Cooper the Photographer
For so long I hoped and prayed that my son would develop a hobby. At age ten, he didn’t appear to be interested in anything besides his iPad.
On one hand all that matters is his happiness. But. We also want him to experience bits and pieces of the world around him.
I want him to have something he enjoys.
I want something me and his dad and brothers could enjoy with him.
I also very much want a glimpse inside of his world and the things he cares about. I want to share his world.
A few months ago he started taking photos.
Thousands a day. Mostly things in his shows. Barney. The letter E. The phone number on a movie credit to order a specific DVD.
At first I will admit I was frustrated. The thousands of photos were showing up on my iPhone. They needed to be deleted. He would even get frustrated when the memory was full.
But we eventually figured out the technical kinks and this beautiful hobby emerged.
The photos are a form of communication for him. The things he loves. Cares about. Fascinated by. Enjoys.
All right here. Before our eyes.
He continues to teach us how to listen with more than our ears.
Last week he even took his first photo of a person. Me. He told me to say ‘cheese.’
My heart melted.
Cooper, the photographer.
Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook, subscribe for exclusive videos, and subscribe to our newsletter.
