Jennifer Briggs

Sarah seems increasingly attached to Amy as a playmate and companion. Earlier in the week she was so intent on getting extra time with Amy to play hotel or sleepover that Sarah got ready for school the fastest she ever has. While she often plays with (or fights with) Amy, and while she often asks… Read more »

Yesterday was a hard day for Pittsburgh, with a man killing several people in a synagogue. Normally I haven’t spoken much to the girls when such events happen but they were with me when I heard the news so they heard my gasp. Amy seemed to understand somewhat, although not in a way that meant… Read more »

We bought a Sarah-Rise house. It is a vacation house about an hour away from our home and it is beautiful. We absolutely fell in love with the giant open living space. The kitchen, living, and dining areas are really just one big room and then the bedrooms are off to either side. The house… Read more »

I returned from England on Wednesday evening. The week of Alexander Technique study was incredibly wonderful. Navigating through London at rush hour on the Underground with my luggage was less than wonderful but I did feel good about accomplishing my end goals successfully. I will make different choices the next time around as to transportation,… Read more »

I am having an amazing time in England studying with a wonderfully amazing Alexander Technique teacher. I am learning so much! He is taking something that looks and feels like magic and teaching us the refined components so we can do it too. I know that is what all of my AT training has been,… Read more »

This week Sarah has been testing boundaries. I didn’t originally see it that way. I saw it as supremely frustrating and I didn’t know how to make things better. Sarah has been purposefully doing the opposite of what we say or purposefully ignoring us. This isn’t new, but it seemed like someone turned up the… Read more »

Why is she crying? Because she is 7, and she is scared of dental work. Why is she crying? Because she is 11, and she is learning to tie her shoes in a brand new way, and it feels too hard. Why is she crying? Because she is 41, and she is frustrated by her… Read more »

We started Sarah’s Oxcarbazepine a week ago in the evening. That is her anti-seizure medication. I’m trying to learn the name of it so I can direct a sitter to give it to her if need be. If I only remember its other name (Trileptal) that isn’t written anywhere on the box or bottle, then… Read more »

Quite often after I write about something then it changes. Sometimes that makes me want to avoid sharing if things are going really well, but I always share anyway, and sometimes that helps me shift out of whatever was difficult. After my last update, Sarah’s pajama obsession eased a bit. I think it was due… Read more »

Stupid bleeping polka dot pajamas!!! But more on that later. Many parts of this week were wonderful. Sarah started 4th grade. She tied her shoes by herself to get ready for the bus. I gave two Alexander lessons that were for my own practice and were some of my best work. I arranged the details… Read more »