The other day I received a comment from a woman named McKinley. (Hi McKinley!) I wrote back (like I try to…2011 resolution!) and realized that I had “met” her before online because she wrote to me when her niece was diagnosed with Cri du Chat. I had totally forgotten! I felt really stupid…but then I realized that so many people pass through here it’s hard to keep them all straight. And then I started thinking…how did I “meet” everyone else? I wish I had kept track of how I found all of my favorite blogs. Do you remember how you found me? I’d love for you to put it in the comments if you remember.
McKinley and I have been having an email conversation about finding others who know what you’re going through. I was telling her about how, 10 years ago, it was hard to find people on the internet. We didn’t have Twitter, FB, blogs, etc. It just made me appreciate all of you. It made me appreciate this blog and all the joy that has come with it. There are days when I read other blogs that get 60+ comments and think “Really?!”. There are days when I read other blogs that get 1 comment and I think “Really?! More people should read this blog!”. There are days when I don’t feel like writing…or when I get so few comments I wonder why I write. Then someone like McKinley leaves me a comment or sends me an email and I remember. I blog so I don’t feel so alone. So I can help someone else to feel a connection. So someone out there who just had a baby diagnosed with Cri du Chat or some other type of special needs know that life will be ok. Everyone will survive and even thrive. That’s why I do it.
Thanks, McKinley, for that reminder! I needed it.
**Don’t forget if you can remember how you found me, leave it in the comments!**
Elastamom's Excerpts 
I found your blog through Facebook and read it daily! I love hearing from the family side of a student with special needs. Your blog is wonderful and so are you! Thanks for introducing me to a world I now love!!
Hi Tiffany! I found Olivia’s website first and eventually found your blog. I’m a silent follower, but love your blog!
i think that most of the people i met….was through SITS. that’s probably where i came across your blog?? but i love reading about your family and how y’all do things. i’m really a nosy person, so this feeds my desire to be all up in other people’s business 😉
Oh, she’s adorable. One of the best things about your blog is that you’re such a great resource for others who are scared and feel alone. I admire that so much.
I’m pretty sure I found you through our sweet Gibby? I’m glad I did.
I found you through Mike’s cousin Allison. What a joy it has been to know you.
I think I found your blog through facebook. Even though I hated math (and still do) you were my favorite teacher in high school and I love reading everything on your blog- I love hearing Olivia’s new accomplishments, how sweet your boys are, your good parenting ideas and seeing all of your awesome photographs! You keep it real and that’s what I love the most.
One of my New Year Resolutions are to keep my blog real. I know my grandparents in Florida like seeing all the pictures of the girls, but I would love to share more about my real life- tantrums, finding time for date nights, my favorite things, what life is really like all the time with a 1 and 3 year old, etc. 🙂
I try to pass your blog along to friends that have children with special needs whenever I can because your blog is so helpful.
I found your blog through Sundays in my city I think. I used to look at your posts on a Sunday. Then you would pop up in my comments section and I would think your name sounded familiar. I would check out your blog and think, aw that’s that sweet blog that I read on SIMC. lol ( I am sometimes slow to catch on! I’m also pretty slow at remembering to “follow” blogs I just keep them bookmarked)
I love reading your blog and have thoroughly enjoyed your flashback series, you are so honest and real.
Seeing your new posts pop up in my blog roll , makes me smile! And I definitely missed you over the holidays!
Happy New Year, I look forward to your posts of 2011 xxx
I found your blog on facebook about a year ago. It has been so great knowing that I am not the only one go thru everyday challenges. My son Dylan is 10 and so much like Olivia your posts helps to feel a little more like “normal” I look forward to every new post.
I met you through work, then you said you blogged. I read it 1 time and I WAS hooked. I love how real you keep it and it makes me feel better when I’m having a bad day to know I’m not alone.
I looked up Cri du Chat on Facebook and came across your blog. It’s great to read about all of the things that Olivia is doing. My Helena is 22 months old with cdc.
I have NO clue how I found you, or if it was you that found me first. If you found me first then I would have clicked on your comment to follow your blog (which I do with anyone who reads my blog). If I found you first, well then like I said I have no clue!
I’m in the group that can’t remember how I found you — but I’m so glad I did! I love your optimism and willingness to tackle personal or difficult issues.
I too don’t remember how I found you but I feel so blessed that I did!
I found you through Charity’s blog. She had you listed as one she reads and after one reading I was hooked too. Heck, how could I not read when we both have Olivia’s with 5p-?
