Massachusetts

Exceptional Lives Sites site

Julie McIsaac, M.A.

Who is Exceptional Lives?

by

At Exceptional Lives (or as we call ourselves, ELI) we all have credentials. We have experience, both lived and academic. We have gained experience in various professional disciplines. But that’s less interesting to me. I want to tell you what I see: I see our executive director stepping away from her desk, no matter the […]

Understanding your child’s strengths and challenges

by

No one knows your child better than you! This is why you are key to finding the right supports and activities that are most likely to help your child thrive.

“How do I help my son to engage in more sports activities?”

by

Last week, I looked into a soccer program for my son. It has been a couple of years since we’ve tried community sports programs and I wondered, “Is he ready?”

Talk to my son

by

We want our children to have control over their thoughts and emotions as much as possible. We teach them to better identify how they’re feeling and what they need. We want them to have the confidence to try. If they fail, we encourage them to try again. We hope they advocate for themselves in whatever […]

Special Education Placements for My Child

by

The winter break from school can be a time to observe and experience our children in a new way. There are probably times of overstimulation or exhaustion. There are hopefully moments of quiet connection or discovery of something new. As we send our students back to the classroom (good luck, teachers!), this mid-year moment is […]

The Holiday Hustle

by

During a season where we are all prone to be a little more stretched than usual, I’ve been trying hard to be present and stay grounded for my children. Mostly I’ve been trying not to lose my calm. Really trying. So hard.

What should I know about child development?

by

I’ve studied child development for almost 20 years and I’ve been a parent for almost 9. I do not have all of the answers. But I’ve learned to ask some good questions.