Beth starts school on Monday, and you know what’s crazy – besides the fact that we’re only half way through August and school’s already starting – I didn’t know. That’s right, I’m such a lousy father I didn’t know when school started. Well, today I’m feeling charitable. I like to think I’m just forgetful. Forgetful parents aren’t necessarily lousy, are they? Anyhoo, I’m of a mind to see this as a great step forward for Beth. Not that her father didn’t know, but that I wasn’t worrying about it coming. Dreading is actually a better word. You see, when most [...]
Beth
My ecumenical crisis
I hope I don’t offend many of you with this one. As you read it, please know I realize it only takes a few bad apples to sour one’s experience, and I’m trying not to paint with too broad a brush. Like they say in so many movie break-ups, “it’s not you, it’s me.” Unlike the movies, I hope I sound genuine. – – – Protestant boy meets good Catholic girl: it’s a classic story repeated through the ages. Or not, exactly. Cheryl and I went to church regularly growing up and as young adults, but she went to The [...]
The S word
We were driving home from the Y (MCA). I was done working for the day, and the kids were done with camp for the day. Beth wanted to tell me about an “inappropriate” incident, but I asked her not to while Adam was in the car. Beth, not so easily deterred, went on anyway. Now before I go on, I need to explain that Adam has been immune to the ‘spelling what you don’t want him to hear’ trick for more than a year. The little stinker hadn’t started pre-k and he was already reading. So Beth had to adapt [...]
When the autism spectrum wins
After a month of hunting down posts about Beth’s childhood, my mind wandered to our other child. How has he fared through all of this? I remember first thinking in terms of Beth’s disorder “winning” during a Skype therapy session for obsessive-compulsive disorder. The therapist sought to personalize, yet disassociate the disorder from Beth in a way. She tried to objectify it – make it seem separate and distinct, to make it into something for Beth to fight. It also served to lift some of the shame from her shoulders. “This isn’t you Beth. This is OCD, and we can [...]
Now for a few fuzzy birthday videos
Here’s a few quick videos from Beth’s real birthday (we’ll be doing a few late celebrations after Adam sheds his virus). My apologies, the quality is exceptionally poor. I forgot to recharge the batteries in our camera, so I settled for my old iPhone 3G, which was never really meant to be a video camera. It’s a pretty lousy still camera when you get down to it. The obligatory cake shot: Beth turns the camera on us for a change: What does it mean to be thirteen?
Today – Beth’s 13th Birthday
Just in case you missed the last thirty posts, today is Beth’s thirteenth birthday. The title of these posts were supposed to hint at a pinch of mock doom and gloom, as our girl passes from childhood into her teen years, but in some respects I feel like Beth’s been a teenager for years. Inheriting the sarcasm and smart-ass genes from her father created a teen-like aura at an early age. But I know better by now to assume I understand what the future will bring, so I do the only thing I can. I love my kid, and keep [...]
D – 3 (Tween time)
Counting down the days until Beth’s thirteenth birthday with a few reposts from the archives. Originally posted: Aug 20, 2006, Beth’s age: 9 I am stuck in that moment between getting home late and the time when you feel like going to bed. We decided to go to a Devil Rays away game this evening, and we’re just getting back. They were at Tropicana Field, where they occasionally play home games, so we didn’t have to travel too far. Tonight’s benefactor of the ice cold Rays’ bats were the Indians from Cleveland; and there were a lot of Indians from [...]
D – 4 (Beth versus the psychiatrist)
Counting down the days until Beth’s thirteenth birthday with a few reposts from the archives. Originally posted: Jun 8, 2006, Beth’s age: 8 “Can I call you Miss Rachael?” “No, but you can call me Dr. Rachael if you want.” “Wait, are you a real doctor?” “Yes Beth, I’m a real doctor.” “Did you go to college?” “Yes Beth, I went to college.” “Did you go to college AND medical school?” “Yes Beth, I went to medical school.” “O.K., you went to college and medical school… so why don’t you do the things a REAL doctor does?” This is where [...]
