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Live and Learn

Live And Learn Dear Reader Judy writes: “I’ve noticed that lately your essays regarding Alex have reflected a kind of despair. I hope you’re feeling more positive again.” I’d begun to agree with Judy two weeks before her note even arrived. At that time, I noticed that recent Ned essays were about cute stuff, like […]

Love The Breaks

“Hate the breaks,” one special-needs mom said to us right after Christmas. I used to, too. Wandering through days with Alex, numbing him with Elmo or running ourselves breathless by manhandling the double stroller (can’t leave Ned home) all over upper Central Park, pausing in the playgrounds if the weather was nice. Wanting to shoot […]

Taking His Medecine

Alex got an ingrown toenail — we don’t have any idea, either — and the doctor prescribed orange liquid antibiotic. It was thick, and Jill said it tasted like a Creamcicle. (Some parents make a practice of tasting everything that goes into their kids’ mouths. I’m afraid I stopped at Pediasure.) Alex got an ingrown […]

Nothing to Write About

The other day Jill and I ran into one of Alex’s therapists from his old school. He asked how Alex was doing, and said that Alex’s old teachers have checked this site but lately hadn’t seen much written about him. “Well,” Jill offered, “there isn’t much to write about.” Thank god. This is approximately the […]

Getting Over It

Alex seemed better over the weekend. Last Wednesday and Thursday the symptoms had been nagging but at least familiar: Ned brings a cold into the house on Tuesday, Alex is lethargic and a little feverish by Wednesday afternoon. Beyond that, Alex can’t tell us how he feels. This is the second such spell for Alex […]