It is already getting warm outside when the vans start rolling into the parking lot. People stumble out, some giddy with excitement from a night of eager anticipation, others still rubbing the sleep from their eyes after a long drive. There are people of every age from infants in arms to septuagenarians, all coming together…
First, I want to start with the caveat that I am writing this as a mother of a special needs child with experience with one state’s services. My own experience may differ from yours, especially since support options differ state-to-state, so it will be important to check with your own state’s services. I also consider…
Most of us have an idea of what motherhood “should” look like, but often times, that ideal doesn’t match with the version playing out in our real life. Especially when we are bombarded with images and videos of supposedly perfect families, Catholic or otherwise, who make us wonder, why don’t my children act like that?…
In order to bring our resources to a larger audience, Accepting the Gift has worked with a native Spanish speaker in our diocese to produce a Spanish language version of our popular Advocacy Toolkit. Like our English version, this resource is completely free and available to download from our Shop. It teaches: If you work…
Ash Wednesday is a sensory experience of something holy that’s hard to put into words. It’s a spiritual feeling made physical in the ashes that touch our foreheads. It’s a tactile reminder of the 40 days of Lent, when Catholics focus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Remember you are dust and to dust you shall…
I must admit I felt intimidated writing this article. My husband and I have been married for 18 years, twelve of which have entailed caring for our special needs son. I am not going to pretend to have all the answers for a strong marriage under these circumstances, but these are some tips that have…
May is the month of Mary in the Catholic Church. One of the many ways you can honor Mary at home this month is to plant a Mary Garden. Like individuals bringing flowers to their mothers on Mother’s Day, so Catholic families too can gift our spiritual mother, Mary, with flowers to show our love…
May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which makes it the perfect time to start praying the rosary as a family. It may seem overwhelming, especially as a special needs family, but thankfully there’s no shortage of creative ways to pray the rosary as a family. From apps that guide you through…
Holy Week—the culmination of Lent and the lead up to the greatest liturgical feast on the Church’s calendar. Every year, I vow to have our family fully prepared, and every year… reality happens. With little kids, we usually start strong but fizzle out by Easter. Last year, illness derailed us, and while we completed most…
My son, Nathan, has been attending Mass since he was two weeks old. I still remember with perfect clarity that first time I took him to Mass – still struggling with the post-Caesarean section recovery, coupled with a case of Bell’s palsy that caused the entire left side of my face to droop, and still…
