Archive for April 2021
To The Heroes Who Love Our Children
Along this journey of navigating autism you send the largest part of your heart out into the world and pray that they are loved and cared for. You also meet some of the most amazing heroes disguised as teachers and para-professionals. You see the blonde standing in the back? That’s our “Miss Kaci” and never have I felt such gratitude or such an instant connection for someone who was a complete stranger to us less than a year ago. To those who love our children despite challenging behavior. Who meet…
Read MoreDads, The Glue That Holds Us Together
I don’t post a lot about my husband, Steve. Today I want to talk about him because he is my rock. He is very much involved in everything we do for Henry. All of the decisions we make are equal. He went to all the doctor appointments and he’s around for most of Henry’s home therapy sessions. The day Henry was diagnosed, Steve was at the appointment with me. We knew the diagnosis was coming and we were able to console each other on the drive home. When we got…
Read MoreAn Unsung Hero Whispers ‘I Am Proud of You’
What is an unsung hero to you? Someone who quietly reaches out with a rescuing hand in time or need? Someone who gives you perspective before you have the chance to find it? When we started to have meetings with our son’s Montessori School about how our son wasn’t fitting into the school program, I began to feel something I was unfamiliar with. A feeling that sat and still sits quietly in the background. That feeling that things were on the horizon, as I felt a shift of worry from…
Read MoreThe Hero Who Helped Us Over Our Hurdles
I was a relatively new mom and had just experienced evaluations for speech, development, occupational, and physical therapy for my son Graham. But there was an even bigger hurdle…an Autism evaluation. I was told a referral was placed for the evaluation and that it could take time to get an appointment, so I was impatiently patiently waiting only to find out there was no appointment and there was no referral. Why? Because the facility the referral was sent to would not evaluate Graham due to him being under age three.…
Read MoreA Magical Place
When my son was diagnosed with autism at age three, I felt like I couldn’t reach him. I felt like he had this world, a secret one that I couldn’t enter. Some days I even felt like I would lose him to it. As if I was fighting to keep him here with me. I was scared of his world. It confused me. It worried me. Some days I felt like I should try and save him from it. He would laugh and cry and feel things that I couldn’t…
Read MoreThis is Fine
You know that meme…the one with the dog drinking coffee at the kitchen table while the house is on fire and the caption reads…’THIS IS FINE.’ That’s my life right now. I don’t complain. I truly, truly don’t. But right now, I’ve lost control of the ship. And the ship is sinking. And also on fire. I’ve been alone with my boys for over a week now. My husband is quarantining after being gone for a few days and it’s been really hard. Three boys. Three schedules. A full time…
Read MoreThree Things I’ve Learned About Raising Boys
Things I’ve learned as a mom to my three boys… It’s nearly impossible to keep them clean. But messes typically equal fun so it’s important to remember you can hose them off later. They love to pee in the woods. There is just something about it. Trees are made for climbing. Little trees. Big trees. Trees with no branches. All trees must climbed. But also know they most likely will not ACTUALLY climb any trees. Just attempt. All found sticks must be thrown, no matter the size. Sticks also make…
Read MoreBeautiful Gifts
My middle son has been having some big feelings lately. He is 8 years old and sandwiched in between two very big personalities. I think sometimes it can be lonely to be the easy one. His dad and I are working for hard to make sure he knows how magnificent and treasured he is. Last night a movie on the couch with popcorn and tickles. This morning a doughnut date before school, just the two of us. And lots of conversation. Which is the best part in my opinion. I…
Read MoreBalancing Safety and Independence
I’ve been thinking a lot about safety lately. My son is ten years old. He is in the fourth grade. He adores riding the bus too and from. Every afternoon his driver with the kind eyes tells me that Cooper hugs his bus aide. He adores people. Always has. Cooper is a very smart boy. He knows the alphabet, how to search for ‘Hobart and Cosmo’ in YouTube, and how to do some addition. He knows when his baby brother is being naughty and to use a paper towel to…
Read MoreThere is no Perfect Life
Nobody’s life is perfect. I think it’s important to say that. In fact, most people’s lives are not easy. But yet social media sets this precedent that every moment must be magical and perfect. And a competition. Holidays. Family photos. Sunday mornings. I see it a lot specifically in the world of special needs parenting. Whose autism is harder? Because I’m happy most of the time, obviously our autism is easy. That’s one game I absolutely refuse to play. I will not compete or compare or rank out autism against…
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