I never thought I would have four kids. I’m not sure if I’ve ever shared that before. I thought two, maybe three. But four? It still surprises me sometimes. Four is loud. Four is chaotic. Four is wonderful. Four is fulfilling. Today I woke up first. Which most definitely surprised me because as my two middles went to sleep last night I heard them plotting to wake up early to catch the Easter bunny. As I got the coffee going my third son came downstairs. Together we woke up Sawyer…
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Some days, I can’t help but watch. Watch everyone else and envy how easy things seem to be for them. Deep down I know that everyone has their own struggles, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that our day-to-day life is so much more complicated. At school drop-off I watch as other kids jump out of their cars and walk confidently into the building, while we have to park and walk our son directly to his para. And at pickup, I see kids my son’s age walking home or…
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‘He had a snack and went right in and pulled the covers down for a nap. He must have been up early this morning. He is one happy child.’ That’s the text I got this morning from my mom. Cooper’s grandma. If you follow our story you know that Cooper has been waiting for his grandma to come home from Texas for nearly four months. It’s been very hard for him. He loves her so much. And he doesn’t quite understand all the ins and outs of wintering somewhere warm.…
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When you don’t have a child with a disability you don’t think too much about it. Until your life is touched by it, then you think about it differently. It’s personal. Of course, everyone knows there are individuals with disabilities, but it’s not directly affecting your life. You may think there is not much you can do anyway. That is where you are wrong. We need to stand and advocate for everyone, especially those who are vulnerable. We have come a long way in the way we treat and think…
Read MoreWhen you have a child diagnosed with autism, it’s not about you as the parent. At least that’s what we are told. Your sole focus becomes helping your child. Getting them the help they need. Services. Supports. Therapies. Education. And so on. That’s the role of a parent. And that’s how it should be. But one part that is overlooked, I think, is the evolution of the parent. Their journey. And the patience that should be given to them when everything changes suddenly. It’s not easy ya know. Stepping off…
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I don’t even know where to start with all of my emotions. I’m beyond proud of the amazing young man my son, TJ has become. He has overcome so many struggles and obstacles to get where he is today. I brought TJ home from the hospital 27 years ago. He was 4 1/2 months old and finally big and strong enough to leave the NICU. He was born at 25 weeks and just under two pounds. He had a tracheostomy placed at 3 1/2 months to wean off the ventilator,…
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When I first learned my son had autism, Fear and worry consumed my heart, Wondering what his future held, And how we’d make a brand new start. But as we journeyed down this path, For in the midst of challenges, There’s also joy to be had. My son sees the world in a different way, And he’s taught me to slow down, Appreciate life’s little moments, And cherish every sound. His love for routine brings comfort, And his laughter is contagious too, He’s taught me about resilience, And…
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Today is World Autism Day. This is our 12th one. As my son has gotten older, the meaning of the day has morphed for me. It used to be about education. Today, it’s about celebrating. Celebrating differences, celebrating progress, and celebrating a boy who has climbed far more mountains than I have. And ice cream and dancing. I have three boys and a girl. Four crazy, wild, busy, smart kids. Each of them is exactly who they are supposed to be. My oldest is autistic. There are a lot more…
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Dear NextDoor User, I read your post this morning. I can tell you there was some perfect timing to it. See, I had just put my autistic son on his special education transportation to school. A service that I thank my lucky stars for every single day. I was taking a moment before my other three kids got up to drink some coffee and mindlessly scroll on my phone. That’s when I saw your post. And I can tell you, I had to read it a few times through. Can…
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Be kind. It’s just a statement. Really quite simple when you think about it. Two words. A direction. A request. A plea. A wish. You can find it anywhere these days. On t-shirts. Hats. Bumper stickers. Tote bags. I was just sitting here thinking about kindness. See, I am a mom of four kids, one with a disability. He is 12 years old now. We are long past the wonder of the diagnosis. Past the in-between space of is he or isn’t he. Past the sting of forever. We have…
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