Archive for September 2018
The Beautiful Parts of Stimming
One of my missions with this page is to give a glimpse inside our beautiful, unique world with severe, nonverbal autism. This photo is a perfect example. His mind is amazing. Cooper is absolutely in love with family photos. He even uses them to communicate. Thankfully, over the years he has relaxed a bit around them too. He used to take them out of frames, take them off the wall, even break the glass. Now, he just gathers them up, carries them around, spreads them out, studies them, shares them…
Read MoreMedical Cannabis Update-Week Four
I promised I would give a weekly update on our journey with medical cannabis for our severely autistic son. We are 28 days in! In Minnesota, medical cannabis was legalized for autism in July 2018. The program is regulated by the state of Minnesota. You can read more HERE about how we got started. Want to know if medical cannabis is legal for autism in your state? Click HERE. After getting a prescription from his doctor and jumping through all the hoops, we started him on the lowest dose possible.…
Read MoreA Story About a Boy
Max Richard is my son. On November 7th, 2012, he was officially diagnosed with Mild Cerebral Palsy. At the time, it was like the life had been taken from my body. Like a dream I couldn’t wake up from. Max began to make improvements with therapy but as of August 16th, 2013, he was not talking. Flash forward to today. He is still not talking. Things have changed in our life. I got new job. We moved. Max has a baby sister Samantha. Still no talking. I’m not going to…
Read MoreThe Second Guess
Most of autism has been a guessing game. I don’t know why my daughter has autism. I guess if could be: Genetics Environment Early birth Or the crop duster that used to fly over my house I haven’t the faintest idea why some days she is so happy and other days crazy with rage. I guess it could be: Hormones Inflammation Weather changes Who knows why she can sleep for four nights and then is up again for three? I guess it could be: Something she ate Something she dreamt…
Read MoreUnderstanding Different Approaches for Emotional Regulation
One thing I’ve learned in my work with children and families across the globe is that no two families or children are alike. Every time I think I have the secret sauce for helping a tantrum-prone child with autism in Germany, Japan, Texas, or Ontario, I’m humbled by the reality that what works well for one family may fail miserably for another. Over many years of clinical work at Boston Children’s Hospital and in private practice, I’ve come to the conclusion that a “one size fits all” approach simply doesn’t…
Read MoreThe First Day of Autism
The first day I realized my baby boy was autistic is one of those days that will forever be etched in my memory. Like the day my husband and I found out in the ultrasound room that our baby was a boy, or the night we walked together on our favorite trail while I was in labor with him. My husband sang to my stomach to let Johnny know he was loved, and that we were waiting for him on the other side of the dark. I remember it like…
Read MoreFriend, My World is Different
Dear what could have been friend, And I say could have, but it’s not you, it’s me. Typical, right? But hear me out. I am generally a good person. And I don’t mean that in a boasting/bragging kinda way, just a that’s kinda how you should be way. Treat people the way you want to be treated, and all that. And you see I want this, I really do. I wish that every time you asked me a question I wasn’t simultaneously watching my child like a hawk. And it’s…
Read MoreThe Relationships Lost Along the Way
There is a very important lesson you will learn after you have a child diagnosed with autism. There are people in your life, and your child’s life, that will never fully understand. They will never be what you need them to be. Maybe it’s a shoulder to cry on. A phone call. A visit. But they simply can’t do it. They also aren’t always bad people either. They just can’t emotionally handle the diagnosis. Or the differences. I will admit it took me years to understand and accept that. Many…
Read MoreSharing the Realities of our World
We have been having so many wins lately with our severely autistic son. He is thriving. Our family is letting that breath out we have been holding for years. I feel like many parts are actually getting easier. And yet, the roller coaster continues. Our son had his longest behavior to date yesterday, 10 minutes, and had to be put into a hold. I spent the night feeling guilty. And worrying. And wondering why his life has to be so hard. Why can’t it just be easy? And as he…
Read MoreWhen No One Says Hi Back
I just encountered a handicapped gentlemen in the skyway outside of my office. I would say he was in his fifties. I heard him coming. He was saying the most cheerful ‘hi’ to every person he passed. I noticed he was being ignored. Which I guess isn’t all that uncommon. When a stranger says hi it’s probably normal to ignore. When he said hi to me I gave him the most cheerful hi I could give. He stopped walking and asked if I was going to have a baby. I…
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