Posts

My Son is Doing His Best—Please Meet Him There

March 14, 2025

When we are out in public, I don’t worry about how my autistic son will act. I don’t worry about his mannerisms. Or his uniqueness. Because I know exactly who he is and how he is going to behave. And that he is learning and growing. I know he will flap his arms in pure joy. I know he will run. And sit. And maybe feel the cool of the cement with his cheek. I know he will squeal. And hum. And laugh. I know he will wave to strangers…

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A Moment That Stayed With Me: Motherhood and Autism

March 12, 2025

There’s a small moment from years ago that has always stuck with me. Even now, it makes me feel sad and a little guilty. But I also think it perfectly captures where I was in my journey through motherhood at the time. My husband and I had taken our kids—our son, about five, and our daughter, around two—to a playground. I never did outings like this alone because my son, who is autistic, would elope (run off) often. The second he took off, someone had to be ready to chase…

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Some Kids Never Follow The Beaten Path

March 11, 2025

Some kids never follow the beaten path…Whether it’s from birth or from a later date, some kids just don’t. They don’t meet milestones on time. They don’t follow the norm. They don’t do what every other kid is seemingly doing. My son Cooper is that way. Some people call him a free spirit. Some call him stubborn, even challenging. Autistic, disabled, special needs…all words thrown in. It’s hard sometimes. I won’t lie about that. Being different isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes bravery and courage and honesty with…

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Autistic Children Grow Up Too

March 9, 2025

No one ever talks about autistic children growing up. In fact, when I used to worry and wonder about it, I would be almost scolded. Told to take it day by day, hour by hour. If I could do it over again, the beginning of our autism diagnosis, I wish I could have seen a glimpse of my boy. Today, he is 14 years old. An eighth grader. Next year he will be a freshman in high school. He still carries the same diagnosis. Severe, nonverbal autism. Not a lot…

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Redefining the Dream: From Speech to Communication

March 8, 2025

I used to think the end game was speech. That was the goal and the dream for my nonverbal son. Words. Never ending questions. Conversations about trains and trucks. Of course I thought that. First time mom. A mom who knew nothing of the secret world of nonverbal. A mom who thought everybody talks. Eventually. ‘You need to prepare yourself for a life where Cooper never speaks.’ I’ll never forget that sentence. I was so mad. Angry. Livid. Crushed. I couldn’t imagine a world where my beautiful son didn’t speak.…

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Until You Have: The Reality of Special Needs Parenting

February 26, 2025

Until you have sat with your child whilst they have lost all control, and all you can do is hold them through it, feeling completely useless. Until you have had to hold your child’s hands to stop them from hurting themselves, your heart breaking, wishing you could take that pain away. Until you have watched your child go from five safe foods to two and prayed every night that it doesn’t go down to zero. Until you have stayed up all night watching your child fight to be able to…

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A Letter to My Little Brother About Love, Autism, and Understanding

February 25, 2025

A letter to my little brother… Hey brother, I’m hoping that someday I can say this all to you. But there is a chance that I might never be able to…I’m hoping that when you are older you will read this and understand. I know my autism confuses you sometimes. I’m so loud. I flap my arms. I don’t notice toys. Or play sports. Or like to leave our house. I don’t play like you. I have never ridden a bike like you, and I don’t care at all about…

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Small Wins, Big Impact: How My Autistic Child Conquered a Grocery Trip

February 24, 2025

Prior to having a child on the autism spectrum, I never noticed how loud the outside world was. The sound of a cart in the grocery store, the cash register dinging, or the music playing as you walk down the aisles. It all blended into the background. The truth is, I never even noticed the music before my daughter. I never noticed how bright the lights were. I never noticed how loud the automatic doors were. For many years, we couldn’t go to unfamiliar places or through unfamiliar doors. She…

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The Dignity in Every Job: Rethinking What Success Means for Our Kids

February 24, 2025

I’ve been sharing about autism for nearly ten years now. And over the years, I’ve read and heard and seen some things that have broken me. It’s par for the course I guess when you share publicly. These days though, I am more seasoned. I’ve learned to sit with comments for a bit before I respond. I try to listen and learn. I try to educate. I’m not perfect. But I try to do good in this world. The other day I read a comment that made me feel icky…

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Driving Through Life with My Nonverbal Son: Love, Growth, and Big Plans

February 23, 2025

My sweet boy, We just got back from a car ride. We do that sometimes. You and me. We used to ride around to help you calm down. A much needed break for both of us to reset. Now we drive around and hunt for trains. Not a lot has changed over the years except now you are fourteen. And you can buckle your own seatbelt. A skill we worked on for years. A skill that you are incredibly proud of. You even check to make sure mine is buckled…

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