We Are Moving Forward.

If you talk with a parent of a special needs child they will talk about their journey. And the diagnosis. For some people they are shocked when the diagnosis comes. For others, it happens more slowly. It evolves I guess.

Whichever path you are on there will ALWAYS be parts that hurt. Look at me. I am doing better every day. I really am. But I still have very lows moments and days. Moments where I cry in private. Moments where I watch Cooper closer than I’ve ever watched Sawyer. Analyzing every movement. Listening to every sound. And hating autism. Hating this invisible monster that stole moments from me.  I don’t suspect that will ever go away.

But with that comes growth. And acceptance.

There are certain things I have accepted that I would never get with Cooper. I don’t know if he will ever say mom. Or tell me about his day. Or be excited to show me something he made. Or go to a best friends house. I don’t believe he will ever have a girlfriend. Or get married. Or have kids.

And most days I can forget about these future milestones. I shove those suckers way down deep inside. We are just like any other mother son duo. We laugh and play and snuggle. Mostly, I don’t even notice that there are no words.

But there are certain things, even after 4 years, that really, really hurt me. Seeing the relationships that NT children have with friends and family are hard for me. Seeing the bonds. God that shit hurts. It’s not that Cooper isn’t loved it’s that he often doesn’t seek out the attention like other children do. He is not demanding.

Hearing kids say funny things. Or act silly. Play dress up. Whatever it may be. It’s hard.

Seeing kids get excited over parties and gifts and events kills me.

Seeing kids join in and play breaks my heart in two. Let me rephrase that, my already broken heart stays broken when kids gather around to hear a story or play a game.

I will take the boys to the park and the second we get there Sawyer darts off to make friends. He is drawn to children. And Cooper plays by himself.

Two worlds. Two very different little boys.

Seeing kids play sports. Teams of children. God that hurts. T-ball, soccer, dance, whatever…you name it. It’s like a knife.

School pictures hurt. I never thought I would get a school picture of Cooper. I even avoid looking at them.

A month or so ago I saw a class picture of my niece. And I teared up and quickly hid my feelings. I assumed I would never get a picture of Cooper from school. Or not at least one that looked ok.

And then there was this.

Cooper 4 years old

And I can’t even put into words what this picture means to me.

I wonder if the teachers at his school know what this picture means to a mom like me. I know they were patient with him. And I know that this isn’t the first one taken. Or probably even the tenth. And I can guarantee that if you turned the camera around there are teachers and aids behind the photographer laughing and being silly trying to engage Cooper.

I could hug them. I actually love them. They cared. And that means so much to me.

I needed this so badly. This silly picture. I need us to feel normal sometimes. As strong as I act I just need it.

And dare I say that this picture gives me hope. I sometimes forget that we are indeed moving forward. Our pace is slow, and staggered, and full of emotion…but we are moving forward.

Avatar photo

Kate Swenson

Kate Swenson lives in Minnesota with her husband Jamie, and four children, Cooper, Sawyer, Harbor and Wynnie. Kate launched Finding Cooper's Voice from her couch while her now 11-year-old son Cooper was being diagnosed with autism. Back then it was a place to write. Today it is a living, thriving community of people who want to not only advocate for autism, but also make the world a better place for individuals with disabilities and their families. Her first book, Forever Boy, will be released, April 5, 2022.

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9 Comments

  1. Meg C. DeBoe on April 1, 2015 at 5:59 pm

    It’s a beautiful picture! He’s so handsome 🙂



    • Avatar photo findingcoopersvoice on April 1, 2015 at 6:34 pm

      Thanks lady!



  2. picklehead1wigglebum1mum on April 1, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    Gorgeous pic!! ? and I can relate so much to your blog. Thank you for your honesty as it means so much to people like me on their own crazy journey.



  3. ontheupcyclemom on April 1, 2015 at 8:26 pm

    He looks so handsome! Stay Strong Momma!



  4. Ain't No Shrinking Violet on April 1, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    School pics kill me too…I take one glance at them at the school and then immediately turn them back in with no purchase. Otherwise they sit on my counter all week mocking me. My child is so, so demanding….so demanding I don’t even have words for it. I don’t know if I should hope for him to be lost in his own world more, or if that would just be another version of hell. I was doing better about the whole autism thing until spring break rolled around, and now watching him decompensate due to lack of structure is taking me down again.



  5. Cyn on April 2, 2015 at 2:17 pm

    Stay strong and you have such a sweet boy….its the moments that we treasure and the little things that become gigantic joyful things…like a class picture when we didn’t know if they could ever do that. Hang on to those moments because they will give you hope to dare to dream there will be more:) Hugs.



  6. Ain't No Shrinking Violet on April 3, 2015 at 12:38 am

    Forgot to say the Super Coop is looking fantastically dapper in his pic!



    • Avatar photo findingcoopersvoice on April 3, 2015 at 3:44 pm

      Thanks lady!!



  7. kim on April 5, 2015 at 11:55 am

    Great pic, Super Cooper!! XO