Posts by Kate Swenson
I’m Sorry You’re Missing This
I’m sitting here, basically in shock. Shock of the ignorance of people, wondering if it ever has an end. I’ll start by saying that I love my job (well, loved). I thrive in that chaos. I love new and challenging things. I feel like my life has been one giant challenge since August 17th, 2010 – the day my daughter was born. It definitely started off pretty quickly. They had us stay in the hospital for two days after I gave birth to her. The evening I brought her home,…
Read MoreTo the Mom who is Trying to Figure out who She is After Special Needs:
I thought I would be a boy mom. A baseball mom. A hockey mom. A social mom. A mom with a lot of friends. A cool mom. A successful mom. Autism challenged every one of those titles for me. I am brave enough to say that. The role of special needs mom overpowered it all. It turned my whole world completely upside down. And inside out. And backwards. It demanded I slow down. And move faster at the same time. It demanded I speak out and yet learn to hold…
Read MoreA Simple Trip to the Store
Four years ago, when my autistic son was four years old, I took him to Target. He had just been diagnosed with autism. Life was just starting to get more challenging. The list of places we could go and things we could do was getting smaller. Anything outside of our home was nearly impossible. He struggled to walk, to ride in a cart or stroller, to be calm, to wait, you name it…we felt it. But I needed something from Target. I needed to pick up a prescription. I needed…
Read MoreWhat Happens When We Are Gone?
The company where I work does a job for a regular customer a couple times a year. She has a child who’s somewhere on the autism spectrum. From the few times that I have actually seen her, she seems to be fairly verbal, and smart. But, she has also been in the same school as Amelia for most of her life. Although, I think, its been off and on for the last few years. The mother is an older lady. In her eighties, I believe. The daughter is somewhere in…
Read MoreWe won’t be Silenced
Severe autism, level 3 was my son’s first diagnosis. But I’m not supposed to talk about it. Severe learning/intellectual disability was my son’s second diagnosis, I’m allowed to talk about this one. Most children with this level of autism have very complex issues and learning disabilities. You can talk freely about most disabilities and special needs without being shamed. Autism is not one of them. Some severely autistic children will live at home forever, or in a residential home. Some severely autistic children will still need help with all of…
Read MoreHis Big Brother
This baby is so in love with his older brother. He stares at him. Follows him everywhere. Wants to be right next to him. Touches his things. Giggles at his sounds. Climbs on him. He isn’t scared. He doesn’t know he’s nonverbal. Autism isn’t a thing to him. This is his big brother. His amazing big brother. And Cooper is doing unbelievable tolerating him. 10 months ago I was so scared. Tears of worry were shed. They are growing up together. I can’t wait to see where this relationship ends…
Read MoreThank you to Those who Don’t Give Up
He had just turned three years old. It was Mother’s Day weekend. My third one. I picked him up from daycare and she said…’He refused to put his hand in paint and I don’t do art projects for kids. You don’t care about my work.’ I remember watching all the kids toddle up to their moms carrying little messily wrapped packages. Huge smiles from the kids, so excited to show off their homemade gift. My son was sitting in the dirt driveway. Picking up the sand, sifting it through his…
Read MoreAt Least She’s Healthy
When your son was diagnosed with cancer my daughter had long been diagnosed with autism. They were in the two’s together and every day my little girl showed up with a Birth to Three therapist. I’m sure you saw us. She was the only one who needed a therapist to get through the day. To put a cup to her lips and push her chin up. The girl who had meltdowns and ran down the hall spinning, tumbling laughing maniacally. I remember when I heard about your son. I went…
Read More10 Things Special Ed Teachers and Staff want Parents to Know
As so many of us parents prepare to send our kids back to school, or even to school for the first time, I know emotions are running high. Especially if you have a child with additional needs. The fear is real. I asked the teachers, aides, and paras in my audience to tell me what they wanted parents to know. Here are ten of my favorites. Click HERE to read the rest. As a special education teacher, I say to my students and parents that I love them like my…
Read MoreI Thought About Running Away
After my son was diagnosed with autism, I had all these different thoughts running through my head. Almost manically. I needed to help my kid. I needed to make this okay. I thought about moving away. I felt like this label had been tattooed on his forehead, destined to follow him everywhere. So, if we went to a new place, a new city, a new school district even, then they wouldn’t know. And it would be fine. He would be fine. Because no one would know he was autistic. Right?…
Read More