Victories At The Orchard

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Today was a big day for this kid and our family.

We went to the Afton Apple Orchard. You know the kind with lots of noise and people and waiting and walking.

And we went as a family.

We invited our friends to come along as well. See in our world, we need help. We know that now. We know our strengths and our weaknesses. And our Cooper, he requires both mom and dad sometimes.

We had a lot of wins today. Cooper petted his first llama, sheep, donkey and goat! He kissed his first cow…it was ceramic.

He waited in a really long line.

He rode a hayride pulled by a tractor and loved it so much.

He wore his mask when required.

He verbalized home and all done and more.

He walked and waited and sat. He waved and smiled and laughed.

There were some tough moments too. The ones I say we use to spread autism awareness. In those moments I say he did his best. He tried as hard as he could. And that’s all can I ask. He did his best. And I’ll tell ya his best has come a long way over the years.

I could look at today two ways. A victory or a failure. People watching us may choose the latter. I choose victory. We went to an Apple orchard as a family. And we shared autism with the world.

Today was a good day.

Get out of your comfort zone moms and dads! Try something new.

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.

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Kate Swenson

Kate Swenson lives in Minnesota with her husband Jamie, and four children, Cooper, Sawyer, Harbor and Wynnie. Kate launched Finding Cooper's Voice from her couch while her now 11-year-old son Cooper was being diagnosed with autism. Back then it was a place to write. Today it is a living, thriving community of people who want to not only advocate for autism, but also make the world a better place for individuals with disabilities and their families. Her first book, Forever Boy, will be released, April 5, 2022.

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