Steven’s Story: A Child on the Autism Spectrum

When I first met Steven, he was 3 years old, non-verbal, and had limited communicative interactions. It was difficult to engage Steven as his preference was for solitary play. His play was characterized primarily by repetitive actions on objects (i.e. putting blocks in and out of their container), typical for children with ASD. Upon observation, I noted that Steven had a fascination... Read More

Over the River and Through the Woods to Our House in the Suburbs We Go

I used to think becoming a mother was the scariest thing I could imagine. But when my son was born and my husband suggested we move to the suburbs, I found that idea much more frightening. Moving from the city to the ‘burbs! Having lived in the city my entire adult life, I never realized how awesome it was until I actually left.  When we lived there, I could have just about... Read More

How One Long Island Mom Got Her Family Out of Debt

Before having children, I worked full time as an accountant. When I was pregnant with my first son, I had serious complications and was ordered on bed rest and was out of work for my entire pregnancy. Since my husband and I did not anticipate dealing with such a drastically reduced income so soon, we really struggled. We lived off of credit cards to make ends meet and I would cry... Read More

The Power of Fantasy for Young Readers by a YA Author

After reading “The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons,” my historical fantasy novel for young readers, a teacher asked, “Where do you get your story ideas?  How do you think up this stuff?” I paused. Truth is I’d worked on the manuscript off and on for the better part of 15 years. Honestly, it seemed the ideas just came to me – the challenges of young Lucy losing her family,... Read More

Summer Camp Mishaps by a Long Island Dad and Author

I’m a teacher, author, and father, but when it comes to summer I’m all child! Long days at the beach and warm August nights when the bugs are at their loudest fill me with a pleasure that the rest of the year can’t come close to matching. Summer memories are my favorites, and even in those first chilly days of spring I’m already anticipating the mid-summer memories to come. My... Read More

Teaching Kids Social Skills in an Age of Technology by a Long Island Mom

In an age when we teach our children using smart boards in the classroom and much of their communication is through texting, it is clear that many of today’s children are lacking certain basic skills of human interaction. It is very easy for the world to seem “virtual.”  How can we teach our children to look outside themselves and care about others? My sons have definitely... Read More

Value Your Children for Who They Are–Not Who You Need Them to Be

Marta Fuchs, a marriage and family therapist, librarian, and author shares the “essence” of parenting, which is to see and value your children for who they are, not as an extension of yourself or a way to fulfill your own needs. “I got everything I wanted except what I needed.” It was a breakthrough moment.  A therapy client suddenly discovered what he always knew... Read More

Books & Bricks: A Journey With Tourette Syndrome by A Westchester Mom

My husband and I discovered our son’s love of words early on in our parenthood. He learned to talk early in his little life and by kindergarten, he was an articulate, attentive boy, who could always be found with a book in his hand and a subject in his heart. Half-way through the second grade, he developed an intermittent stutter in his speech. Over the next few weeks, it progressed... Read More