My Silent Grandmothers – on Columbia Rising

I Want to Thank Me – inspired by another Special Needs Mom.

by Terena | March 8, 2026 | hope, poetry, strength | 0 Comments

In 2018, Snoop Dog received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He ended his speech by thanking himself for all of his hard work. Recently, I went to a birthday party where another Special Needs mom read a note to thank herself for being an incredible caregiver,...

How Parents Can Nurture a Child’s Natural Curiosity and Raise Self-Motivated Learners

by Terena | December 19, 2025 | family, parenting, special needs, teaching | 0 Comments

Another guest post from Sharon Wagner. We both hope you find this helpful while engaging with your child. Even kids with disabilities find joy in exploration and learning. Here are some guidelines to help you get started. Children begin life as natural scientists —...

Cassandra – A Poem for Virginia Roberts Guiffre

by Terena | October 20, 2025 | art, Muses, opinion, poetry, politics, social media, strength | 0 Comments

Cassandra speaks the truth but all we hear are riddles. She stands in the ruins of the battle she lost. Holds out her arms with bruises like confessions. We study their pattern, their shape, their color before asking, Where is your proof? Cassandra speaks to...

When Fatigue Becomes the Framework: A Self-Care Plan for Parents of Special Needs Children

by Terena | September 22, 2025 | caregiving, family, special needs, strength | 0 Comments

This is a guest post from Sharon Wagner from Senior Friendly, a website for seniors and those who love them. Sharon has a book coming soon! For more information, go to Seniorfriendly.info There’s a kind of tired that slides past simple sleep debt—it builds itself into...

Passing (a poem)

by Terena | June 16, 2025 | activism, news, opinion, poetry, politics | 0 Comments

I am not your American, I don't want that name I might look the part, but I'm not playing your game. Middle Class clothes. Working class life Getting through my day without too much strife. I’m not your American. I read too much. But I can hide my books and I can shut...

Crying in my Car Again

by Terena | April 26, 2025 | strength | 1 Comment

Here I am, crying in my car as if my entire body has been shattered and I will never breath again. My face is pressed against the vinyl of the passenger seat, the seat belt cutting into my shoulder. Stop it, I say, over and over... but my body ignores me. I'm...

The Forever Brilliance of Sara

by Terena | April 13, 2025 | strength | 1 Comment

VISIONS: Seeing the Aurora in a New Light by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC-BY 2.0 I lost one of my closest friends last week. Sara Sherman-Levine, nurse, healthcare advocate and powerful force of nature. She was someone who walked into a room and...

Nick Cave on Music, Creativity and Grief

by Terena | April 11, 2025 | life, Muses, music, strength | 0 Comments

Photo of Nick Cave by by photographer Detlev Schneider My heart carries too much grief. My daughter’s constant struggle with her illness. The loss of dear friends, those who died from AIDS in the 1990’s and those I’ve lost to cancer now. The loss of my husband to...

Book Covers

by Terena | March 23, 2025 | book design, memoir, publishing, writing | 1 Comment

Photo by Kamran Aydinov A few days ago, I received five sample book covers from my publisher. Being included in the cover design process is one of the reasons I am thrilled that She Writes Press is publishing my book. Most publishers make all of the decisions about a...

Politically Induced Writer’s Block

by Terena | March 2, 2025 | activism, news, writing | 0 Comments

Photo by Markus Winkler I sit at my desk with my lap top open and begin to type. Just start, I think. Write anything. Write the first impulse of words! If you start, you'll find the flow. My fingers stop. I stare at my plant that is trying to adapt to the new room...