Comments for Noah's Road

Comment on The Stay-at-Home Working Mom’s Dilemma by tthyng

tthyng — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 01:09:45 +0000

I miss your updates, I hope all is well.

Comment on The Stay-at-Home Working Mom’s Dilemma by lbessant001

lbessant001 — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 19:24:30 +0000

Hi Erin,

I happened to find your blog on a search I’ve been doing on shaken baby sydrome. My now 4 month old was also shaken by her babysitter or her husband as they were both at home. However, I am being made a suspect. I don’t know what to do, I cant afford a lawyer, I am single and I have 3 kids. Is there any resources you can point me in the direction of?? I’m at my wits end, the social worker has made me have no contact whatsoever with my kids! I didnt hurt my baby!! Please email me at lbessant001@aol.com. I dont know if you have a facebook but I will try there as well.

And also sorry to hear that your son was a victim of this as well. I am beyond my limit.

Thanks,

Lisa

Comment on The Stay-at-Home Working Mom’s Dilemma by Pilo

Pilo — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 02:17:52 +0000

Dear Erin, sorry for my english, i’m going to try to do the best i can. I’m a chilean mother that suffered the same nightmare like you, with a young Peruvian women who supposedly took care our 6 months child (june 2011). I’ve been the last year searching for all kind of information to help us on legal court, and that is how i met your son and your blog. I’m sorry but i couldn’t read much about it cause all is in english and it’s difficult for me.
I have a son of 1 year old that suffered SBS at 6 months of age. It’s was the worst time of our lifes, but thanks God he doesn’t have any consequence (at the time). Here in our country the law rules are so poor in these kind of things. We have all kind of exams, doctor’s tell and family support to prepare our speech for the court (maybe on october). And i need to ask you if you can help me to obtain information of other cause in USA or your, what kind of information or proof are importante to demostrate the guilty of this “women” (if we can call her woman). If you can let me know about it, i’ll apreciate it. We need, for example, what kind of question are important to do to the doctor i don’t know what else!! i’m lost trying to do justice for my son!!! only you can know how i feel… and i for you. Please-please help us!
Eternally greatful!!!
bless for all of you.
THANK’S!!!
Pilar

Comment on The Stay-at-Home Working Mom’s Dilemma by mary smith

mary smith — Wed, 30 May 2012 03:56:59 +0000

I am so glad the blog is back. But what I’ve discovered is that you were never really gone. Somehow I lost the thread and was stuck on a year old entry. I’m a grandma but I well remember “those” days. The suggestion that you speak with Noah’s teachers and other parents is valid. Sharing experiences with other parents can be a valuable source of information. And strength. God bless.

Comment on New Roads to Travel by mary smith

mary smith — Wed, 30 May 2012 03:42:00 +0000

I can’t tell you how many times I have logged onto this site hoping to see an update! Tonight for the first time I saw that there were more postings than the last I had seen, the milk bottle posting. (I’m a little foggy on these things.) Please know that I continue to pray for Noah and you, his family, every night. I pray for your strength and well-being.

Comment on The Stay-at-Home Working Mom’s Dilemma by Esther

Esther — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:48:47 +0000

Erin,
I haven’t read your blog for some time but I did talk to your father-in-law at breakfast this morning for an update on Noah. Your latest entry strikes a particularly poignant chord with me.
As a mother, even though my children are older than you are, I still remember having the same feelings. I was by choice a SAHM but there were days when I felt like the most inadequate mother on earth. Also the most conflicted, confused woman alive. I think we have lots of company there!
But your so typical concerns for your children and yourself go beyond what most mothers have to face. When you ask “how do I ever know what is age appropriate and what is the result of the brain damage”, my heart aches for you. It is the question which makes your road such a difficult one. It is the same question my family faced when my father suffered a severe head injury many years ago. For years after I became an occupational therapist, I kept seeing my father in so many patients. Finally I realized I wasn’t seeing my father, I was seeing the brain damage. Only after I had seen it in many people, in many different manifestations, could I sort out how much of how Dad acted was within his control and how much was the result of the injury. How much easier our lives would have been if we had understood that years earlier!

