Diaper rash is often one of the more elusive challenges for blind and visually impaired parents. Without sight, the parent most often relies on their tactile sense of touch to determine if their infant is indeed coping with this uncomfortable condition. As a Peer Advisor for the American Foundation For the Blind’s (AFB) Vision Aware […]
When my first child, Nuala, was 8 months old, she developed a very severe bout of diaper rash. The problem was, I had absolutely no idea she even had it. I thought I was changing my daughter’s diaper often enough, approximately every hour. My mother had told me to sprinkle cornstarch on her buttocks after […]
This week, I had another “first” in the wild world of motherhood. After shopping in my local mall for a few hours, my almost pre-schooler, announced she had to “go to the potty right away.” Of course her declaration came just as my other darling child decided to throw the mother of all tantrums in […]
With multiple studies indicating the tremendous benefits early reading has on childhood development, have you ever wondered, “How does a blind or visually impaired parent read to their child?” Depending on the parent’s current state of vision, there are many alternative methods for cultivating your child’s love of reading as a visually impaired parent. Some […]
I don’t remember exactly when it happened. My daughter might have been three or four years old. She may have been climbing up on the kitchen counter, quietly trying to snitch a cookie, while I was in the living room typing away on my computer. Or she may have been easing open the bottom drawer […]
Can I get real with you? Like, really, “R-E-A-L.”? I’m a total Type A, epic control freak. I’ll own it. When it comes to my daughters, I will literally drive myself crazy trying to make everything absolutely perfect for them – whether it’s planning their birthday parties or choosing just the right outfit for our […]
Potty training your toddler is an exciting time! On one hand, you’ve reached the point in parenthood when you’re ready to bid farewell to diaper duty. On the other hand, the realization that your baby isn’t really a “baby” anymore is enough to break any parent’s heart. Blind parents need to be organized and systematic […]
I’ll admit it; I’m a hopeless romantic! One of my absolute favorite holidays, Valentine’s Day, of course! Since becoming a mom, I’ve gotten my daughters into the spirit and together we make and mail dozens of Valentine’s Day cards every year. In our house, every recipient on our list receives “2” versions of Valentine’s – […]
“Bad!” I want to give Langston full explanations for his infractions. But that short, sharp bit of invective, the code word I’m sure my mother used with my brothers and me when we were toddlers and pre-schoolers, is the word I’ve chosen—or rather the utterance which bursts out of me–when Langston commits an act I […]
On Langston’s first day of daycare, everything goes wrong for me. James, my husband, who is in charge of packing the stroller basket, our equivalent of the trunk of the car, forgets the breastmilk I’ve carefully pumped and has to rush back into the apartment to retrieve it while Tad, the guide dog, and I […]