Through a combination of storytelling and journaling prompts,  Space to Process  is here to ensure that you are not alone as you parent a child with a disability. This book feels like that friend who gets it – the self-doubt, the situations you just couldn’t make up, and the poignant experiences that keep you going. It’s a thought provoking tool for navigating the complex journey of raising your child. Sarah Spear offers a sincere and compassionate tone that motivates you to thoughtfully contemplate your story. Whether your child has a disability, has a rare disease, or is neurodivergent,  Space to Process  will resonate with you. The honestly shared personal experiences reassure you that the author knows what you’re going through. After each entry, you are prompted to record your own story on the lined pages that follow. Writing allows you to reframe your experiences, gain new perspective, and grow. Space to Process  will guide you through 30 reflections on the...

  Let me introduce you to Etty Hillesum, in case you haven't made her acquaintance. I happened upon her writing a couple years ago and just finished reading  An Interrupted Life , The Diaries of Etty Hillesum. This image of Etty captures some of her bohemian, intense personality. Hers was an examined life, scrutinized in close detail over the course of the two years that she wrote. Her reflections trace her evolution and, should you ever pick up the book, I encourage you to persevere through her early romantic ramblings in order to fully appreciate the person who emerges. Etty wrote during her final years in Amsterdam (1941-1943), before electing to accompany her parents and brother to a transit camp in the Netherlands. She was forcibly deported to Auschwitz where she died. What resonated most deeply with me were the inner struggles Etty faced head-on. A couple quotes give you a sense of this capacious woman: "Sometimes I had the certain if rather undefined feeling that I woul...

This winter, Miriam and I have gotten into the habit of watching Friday night movies while John and Will are at basketball practice. Last week, we watched  BLINK . It tells the story of the Pelletier family's around the world trip. When three of their four children are diagnosed with a rare disease that will lead to severe visual impairment, the family decides to fill the kids' visual memory banks while they still can.  What ensues is a beautiful, honest portrayal of that trip.   The kids create a bucket list that leads them to Asia, Africa, and South America. To fulfill their goal to see a sunrise on a mountain, they trek to Poon Hill near the Annapurna Sanctuary. I had flashbacks of living in Nepal and trekking to the same spot, recalling similar friendly dogs along the trail, altitude adjustment, and the exquisite views.  The film doesn't shy away from tough conversations. Mom and daughter reflect on whether the daughter will still sense the vastness of a desert o...