our job to meet the requirements of the class, and if the information were something crucial to us like how to tie on a mountaineering rope (don't know what they're called), we would learn the information no matter how boring the presenter. And my dad's totally all for good teachers–he's in education. But he just wanted to teach us that sometimes you do things that aren't very fun because you must–whether it be a lame teacher, a tough job, or whatever.ReplyCancel
Anita WarnickJune 15, 2014 - 1:12 pm
Well said. We need people to spread awareness for sure, but focusing inward allows us to no be a victim and to be more proactive in our lives. I enjoyed Kayli's comments as well. Like MJ said- "if you want to make the world a better a place, take a look at yourself and make the change, nana na nana na na na na naaa"
p.s. Those just might be the cutest bunch of kiddos ever 🙂 We just needed the babes in there too 🙂ReplyCancel