A few places I’m showing up…
I wanted to make sure 
you know about a few places I’m showing up these days both online and in print.
About Down syndrome
I have an article up at Today’s Christian Woman called Fighting the Darkness about my daughter Polly’s diagnosis of Down syndrome:
Sometimes I look back on that time with shame. Having a child is a good thing. We know from the Psalms that “children are a gift from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). And my theology is rooted in the providence of God. Down syndrome did not surprise him—but it surprised me and seemed to blow the candle out of my life. I assumed children with special needs would be born to other parents, not us. I stalled out in the dark, and all I wanted was to get out of the darkness as quickly as possible.
Read the rest of the article here.
About special needs: Back to school tips and a frank talk about therapy
I have two feature articles in the most recently published Chicago Special Parent. One is entitled 10 ways to help your child with special needs make a positive start to the school year:
For families affected by special needs, the new school year has added challenges and concerns. How will my child interact with her new teacher? What can I do to ease him into a new routine? Will she be able to keep up with the curriculum? Is his placement the best? Where did I put her most recent IEP? Chicago public schools start Tuesday, Sept. 2. Many suburban schools start in August. Here are 10 ways to help your child with special needs start the new school year on a positive note…
The other Chicago Special Parent article is Chicago mom advises parents of children with special needs to trust their instinct in regards to therapy:
When it comes to therapy, one size does not fit all. Less therapy? More? Take a season off? The answer to all of this is yes.
Read the rest of the feature here…
About parenting school-aged girls
And my post at Faith Happenings: your complete, tailored, faith resource called Believing I am fearfully and wonderfully made for the sake of my girls:
I am a mom. My body has been beat up through the years. My stomach is wobbly from growing babies. Stretch marks snake up my belly and curl around my thighs. I am at my heaviest weight to date, but regardless of all that, I know that I am loved, and that my body simply holds me, and that I have value.
Read the rest at FaithHappenings…
And lastly, my memoir Sun Shine Down is celebrating its one year anniversary out in the world. Stay tuned for a party (once I get my kids back to school!) including a blog tour, some fun giveaways, and a chance to interact with my daughter Polly and I. Thanks so much, everyone, for your support!
You might also like:
5 things to do/not do after you receive a special needs diagnosis at Chicago Parent
In which I ramble about the end of summer & my kids heading back to school
Memoir holiday gift… Order yours today
How I am raising awareness during Down syndrome awareness month
The importance of sunny soccer Saturdays in a special needs lifeZemantaThe post A few places I’m showing up… appeared first on Gillian Marchenko.
