Is My Son’s Future At Risk With Impending School Board Decision?

How much money does a school district have to save to in order make it worth risking the future of a few kids with special needs?

That is the question that the North Shore School District 112 Board of Education will be faced with at its next board meeting Tuesday night.

I discuss this in a post today on my local Patch site.

I know many of you are not local to my area, but for those of you that are, please spread the word. I think that there has been almost no publicity about this important decision and time is running very short.

Please click here to read more.

Thank you.

A Columnist Says Goodbye

I am facing a crisis of my own making at home, and will be stepping away from my column on Patch. Today’s will be the last.

I hope to continue to write on this blog periodically, but it likely will not be as often or as regular as before. Thank you to all who have stopped by.

To read my final Patch column, please click here.

Getting Excited for the Passover Seder

Passover doesn’t seem like the kind of holiday that would excite most kids. But, for our son, it is a glorious time.

This week’s column in the Patch takes a look at Kai’s excitement over Passover Seders. Click here to read all about it.

A Boy, Girls, and Young Love

My son is only eight years old, but is already learning that it is not easy when you like a girl.

Read about Kai’s history with the opposite sex in today’s Patch by clicking here.

How to Overcome Crayon Envy

When I was a kid, there was one thing that distinguished the haves from the have-nots.

A box of 64 Crayola Crayons…

So begins this week’s column in the Patch, where I reminisce about the significance of crayon boxes in my youth, and tell about how Kai’s latest obsession is affecting us.

Click here to read the whole story.

Father Cautions Unsupervised Internet Usage

“I know most of you parents are aware of the risks of letting your child surf the Internet unsupervised. We certainly were.

“Yet, we allowed it. Let our experience be a warning for you all.”

So begins this week’s column in the Patch. And there is a particular reason why I chose to run it this week. Click here to read the whole thing.

The 3 AM Yoga Mat Incident

“I had it good.

“My son was sleeping through the night on a regular basis. That meant that I was getting a full night’s sleep every night for the first time since I became a dad. It felt wonderful to wake up feeling refreshed every morning.

"And then we changed Kai’s medication. He has not slept through the night since…”

This week’s column in the Patch describes the strange things that can happen in the middle of the night when your son cannot sleep.

Click here to read the whole story.

Starting Over

“In raising a child with autism, I’ve learned that there are many ways in which you need to be patient. There is shorter-term patience, like when you are trying to teach your child to tie his own shoelaces, for instance. Then there is the longer-term variety, such as when you are trying to find a medication that will help your son…”

Today’s column updates Patch readers on our latest experiences with medication. Click here to read the entire column.

Compilation of Favorites

The Boy Who Did Not Speak, Take It Out On The Husband Day, my son's story before he was my son, and much more...

Our challenges and triumphs, good times and bad: I have compiled my favorite Patch columns onto one page. If you are relatively new to the blog, or just want to see what you may have missed, click here to check it out.

Enduring Shoe Tying Torture

I am not a patient person. And I am very stubborn. That is not a good combination when you are trying to teach a child with autism how to tie their shoes.

Today’s column in the Patch looks at the frustrations that led to feelings of being An Awful Parent.

Read the column here.

The Best Valentine’s Day Present

“Valentine’s Day 2004: My wife went into labor while walking along Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago…”

Today’s column is an extra special one as, for the first time, I tell the story of Kai’s birth, adversity, and love.

Please click here to read.

Birthday Parties Can Be a Real Zoo

My son’s birthday is coming soon. Which means that we have been thinking a lot about birthday parties. We have had both really good and really bad experiences, which you can read all about in my Patch column this week.

Click here.

Two Boys, One Name, New Friends

Sometimes when you are the parent of a child with autism, it is hard to make new friends. So it’s nice when fate seems to step in with a helping hand.

That’s what this week’s column in the Patch is all about. Click here to read more about our new friendship.

Bad Parenting?

Is there anything that frosts parents of children with autism more than when people assume that they are bad parents because their kids appear to be spoiled brats?

This week’s column in the Patch tries to educate those who are not personally familiar with autism, and calls for more understanding.

Click here to read the whole story.

How Do You Explain Autism to Your Son?

Are you ready for “The Talk?”

Today’s Patch column recounts recent events that have me preparing to discuss autism with my son. Click here to read.

When Torn Clothing Is Not a Fashion Statement

When my son came home from school the other day, he was not wearing the shirt he had on when he left for school in the morning. He was wearing only his undershirt. When we opened his backpack, we discovered why…

Click here to read the rest of this week’s column in the Patch.

Dad’s New Year Resolution

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Have you broken them yet?

One of the most common resolutions is to exercise more and lose weight. And I am among those who have made that resolution. Except that I did not make it for myself.

I made it for my son…

Read the full article in the Patch. Click here.

One Dad’s Year in Review

As the year winds up, it seems like everyone is doing a Year in Review for 2011. Read this week’s column in the Patch to get my own thoughts on what stood out this year.

Click here for the whole story.

Celebrating Hanukkah, And Christmas, Too!

“We are one of THOSE types of families. Yes, we celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. Well, kinda, sorta… “

Check out this week’s column in the Patch to read the rest of the story. Click here.

Atypical Toys for an Atypical Child

“With Hanukkah and Christmas soon upon us, it brings to mind that my son’s atypical interest in toys can make choosing a gift for him quite a challenge… too often we steer (relatives) toward something that we think he should play with instead of something that he actually would play with.”

Read this week’s column in the Patch for the whole story. Then add your own ideas on what to get a child who doesn’t play with the usual toys. Click here!