Dr. Timon's Pediatric Dental Blog

Many first time and Autistic patients seem much more relaxed and confident if they are familiar with the surroundings and know what they will see when they come to our office. I have posted several pictures below starting from the parking lot, to the elevator and finally into the treatment rooms. Please feel free to print these or show them to your child before your visit.

These pictures can be printed and shown to your child so they are familiar with our office before their appointment.

Labels: Autism, Autistic children, first dental visit

I noticed in this week’s Sunday Advertiser a front-page article depicting domestic abuse. I have, on occasion, reported to child protective services injuries to children that I felt might involve abuse. I find now that I want to describe an instance of adult domestic violence. The victim was myself and I hope my tale will enlighten many of you to the fact that domestic violence can occur to anyone.

In September of 2007 my wife and I decided to attempt salvaging our marriage. We had been separated more than a year, were officially separated with separate residences and temporary alimony established by a judge. I think we both were shocked when a final divorce settlement was presented by our
Attorneys. We met a couple of times, talked on the phone and decided I should move back in on a Sunday.

The following Friday my wife discovered my password and gained access to my email account. The account contained many old emails to a woman that I had dated while we were separated. My wife freaked, screaming, cursing, telling me what a horrible person I was---on and on. It was a turning point in the relationship.

I became depressed the next day and she became emotionally and physically abusive to me. The physical abuse seldom occurred but the emotional abuse was almost a daily occurrence. I remember one evening we had dinner with my wife's sister and brother-in-law. My wife had had too many glasses of wine and I knew there would be a price to pay. It started right after we left in the car. Yelling and threatening to make me return to the boat I had lived on while separated. I had developed a phobia of the boat at this time and pleaded with her not to make me go back to the boat. Later, my wife said her sister had told her that I looked so depressed and sad. I was depressed all right but I was also scared. The most frightening incident was one night while I was lying in my bed on my side. My wife came in took a knife and cut me twice on my stomach. Each cut was very slow and very shallow, just enough to bleed.

If you talk to anyone that was around us during that time they will describe her as a loving and devoted caregiver. She would make me close the windows of our condo before the abuse so no one would hear, endearments when others were around and abuse when alone. I'm sure most people will think, why didn't you just leave. When you are depressed you've lost your self worth, your confidence and ability to act in your own self-interest. Until you recover, you see no escape and choose dependence and the abuse.

One evening in June of 2007 we began arguing. My wife got up from her chair, went into the bedroom and started throwing my clothes out the door. It was the eleventh time since the previous September that I had had to leave and find another place to sleep. I never went back, probably because I was no longer depressed and refused to be a victim.

Both of us were victims and terribly unhappy but no one deserves to be abused. I hope this will convince you that anyone can be abused. Male, female, child, adult, poor or rich, we are all potential victims.

Labels: abuse, domestic violence

My daughter Nicole, son-in-law Patrick Shipman and granddaughters Hannah and Ava are on a great adventure. They are now in Nepal but started in Manila where they stayed with Wendy. Wendy was her best friend when we lived in Manila when Nicole was in 6th grade and also in the 9th grade. Still friends after 25+ years!!

Next they visited Bangkok and now Kathmandu.

It took a lot of sacrifice to put a hold on their careers to explore the world with their children. There will be two more adventures before next summer. Please visit their blog and let me know what you think. I'm very proud!

This is how happy Tracie is every
morning when we begin work








After a fun day at work here is Tracie again.