This week, I had the opportunity to chat with Ryan Niemiller, a professional actor and standup comedian about living life, thriving and, of course, laughing despite his physical disability. <!--break-->
Tell me a little about yourself, including your disability
I am currently working as a professional actor and standup comedian. I [...]
I'm honored today to have interviewed Louise Kinross. She's the editor of Canadian's BLOOM, a publication that helps parents of kids with disabilities. But she's first and foremost a mother to son Ben, 15, who has a rare genetic condition called Langer Giedion Syndrome.<!--break-->
Describe a bit of the emotional' [...]
This week, as National Survivors of Suicide Day approaches tomorrow, we've been exploring the impact of suicide, both on a personal and societal level. Michael Behmer, a marriage and family therapist at Vive and co-founder of Chaos to Connection, a comprehensive program designed to restore relationships between parents and' [...]
What did you think of the first part of my attempt to process my father's death? The story continues...let me know what you think!<!--break-->
The next thing I knew, my mother's screaming startled me awake. She came home, walked through the door and found a note taped to the giraffe [...]
There are two months out of the year I'm not too keen on living through. One is March, obviously, since that is the month in which my father committed suicide, a month that still, almost seven years later, smells the same, looks the same and all-around feels the same as' [...]
I hope you enjoyed yesterday's words from psychotherapist Mary Jo Rapini. Here's one more bit of wisdom she has to share, being a mom herself.<!--break-->
Mother's are rated the top influence in 90% of all girls' lives. We carry with us the wisdom of experience, and no one else will' [...]
When I was young, I used to tell my mother, with great gusto and frequency, that "we're the same person." I fully believed it then. I was in awe of her and wanted to be not just her walking, talking mini-me, but her. Not like her. Not sharing her interests.' [...]
Author Mary Jo Rapini knows a thing or two about mothers and daughters. During the course of her decade-long career as a psychotherapist, she's confronted everything from body image issues to intimacy issues to parenting issues. Now, she's brought her expertise to the page with her book, ""Start Talking: A [...]
Families in every neck of the woods pay homage to the matriarch of their family every May on that lovely Sunday we've come to know - and expect (at least my mother has) - as Mother's Day.<!--break--> Sons, daughters and even husbands shower the women in their lives with cards' [...]
Editor's Note: From the moment I began reading Ellen's To The Max, a blog about life and love with her son, Max, who had a stroke at birth. I immediately found myself captivated by her honesty, something that is sometimes lacking in the disability world. Read on for her [...]
Everybody has a nickname for their mother. Maybe they're not comfortable with the traditional Mom label. Case in point: In one of my favorite movies, "Mermaids," Winona Ryder's character calls her mother Mrs. Flax. She takes the professional-relationship route. My sister, Janelle, and I call our mother Ms. Bear. <!--break-->
She's [...]
It may sound strange, but I've come to think of my life not so much in terms of my "in-the-hospital" Melissa and "normal-spunky-redhaired" Melissa, but in terms of life before my father's suicide and the life I've tried to create from the ruins left behind in his wake.<!--break-->
That second girl [...]
Growing up, I was the sort of girl who had a varying array of nicknames for, not my sister, but my father. For example, I'd harp "Good one, Einstein" after he made, in my young eyes, a blatantly obvious comment.<!--break-->
Or I'd give his soft, round stomach a little pat/punch and [...]
I couldn't resist posting some of my favorite quotes about the dynamic of the father-daughter relationship. What are some of your favorites? I'd love to hear them!<!--break-->
"Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our" [...]
This week, let's explore the father-daughter dynamic as it relates to having a disability. The father-daughter bond is an extraordinary one at its foundation, but add a disability to the mix, and that bond becomes even more solid, as it did in my case. <!--break-->
At 21, I swiftly waved goodbye [...]
Editor's note: Hello, readers! Here's a short and sweet (just like me!) nugget of wisdom for your Wednesday. I'll be exploring the father-daughter relationship (especially as it relates to my disability) further in the coming week, but I hope you enjoy this preview in the meantime.<!--break-->
With his' [...]
Although we may have had what I call "the perfect childhood," my sister and I couldn't escape the fact that I wasn't the typical big sister.
Our roles were often reversed growing up. Because of all my surgeries and the fact that the hospital became our second home by the time [...]
Editor's note: My sister and I have always been close. And I can't help but wonder: Does my disability have something to do with it? Check back here for Part II tomorrow, along with some expert insight.<!--break-->
My younger sister, Janelle, and I are twins, despite our' [...]
I come from a long line of board-game lovers. And there is one game - well, it's not so much a board game as it is a roll-of-the-dice game - that resembles life in its purest form.<!--break--> It's a man's man's game - or, in my case, [...]
Editor's Note: I hope you enjoyed Part I of my life's mini-memoir, such as a memoir can be when you're only 28. Here's Part II...I'd love to hear what you think! Email me, as always, at mellow1422@aol.com with your thoughts. I can't wait to hear from' [...]
Editor's Note: Welcome to the new Wednesday feature, Words of Wisdom Wednesday. We could all use a little more wisdom and advice in our lives, so each week, look to this blog for interviews and insights from experts, organizations and real people living, working and most of all, thriving in' [...]
I am a lot of things to many people. Daughter. Sister. Best friend. Writer. Columnist. Blogger.
Oh, yeah, and I have a physical disability, too.<!--break-->
Yes, I know that might sound a bit strange. To list one's disability as a footnote of sorts, but that's how I've come to' [...]
