Posts by Jaime Ramos
Dear Moms of Autistic Children
Dear Moms of Autistic Children, This screenshot I took last year showed up in my memories today. It was in reply to a story I posted on my blog page of a video of my son. He was looping the same question over and over again in bed. I still remember how bad the message made me feel. Sometimes I receive messages like this, and they encompass a variety of tones. Some are kind, inquiring when Jesse achieved certain milestones or how we reached them. Those messages don’t bother me…
Read MoreA Special Bond: Navigating Friendship and Autism with His Cousin
I don’t know if my son has anyone who considers him their friend, besides his cousin. If you ask Jesse who his best friend is, he says, “Lukas.” It’s not always mutual though. Although, it used to be. My son is autistic and eight years old. He is 18 months older than his cousin. When he was a toddler, he used to adore his little baby cousin, Lukas. They grew up together as toddlers and littles, wrestling and laughing. And Lukas looked up to J as his big cousin. He…
Read MoreUnforeseen Paths of Motherhood
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I’m ashamed to admit that this is how I feel somedays. Don’t get me wrong, I never expected parenthood to be easy, and I know we don’t have it the hardest. But when I get the rare chance to reflect, I feel it. The exhaustion of living at a heightened level. There’s always something in life with a child with autism. It may be a new behavior that has popped up or resurfaced, or a program that requires hours of paperwork, or never-ending…
Read MoreProtecting the Spirit: Autistic Children in a World Not Built for Them
Although it’s now changed when I first started my blog, I named it “Johnny’s Spirit” after my son’s nickname. While Johnny is his nickname, I want to explain the “spirit” part. As a parent of an autistic child, one of my biggest concerns is protecting my son’s spirit. His being, his essence, the part of him that you can’t describe but only feel. It’s what makes him who he is. The world we live in was not built for him. People may try to push him into a mold that…
Read MoreFinding Shared Understanding: Care for the Caregiver Retreat 2023
A few weeks ago, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Care for the Caregiver Retreat in Minnesota, put on by the More Than a Project and Finding Cooper’s Voice. It’s hard to put into words the sense of camaraderie and love I experienced during that time. When my son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder three and a half years ago, I withdrew into myself. Even before the diagnosis, our family had become isolated. Going out in public became a challenge as I couldn’t bear the judgmental stares…
Read MoreLetting Go of Parental Pressure: Embracing Life with an Autistic Child
Some days, I wish we could just be. As a mother, I want the best for my children and our family. But sometimes, the pressure to do it all can be overwhelming. As a parent of a child with autism, the pressure can be even greater. There are countless therapies, sensory toys, vitamins, and schedules that are touted as essential for our children’s growth and development. But with so much information out there, it’s easy to feel like we’re not doing enough or doing it all wrong. I’ve often felt…
Read MoreParenting a Child with A Disability: Challenges and Joy
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…
Read MoreThose Left on the Sidelines
Something that autism has gifted our family is that it has opened our eyes to another world. We get to see the lives of many people affected by disabilities. When we are at a sporting event, camp, or conference for my son filled with children and adults of all different abilities, I see more love and acceptance than anywhere else. I love that both my children are surrounded by it. They have seen the beauty in differences from the beginning. At the same time, I have one foot in the…
Read MoreEveryone Deserves the Opportunity to Meet Their Full Potential
Nearly every parent worries about their child’s future. When it comes to my eight year old autistic son I worry on a heightened level. Recently, on a podcast I co-host, Table for Five No Reservations, we have interviewed parents of disabled adults and some disabled individuals themselves. All with different levels of need and in different areas. In some ways it gave me hope about the future but in many others it scared me. A blatant recurring theme hit me. Opportunities and resources astoundingly decrease when people like my son…
Read MoreA Brother and Sister on Their Own Path
I have two beautiful kids, a 7 year old son and a 4 year old daughter. My son is autistic. This adds a different dynamic to their relationship, but really it’s their normal. I remember the day they first met. We were so nervous about how he would react to her. We’d practiced with baby dolls and talked about her all the time. A reminder she was coming. He had baby cousins around before, so he knew what babies were like. I was nervous about a baby that never leaves…
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