You Are Not Measured By What You Do But By How You Love
As a special needs parent, I have often wondered if I am doing enough for my child. It doesn’t help when other people in my life seem to have great ideas on how to help my child, or they imply that they would do a better job, or that I’m not doing the best I can as a...
To Parents of Kids With Disabilities: Dream Big!
I did not dance a jig when my daughter’s birth confirmed her suspected diagnosis of Down syndrome. Dancing is for celebration, and I really do wish I had celebrated her birth but I did not know then what I know now. Instead, fear overwhelmed me. It was if the room had...
If You Only Know One Thing About Children With Disabilities, Know This
Sometimes I forget two of my children have disabilities. My youngest has Down syndrome and although it’s physically obvious, I don’t look at her and think, Down syndrome. I mean, I know she has Down syndrome but I just see her – my daughter – the seven...
If I Knew Then What I Know Now About Parenting a Child With a Disability
At first, having a child with a disability seemed like an impossible and daunting job. Looking back at the scared mom I was seven years ago, I wish I knew then what I know now. If I could go back in time, this is what I would say… Dealing with the diagnosis is...
Trusting God in the Midst of Trials
Stephen was stoned to death. He trusted in God completely, even as he was being falsely accused, he trusted in God and he still lost his life. My husband preached about Stephen a few Sundays ago and I’ve been thinking about our own family, our own trials, our...
Ellen Stumbo writes and speaks about finding beauty in brokenness with gritty honesty and openness. She's passionate about sharing the real – sometimes beautiful and sometimes ugly – aspects of faith, parenting, special needs, and adoption. Ellen’s writing has appeared on Focus on the Family, LifeWay, MomSense, Not Alone, Mamapedia and the Huffington Post.