Posts

Supporting Friends and Family Through a Diagnosis

March 5, 2024

What do I say to friends and family? The awkwardness of the parent’s thinking: “How are they going to respond, what am I going to say back, etc.” Kind deeds go a long way with someone going through a rough time. Has a friend or family member just received a diagnosis for them or their child? The Friends and Family Friday blog has been in the works for a very long time.  The intention behind this is to help educate because knowledge is power. There are some tough times when…

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The Sun on Her Face and the Wind on Her Back

March 4, 2024

My daughter is 15 years old. She is autistic, has sensory processing disorder, and anxiety. She spends much of her day trying to calm both her mind and her body. There are very few things that are able to regulate both of those things simultaneously. A long walk in nature on a sunny, breezy day is just what she needs to achieve inner peace, even if only for a short time. With the sun on her face and the wind on her back, she walks down the street while humming…

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A Good Enough Mom

February 26, 2024

I never want to come across as having it all together. Because the honest truth is, I do not. No one is doing it all. And if they claim to, then they are either lying, have a lot of help, or forgot how hard it is raising tiny humans. I don’t share too often the tough parts. I’m a sensitive person and always have been. I don’t like to be criticized or challenged. Sure, I’ve grown a lot in this role of special needs parenting. But I’m a people-pleaser by…

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A Mother’s Wish: Slow Down Little One

February 24, 2024

A few nights ago, during family movie night, I found my lap wide open. I wasn’t holding a wiggly toddler. I wasn’t grabbing snacks or drinks. I was alone, in a recliner, feet up. Now this may not sound rare to most, but as a mom of four, I often feel like my body is comparable to a jungle gym. A few minutes went by before my 11-year-old appeared at my side. He tugged on my sleeve and told me that his cheeks felt hot. Which in our house is…

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Capturing Memories: A Journey Before and After Autism Diagnosis

February 23, 2024

Pictures, pictures, and more pictures. I’ve been taking them since my parents gifted me my first camera on my ninth birthday. This was before smartphones and the frenzy of capturing every moment took hold. I love it. Sometimes, after the exhausting bedtime routine, I lie in bed and gaze at pictures of my kids. Yes, the same kids I am constantly with. The ones I just prayed would fall asleep, granting me some alone time. Suddenly, in the quiet and darkness of my room, I miss them. When I look…

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Autism Stereotypes: Insights from a Parent’s Perspective

February 22, 2024

As parents raising children on the autism spectrum, we’re no strangers to the stereotypes and misconceptions that surround autism. Unfortunately, these stereotypes often support the stigmas and misunderstandings, and even get in the way of our children’s access to the support and opportunities they need and deserve. Today I want to share some of the most common misconceptions about autism and discuss how we can challenge these stereotypes to encourage greater acceptance and understanding. One of the most common misconceptions is the belief that all individuals with autism are the…

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This Isn’t the Autism I Imagined

February 21, 2024

When my son was diagnosed ten years ago, I knew nothing of the diagnosis. Not a thing. I researched of course. I found Rain Man. And dark grainy videos on YouTube of individuals on the spectrum struggling. I wondered where my son would land. The savant side? The hard to watch side from those videos? Or somewhere in between? As time went on Hollywood brought us the The Big Bang Theory and The Good Doctor. Eventually other shows too. Our autism looked nothing like those shows. I worried and I…

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A Mother’s Plea: Teach Your Kids About Kids Like Mine

February 16, 2024

I need your help moms and dads… I need you to teach your kids about kids like mine. The ones in the other classrooms at school. The faces you may not recognize in the yearbook. My son is 13 years old. He’s a 7th grader this year. He also is autistic and technically nonspeaking on paper. But I can proudly say he has loads of words and sounds and signs and he can spell and read and even use movie scenes to tell us things. It’s unbelievable really. They told…

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Promises to My Son: Shattering Stigmas, Embracing Autism

February 13, 2024

My son, I want to make a few promises to you. Because we have a lot of stigmas to shatter around autism. And you are just the kid to do it. With a little help from your old mom. I will carry you on my back when you can’t walk yourself. I will hold your hands to my face when you feel the need to hit your own head. I will sit on the ground with you when you need a break. I will hold your body tight when you…

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The Colors of Hope: A Journey Through Autism and Discovery

February 9, 2024

What colours do you see? I cannot put into words what those five words meant to me, but I’m going to try. Hope Fierce Determination Unstoppable My daughter Kya is 13 and on the autism spectrum. She was diagnosed at two and a half. She was nonverbal. When my daughter was diagnosed, not knowing if I would ever hear her speak was gut, wrenching, and unless you’ve ever had a child like mine, you could never truly understand the sadness. In fact, it was her lack of language that let…

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