“If there is hope in the future, there is literally power in the present.” Zig Ziglar In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Beyond the Waiting Room is featuring an incredible mom of four children. Clarice exemplifies hope as she cares for her growing family and manages the care of her fourth child, Summer Reign, […]
This was Catherine’s second trip to The Big Apple. Just two years earlier, we took to the streets of New York with a rush of excitement to explore new sights and take in fun events. This second trip was very different. We went to help her sister, Christina, settle into her new home. Our journey […]
The last 18 months have been challenging, to say the least. My family has been hunkered down in quarantine, with Merle and I working from home, Catherine virtually learning and Christina working her NYC-based job remotely, as well. We had a full house and with COVID-19 essentially shutting down most outside activities, Catherine and her […]
We are in the heat of summer and the fall 2021 school year is only a few weeks away. With the unique experiences our students encountered over the last year and half, it’s never too early to prepare for the coming year. This is especially true when we consider the traumatic educational challenges our children […]
Reading is an essential part of every child’s education. We know letter recognition leads to phonemic awareness and develops a robust vocabulary. We’ve found an exciting way to expand Catherine’s vocabulary by creating “Print Rich Environments.” Take look a look at these easy steps: Select a room in your home, restaurant, grocery store or special […]
In early August of 2019, we surprised my mom and went home to celebrate her 80th birthday with my family. A few months later, we made plans to return in the spring of 2020. With COVID-19 and the shutdown, we were not able see my parents or my husband’s mom for almost 2 years. We’ve […]
It’s summer and our kiddos are home for another short break. Once we’ve exhausted summer camps, swimming lessons, vacation bible school and family vacation, we still have time left on the calendar to fill up with activities. If you’re looking for an educational project that’s proven to be tons of fun, consider planting a garden […]
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 9, 2021, and I am flooded with memories of my first Mother’s Day with Catherine – May 14, 2006. A week prior, she had undergone heart surgery and was in critical condition. Doctors had placed her in a medically induced coma to manage her challenges with pulmonary hypertension. Celebrating Mother’s Day […]
National Siblings Day was officially on April 10th, but I think it should be celebrated every day, which is why I’m excited and a bit biased about our featured profile this week. From the moment Catherine was born, Christina has been a loving and devoted big sister and I thank God every day that I […]
In honor of World Autism Awareness Day, we’re featuring, Nadia Hamilton, founder and president of Magnusmode, a company that provides assistive technology to people with autism and cognitive disabilities. I’m so excited Nadia was able to stop by and share her story. Lillian Magnusmode’s origin story dates all the way back to the late eighties […]