We're All A Little Broken

Category: This is Us

  • My Birthday Wish

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    by

    Dena Abramson Babb
    in ,

    Today is my birthday. I have always loved birthdays – mine and other peoples. I love celebrating a day that is unique to an individual. I’ve even been known to declare “birthday month” or “birthday week” as justification for doing something special ahead of an actual birthday.  This year my birthday kind of snuck up…

  • Cheers!

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    by

    Dena Abramson Babb
    in , ,

    That memory popped up in my personal Facebook feed this morning… The therapist I referred to in this post a year ago was the brilliant speech language pathologist, who spent the next 9 months doing amazing work to close Owen’s expressive language deficit. She’s also the one who referred us to our current psychologist, who…

  •  Hope (& Prozac) for the Journey

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    by

    Dena Abramson Babb
    in , ,

    Last Thursday, we were here. And we were scared and lost and looking for even a glimmer of hope. Today, my husband and I were back at the psychiatrist’s office to discuss his thoughts on diagnosis and treatment. We didn’t actually find out anything we hadn’t already been told or suspected. His diagnosis was confirmation of autism spectrum…

  • The Lie I Told Today

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    by

    Dena Abramson Babb
    in ,

    This is the lie I told this morning at church… In response to the question “How are you today?” – my answer was “fine, thank you.” Or some version of that several dozen times as I greeted different people. I smiled and lied to each of them. The honest answer would have been… “I’m exhausted and…

  • A New Waiting Room

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    by

    Dena Abramson Babb
    in

    I am writing this post as I sit in a very uncomfortable chair, in the waiting room of an adolescent psychiatrist. This is our first time at his office. My husband and I just spent an hour with him. My son is in with him now. The answers and help we are looking for may…

  • Gatorade and Nutella

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    by

    Dena Abramson Babb
    in

    I have always refrained from using food as a bribe or bargaining tool with my kids. Always. Always is a long time. And always ended today. Tuesday is the day my son has his weekly appointment with the psychologist. We go straight from school, and I keep a selection of snacks for both kids to choose from…

  • To my daughter…

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    by

    Dena Abramson Babb
    in

    Dear daughter, The other night, following another spectacularly explosive meltdown from your older brother, you said quietly, “I just want the old (brother) back.” So do we sweet girl. And so does he. We know that this bad place he is in right now,  is also incredibly hard on you. You have lost your first…

  • This is Us…

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    by

    Dena Abramson Babb
    in

    This is what you might see on the surface when you look at us…A “perfect” nuclear family – husband, wife, son, daughter – who love each other deeply. We have been married for 16 years and together for 23 years. We are college educated professionals, who also make time to volunteer with scouts, PTSA and…