I often get asked when did I realize you were Autistic, and you are almost always with me when it happens. This is how the question is normally worded – “When did you notice something wrong?” I am usually more polite than this, because asking questions leads to understanding. I want to encourage others’ understanding, but I need you to know the uncensored answer to this recurring question. To be honest, I didn’t notice anything “wrong”. I was too busy snuggling you and thinking your happy flapping was adorable. I…
Read MoreTomorrow is the day! Finally! The big reveal of my book cover. I am so excited for you all to see it. Cooper and I will go live right here (time TBD) to reveal it. He is going to be so excited. He adores photos of our family. So much so that he carries them, sleeps with them, and loves them until they are worn thin. The photo we chose for the cover is one of his absolute favorites. This photo came in a close close second and was almost…
Read MoreI don’t want to be the mom who says no all the time. Or don’t do that. Or get down. Stop throwing. Why are you wet? Is that marker? What’s in your mouth? But with this kid, this exasperating, adorable, super smart kid, it comes down to keeping him alive. That’s my standard right now. He climbs everything. Slides. Counters. He gets to the highest point and gets a twinkle in his eye and says…’mama, I jump!’ And my heart goes into my throat and I’m suddenly talking him off…
Read More2 more days until my book cover is revealed! This photo was a strong contender and is one of my absolute favorites of the boys. We won this photo shoot actually. A friend nominated us and the amazing Kacie Ko donated her time and took our family photos. We had just moved from our ‘forever’ home to a new city three hours away so Cooper could receive therapy. It was a very lonely time for Jamie and me. We didn’t want to move. But helping Cooper was our top priority.…
Read More3 days until our book cover is revealed! Forever Boy will be released on April 5, 2022 but is available for presale now if you want to grab a copy! Forever Boy This photo was a strong contender for the cover. It’s one of my favorites of our family. When you have a child diagnosed with autism, it’s imperative to know that every person in your family will be impacted. Each of us has learned, been challenged, been blessed. We’ve grown. We’ve changed. This photo shows a family rallying around…
Read MoreFour more days until the cover of my book, Forever Boy, is revealed! It is available on Amazon now though for preorder! This photo is one of the runner ups for the cover. It’s one of my favorite pictures of my boy and me. Someone asked me what the book is about and how it will differ from my blog. When you have a child diagnosed with something, anything, your world changes in an instant. It gets smaller for one. Suddenly, you feel like you are the only person on…
Read MoreThe countdown is officially on for the reveal of my book cover! Forever Boy is available for presale but the cover is still a secret until Monday. 5 days to go! Cooper and I will reveal on Monday, live, right here! I’m going to share a few of the options that we considered for the cover. This is one of my most favorite pictures of Cooper. And the story behind the photo is fantastic. Cooper carried an 8×10 photo of our family everywhere he went. Even to our family photo…
Read MoreWhen you have a child diagnosed with autism, at some point you will be told all the things they may never do or achieve. Whether it’s from a friend of a friend, a medical professional, an educator, the internet, or an evaluation where you spend hours filling in little bubbles next to questions that cut you like a knife. The limits will be placed. I wish it didn’t happen. I wish instead we were told about how yes, it will be different, and yes there may be parts of development…
Read MoreLet me set the scene for you… My husband and two of our boys plus baby get on the elevator. We are loud and busy. Our two year old is trying to push all the buttons. I am using my hip to block him. Our ten year old is autistic and adores elevators. So he is happy flapping and dancing. Just as the door is about to close to bring us to the second floor of the hotel my husband yells out…‘I’ll hold the door for you!’ And a big,…
Read MoreI am doing a 25 days of autism photo challenge with Autism adventures with Alyssa on my Instagram page, Findingcoopersvoice. Today is day 19 for me. ‘Post a picture of your child with their treasures, or any item they love.’ Can we just all take a moment and acknowledge how incredibly cool these photos are. Cooper adored putting his favorite treasures in lines. Now I’m not autistic so I can only speculate as to why he did it. To me it seemed like he wanted order in a crazy world.…
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