Daniella Mini

Autistic and Social: My Son Is the Most Social Person I Know

One thing I hate about my son Diego’s autism label is that it suggests he’s not social. The implication is to be expected, of course, seeing as the diagnosis requires “Persistent deficits in social...Read More →

Why Aging Doesn’t Scare Me

Since turning 50 four years ago, I’ve become obsessed with the topic of aging. By aging, I mean everything about the five-plus possible decades of life that remain for me, and what life will ideally ...Read More →

Autistic and Young: Why Does Diego Look So Young?

My son Diego (autistic and intellectually disabled) turned 30 on 13 January 2024. Just a week prior, my friend Liz came to visit from California and we went to the Whitney Museum, where the ticket person...Read More →

Life Lessons from Astonishing Women Wiser and Perhaps Older Than You

At a restaurant a few months ago, my husband’s friend Andres brought up a podcast he was loving called Wiser Than Me, where, he explained, Julia Louis-Dreyfus interviews famous older women like Jane...Read More →

The Magic of Books: A Bit of Inspiration for 2024

I know of a gifted man who has a “book-a-day” habit. I’m envious. Assuming our lifespans are equal, he’ll get to thousands more books than me. He’ll experience the wonder of finding his very own feelings...Read More →

New Year Mantras: Faith, Water and Neighbors

To wrap up the year on a very bright note, I went hiking with my sisters Rosanna and Sandra today. As usual, we talked about everything, including the future, which today meant 2024, the New Year. At ...Read More →

Why I Resigned from My Special Education Teacher Job

Here's my life-changing decision of 2023: I resigned from my job as a special education teacher in November. I was a teacher for 17+ years. It wasn't ideal that I left midyear, but when you know, you know,...Read More →

Menopause: What’s the Big Deal?

It’s official. After counting the months between periods for well over two years, I can confidently announce that I hit menopause. I can give away my remaining tampons and pads and stop using birth...Read More →

Gratitude List: Why I’m Grateful to Be a U.S. Citizen

Disclaimer: It will never feel right to type “I’m an American” -even though I sometimes say it. Fact: I’ve always been an American, only from South America (Venezuela specifically), just like any U.S....Read More →