May I make two suggestions? The first is to talk to whichever one of his teachers or therapists you are most comfortable with. You know Noah much better than they do, but they know learning disabilities and developmental disabilities better than you. They have that broader view that could be very helpful to you. So many family members struggle over issues that really are beyond their control and so many others don’t expect as much as they should because they don’t think there’s any hope. This is where an open, trusting relationship with a professional can really make a wonderful difference.

My second suggestion isn’t probably practical right now. But once both boys are in school, perhaps you could spend some time in a classroom with children with disabilities. I did a lot of volunteering in my kids’ classrooms…I was blessed that they were developing typically…but even that helped tremendously because I could get some perspective on just where they stood compared to their peers. Seeing other children with issues similar to Noah’s might help you gain a similar perspective.

Oh…and I guess I have a third suggestion. More like a plea. I mentioned it to John this morning, probably not for the first time. For most of my professional life, I worked in schools and I watched families agonize over the best course of action as their child with special needs faced the challenges of life. We as professionals would help the children and try to help the parents but knew that most of the time, they would have taken our suggestions so much better from another parent…someone who had “been there”. What so many parents need is someone who can say “We tried this and it didn’t work, or I wish we had known that, or I agonized over little stuff and missed the bigger picture.” That kind of help can really only come from someone who has been there. I hope that once Noah is a teenager or young adult, you will find the strength to go back and revisit some of the painful times you are going through now so that you can help someone else make sense of their version of Noah’s Road.
Esther Miller

Comment on The Stay-at-Home Working Mom’s Dilemma by scottiev

scottiev — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:53:03 +0000

Erin,
I could have written this post myself. Being a mom is the hardest job in the world and you’re doing an amazing job. What is a result of his injury, what is a result of his age… it’s all just Noah and who he is. It don’t imagine it would be any more or less frustrating if you had the answer. My two youngest are nearly the same age as your boys (11/08 and 2/10) and I find myself continually saying the same things. I was teary as I rocked Jack to sleep today trying to will myself to not wish these days away and praying for patience and wisdom with what to do with my life. Everyone has a need to feel valuable and be known.

I don’t have any answer, I just wanted you to know you aren’t the only one who feels this way. Virtual hugs to you- I will pray for wisdom and guidance for you as well as a continued sense of peace and internal rest for your struggle. Much love!

Comment on The Stay-at-Home Working Mom’s Dilemma by Beth

Beth — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 22:35:44 +0000

Hi Erin, I googled you to find you (my computer crashed and I lost the email with the list of questions that you wanted me to respond to for your book). …I’ve read through Noah’s story and had to take pause….I can’t even imagine. Your strength is very apparent in your words…..I hope you are able to relish in those moments that children bring to each day; they are indescribable. We lost my nephew just before X-mas to a senseless tragedy and are all trying to watch for those moments because nothing else makes sense. …At any rate, please email me again that list of questions so I can get them back to you by March 28. This time I will SAVE it. Blessings. Beth Zupec-Kania

Comment on The Stay-at-Home Working Mom’s Dilemma by DebbieV

DebbieV — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 03:54:36 +0000

Hi, Erin. The days are long, but the time is short. I’m a SAHM of two boys. It is the hardest job in the world, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Thanks for the update.

Debbie

Comment on The Stay-at-Home Working Mom’s Dilemma by merrysu

merrysu — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:33:45 +0000

I’m sorry to admit that I don’t pray for you all as much as I did in the beginning of Noah’s Road. But just read your latest post and consider it a reminder to put you all on my updated prayer list. I will try to be more faithful in remembering the family…Mom, Dad, Noah, Avry, Grandpa’s and Grandma’s. Mary Sue (Collins) Burch (A member of Valley Baptist Church in Edinburg for over 20 years.)