Many times I have heard and read about how parents of children on the autism spectrum absolutely hate it when someone who has just learned his/her child has autism says, “I´m sorry”. I don´t feel the same way. I´m actually grateful when someone has a polite or sympathetic comment to make when they learn my 5 year old daughter has autism. Some people don´t know what to say and instead of being quiet they say things like, “I saw Rain man”, “she can talk, she´s not autistic”, “she looks so…
Read More
When I pictured my life 10 years ago kids were not in the picture. I just could not picture myself as a mom, then one almost breast augmentation later, I was pregnant with my first. Finding that out on the operating table was one of the most comical experience I’ve been through – let’s just say plastic surgeons are not used to telling people they are pregnant! Nonetheless, now I am a mom to two beautiful boys. Our road to getting here has not been easy, my husband is an…
Read More
I know bullying happens. I am not naïve to that. But what I didn’t know is that sometimes parents think it is funny too. They promote it. They laugh about it. They condone it. And they even brag about it over a cup of coffee. I was sitting with a few co-workers the other day having a cup of coffee and we were sharing stories about our kids. We were laughing about the drama around little girls and the laid back personalities of little boys. I was hearing about dance and…
Read More
When you share your world like I do, you see, read, and hear things that are unbelievable. Things that make me physically ill. Evil finds us. Hate finds us. Which is hard to believe. I just share my kids. Our life. Our funny, beautiful life. And yet they call him a monster. They say he’s a waste. That he’s dangerous. That he’s much worse. Just because he has autism. A diagnosis. A label. A word. An explanation. Not an excuse. Something he was born with. He thinks a little differently.…
Read More
Just checking in on this balmy 35 degree spring like afternoon (it’s 80 degrees warmer than it was two days ago) to tell you that I just played a game with my son for the first time ever. Candyland. For years Sawyer and I have played every game you can imagine, and invited Cooper to join us. We’ve begged, bribed, encouraged…you name it…we’ve tried. He’s never once joined. Games aren’t his thing. He also struggles to sit and understand the concept of playing. Well, today, I asked him if he…
Read More
I can remember everything about the day that we received a diagnosis of autism for our Hudson. I can remember that I had to go by myself to that appointment because my husband couldn’t get off work. I can remember sitting at the table across from the psychologist and what felt like a rather sterile environment considering it was a pediatric development office. I sat there with a nervous pit in my stomach, anticipating what we might talk about but at the same time fearful to hear those words. With…
Read More
I went to the bank today. A mundane errand to most…but never to me. In fact, when I have time, I make it a point to get out of my car and go inside the establishment. I do this for two reasons. One: I like to get my steps in where I can, and I also like to encourage my kids to do the same. Two: My son Dawson LOVES the bank. As soon as we walk in, he goes straight for the chairs. You know those fancy ones they…
Read More
My house is mostly male, so in turn we love all of the super hero movies. Hours of our lives have been spent watching comic book characters do amazing things on the screen and admiring how they handle stressful situations and in the end everything works out and they save the world. This letter is not about them. This letter is to the everyday heroes in our lives, because there are many. Even more than have ever been created to entertain the masses. Thanks to my wife First off. Thanks…
Read More
I haven’t always been comfortable in my own skin. Truthfully, I’m still not. But I’m trying. Trying to silence the voice which says… You used to be thin. You used to be beautiful. You used to be brave. All those things. I am grappling with the truth of a life that is far from what I expected. Autism has thrown me a curve ball and I’m still fumbling the catch some two years later. The ghosts of perfection still haunt me. But. I’m stronger now. I’ve learned to raise a…
Read More
Last night I took Sawyer to pick out gift bag goodies for his birthday party. He had so much to say. Riding in the car produces some of my favorite memories with Sawyer. ‘Which is more mom? 16 or 14?’ 16 bud. ‘What is 6 plus 4? It’s 10 mom. How did you not know that?’ I did know that Sawyer. You didn’t let me answer. ‘What friends are coming to my birthday party on Saturday? Wait, let me say their names.’ ‘Lucas, Derek, Braden, Kellen….pause. Mom, did you know…
Read More