I have to confess that I feel like a huge hypocrite when it comes to planning my children’s birthday parties. I’m so judgmental of all the birthday parties I see on Pinterest. I have thoughts like, “Is all that attention to detail really for the children or is it for the adults? Whom are you trying to impress? Doesn’t that bring more stress than joy into your life? And how much does it cost to buy color-coordinated straws?” 

And then when my son’s birthday parties come around, I revel in the planning and in the details. I like planning! And I like details! (Maybe all those Pinterest moms do, too).

It turns out that Henry does have a genetic issue going on. We had him do the MTHFR test (a simple finger prick). Apparently his C671T allele (the larger one) is normal, but his A1298C is homozygous. It is missing the allele from each parent. It means that his body’s ability to process folic acid is decreased by 30%. The psychiatrist explained that it’s as if he only has 70% control of his behavior (because our body needs to process folic acid properly in order to support the production of important neuro-transmitters that are connected to self-regulation). (Editor’s Note: All of this is coming from my scribbled, hand-written notes, so