And like you, I blog because I hope to connect with other parents of sweet kids like ours, who might be just beginning this journey and be scared to death or who are farther along but can remember some of the challenges I’m facing these days.
It’s just really nice to connect.
I found you when your little lady was in kindergarten and you trusted me enough (or really had no choice!) to put her in my care each day at school. 🙂 I immediately fell in love with her AND you! I can still remember one of the very first days when you came into my classroom and pointed at a picture of my sister and said “I know that girl!” What a small world it is! I feel so very blessed to have you and Olivia in my life and I don’t know what I’ll do when I don’t get to be her teacher anymore! Oh… wait… yes I do… time for a cruise with YOU! Haha!
Hello! Please don’t feel bad about not having so many comments. I read here daily. I might not always have time to drop a line, but it’s a ritual for me!
I met you through the CDC Society link on Olivia. SO happy I clicked!
I don’t remember how I found you. I’m just glad I did.
I know what it feels like to feel alone.
I just me the first person I have ever met who suffers with the same condition my youngest son does, Trevor’s Disease. I found him through facebook.
Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your loved ones.
Best,
Terry
I think I knew your yard first! I’d drive past your house every day and notice how full of life it seemed. Stroller, trikes, sidewalk chalk….I knew you were a busy mom like me. Then I saw the little “yes” and “no” bus signs in your window and surmised you had a little one with special needs. Then I knew you were even busier than I was and I’d say a little prayer for the mom in that house. How wonderful it was to finally meet you at Safety City and what a cool thing to have our boys connect and become friends. Even though we’re gone now and we don’t have the chance to talk face to face, I’m happy to hear your voice on the blog every day. I look forward to it and enjoy our little email chats. You are a blessing, Tiffany!
Similar to McKinley, I found you because my nephew was diagnosed with Cri Du Chat in May 2010. My family was scared and desperate for informaiton. I believe I found your site through the 5p- Society website. My daughter was born in March so I was on maternity leave when my nephew was diagnosed. During her naps I would click through pages and pages of Cri Du Chat information and finally found your blog. It was such a breath of fresh air! In a few days I had through most most of your archives. . .crying, laughing, and generally feeling inspired. I’ve talked about your blog and your family multiple times to my parents and brother and it’s been such a comfort. Interestingly, we live pretty close to each other. It sounds so stalkerish, but I recognize some of the news stories that you referenced (like the tornadoes last year that destroyed that high school and killed seven people). My brother and his family live in West Virginia and I’m really trying to get them to go to the Cri du Chat conference in Columbus. ANYWAY, that’s how I found you. Please know that you have made a difference in my life!
I feel like I’ve known you forever my dear friend. I followed Olivia’s website for as long as you were able to keep it up. I think I found your blog through FB or perhaps an email you sent. I’ve been hanging out here ever since. The beauty is that our face to face lives have once again crossed paths and I am ever so thankful for that. Love you!
I found you through the 5p- society. You are the only one that really keeps things current and I wish there were more people in the society that had updates on their kids. But anyway McKinley is my sister and Lily is my daughter. She was diagnosed with cdc in September and she is about 6 months old. You have really inspired me to really keep my blog a place that will help reach out to others, and to stay connected with other moms who are going through similar experiences. Thanks for taking the time to blog and add great pictures and video of Olivia ( I love to see these, it really helps!)
Thank you again for writting back!! You are great and I second my sisters comment! This blog is wonderful!
PS I found you through my sister.
I can’t remember how I found you, but I also can’t remember when I WASN’T reading your inspirational posts. Don’t feel discouraged, Tiffany. What you do is so important. You just never know whose needs you’re meeting by sharing your heart the way you do. You are amazing. (You were also one of the winners of my music giveaway last week! Let me know what song you’d like and I’ll send it to you.)
I am lukcy enough to have found you at the gym :o) I always looked forward to seeing you on Monday mornings. Miss you! You have to come as a guest one of these days. I am teaching Fridays too for a couple months. So let me know when you can visit!
I found you through Momalom’s five for five. I am so glad I did Tiffany. You have a charming spirit and an infectious optimism in your voice. What you do here is important and thanks for reminding us why we blog.
We worked together, although I always wanted to know you better. As a SE teacher I have always wanted to see it, experience it from the parent’s perspective. The “separation” never felt right to me. I know these kiddos have WORTH and VALUE because they were created by GOD. It is just so amazingly refreshing to read your honest journey through the highs and lows. You and Matt are amazing Tiffany! I love reading your blog!