As a mother of a daughter with special needs, as well as to a son without, the author can say having had both experiences, all mothers, regardless of her children, struggle in one form or another. That may actually be a part of the job description: Mother: must be able to function well with minimal sleep; is capable of multi-tasking; be clever…

This article presents an interview with Shonda Schilling, wife of retired professional baseball pitcher Curt Schilling. In addition to her role as mom, advocate, and author, Schilling is also a melanoma survivor and the Founder of Shade (http://www.shadefoundation.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating melanoma through the…

Waiting rooms are oases for mothers of children with special needs. They congregate in these small holding areas, sitting on musty couches, while their children receive the latest therapeutic interventions. Sometimes they sit quietly, sneaking glances at each other while pretending to read year-old "People" magazines. Sometimes they crawl under a…

Three months after Karen's birth, her mother desperately tried to maintain her sanity. Karen's two brothers were fine, and Karen's twin slept, ate, and bonded with members of the family; Karen, on the other hand, was a screamer. "It was like someone was cutting her limbs off with a chain saw. It went on and on, and nothing we did comforted her;…

The mother of a child with chronic kidney disease describes how selfishness--in the form of taking care of herself--has enabled her to survive and her son to develop independence. (CL)

The mother of a moderately retarded 11-year-old boy describes her reactions to having her son's teeth straightened. The author realized that the anxiety she felt about the orthodontic procedure was not so much concern for her son as her own fear of dental work. (PHR)

The mother of two boys, one with residual cerebral palsy and one nondisabled, discusses her single parent experiences. She outlines her initial refusal to accept help from family and friends, her original role as a "martyr-Mom," and the difficulties in making decisions alone and balancing attention between disabled and nondisabled siblings. (JDD)

A personal perspective is given on attitudes and behavior toward children with deafness and the lack of understanding it is felt to represent. (DB)