I was the first person to ever see you when you entered our world. I still remember holding you in my arms for the first time and whispering, “I’m your dad, I’m here to take care of you.” It’s now been eighteen years since I uttered those words to you. We were supposed to Read More…
Taste and See
I need to make a confession. My given name is Jeff Davidson, but at home, I often go by my aliases. i have a secret identity. I am the Food Whisperer. I also have been known to go by the name The Meds Whisperer. To help teach me Read More…
The Heart of the Special-Needs Dad
By all the usual measures, I was winning the game. Some would say I was even running up the score. A man usually defines himself by where he is in his career, his earnings level, and how he compares his life to others. It’s how men are taught to keep score. Read More…
Cheated?
“Don’t you feel cheated about the life you imagined you and your son would have? Don’t you feel like you have been robbed of so many blessings by having a child who can’t talk, can’t walk, and can’t really do any of the things a typical child can do?” “Don’t you Read More…
One More Night With The Frogs
photo credit museum.wa.gov.au The rhythmic croaking was strangely melodious. I would mentally filter out all the other background noise that flowed out of the woods adjacent to our house. The birds, the crickets, all the other sounds would fade away until I could only hear the frogs. They croaked in a harmonious Read More…
Sometimes Better Follows Worse
“No deposit, no return.” My father-in-law whispered those words to me as he gave me his daughter’s hand at our wedding. This Sunday will be our 23nd wedding anniversary. Ironically we will spend it leading a marriage retreat for couples raising children with special needs. I don’t know if I believe in love Read More…
The 43 Hour Vacation
Photo credit gatlingburg.qsmvrq.com “I think I will move to Australia.” So says the young boy Alexander in Judith Viorst’s award winning children’s book, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.” That was one of my personal favorite books as a child. Now here I was, sitting on the edge of the bed Read More…
The Story Teller
Maybe it’s because I grew up in a small rural town in the South myself. Maybe it’s because I share so many of the same values, morals, and ideals that the show portrayed. Maybe it’s just because I love old-school comedy and quirky characters. For whatever reason, I have always been, and still remain, Read More…
How Long To Sing This Song?
“I waited patiently for the Lord He inclined and heard my cry He lift me up out of the pit Out of the miry clay I will sing, sing a new song I will sing, sing a new song How long to sing this song? How long to sing this song? How long…how long…how long… Read More…
When hope is all you’ve got
Pulling into the driveway I saw Becky emerging through the opening garage door. In an instant I knew she had finally received the phone call we were both looking forward to and yet dreading at the same time. “Vanderbilt Children’s just called. The test shows he is having seizures,” she said softly.” I could Read More…