Ho Ho, Uh Oh, the Holidays Draw Near

My daughter's favorite radio station is already playing Christmas music 24/7. The weekend newspaper is heavy with gift ads. The first Christmas cards of the season are no doubt on their way to my mailbox, destined to make me feel both merry and guilty. The holiday season seems to be starting earlier and earlier, with Thanksgiving just a speed bump in the way, and there's nothing to do but embrace it. Why not get in a gift-giving mood by sharing present inspirations here on About.com Parenting Special Needs? I've got three Readers Respond pages waiting for your ideas on:

• Gifts for Teachers and Other Important School People
• The Best Gift Your Child Ever Received
• The Worst Gift Your Child Ever Received

and in the Parenting Special Needs Forum, there's a topic already open on where you're finding gifts this year. One place to find some good shopping sites is my Holiday Survival Guide, the first page of which is devoted to special-needs gift-giving.

Then again, if the thought of impending holidays just stresses you out, give yourself the gift of humor with Special-Needs Christmas Carols. "Hark, the Relatives Complain" should put you in the right frame of mind for this Thursday.

Also new today: Site of the Day | Today's News and Views | Tip of the Day

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