Guest Post
To My Daughter’s First Friend
My daughter’s Educational Aide told me today that Hayden made a new friend; that friend was you. I was told that you had been curiously eyeballing her for the last few days of preschool and that you made the decision to come over and introduce yourself. I’m sorry if you had a hard time understanding why she didn’t say hello back, or that she didn’t make eye contact with you; those are things that are difficult for her right now. From what I was told though, you didn’t seem to…
Read MoreIt’s not Failure to Need a Break
Are you a parent? Have your children ever been out to play themselves, played alone in their room, had a sleepover, went out with a relative? For me none of these things are possible. My son is severely autistic. He is ten years old but still fully incontinent and has no spoken language. He is developmentally around the age of 12 months and he needs round the clock care. He doesn’t have friends to play with either in his own home or elsewhere. There’s no sleepovers in his world, or…
Read MoreA Teacher’s Message to Parent’s of Autistic Children
Often I read real life stories of what life is like for parents of children with Autism. As a teacher who works with children with AU, I would like to say I am here for them too. To the parents that trust me with their most prized possession for 6-8 hours a day I am grateful to you. I am grateful that you trust me, that you support me, that you can see when progress is made (and when it is not, because that is even more important). I wake…
Read MoreConfidence Building When Your Child Has Autism
I almost regularly remind my kids that they can do anything they set their minds to. I’m mindful of how important it is to help grow their confidence. Giving them challenges is good, but I also like to help them build on their strengths. This becomes even more important when it involves my daughter. It’s a fine line I walk every day. Do I push her a bit more because it’s something I know she could be better at or do I sit back and let her only put a…
Read MorePlease Stop Blaming Yourself
As a therapist who primarily works with special needs children and their families, I often hear the same statement over and over again by distraught parents: “It’s my fault. I caused my child’s disabilities, etc.,.” Each and every time I hear this statement, a part of me cringes inside while the other part of me wants to jump up and give this perplexed parent the biggest hug of their lives. I also want to shout right back to them the answer that maybe they’re not ready to hear: “No, you…
Read MoreWhy I Medicated my Toddler
There is a stigma that comes with medication. An infamy that fills us with fear, guilt, and avoidance. I am the first to admit that I explored every possible avenue. Prescription drugs weren’t even up for discussion when it came to our daughter. The first person who offered my child medication was a neurologist. He told me she needed to calm down and offered a small dose of Clonidine. But I declined. Why would I medicate a 2-year-old? Then, an interim psychiatrist who did a full evaluation that we needed…
Read MoreA Letter to my Former Self, the NICU Mom
Hey Lady! It’s me…You! Weird I know, but listen up Buttercup because I have some important things to tell you. You’re leaving the NICU today after the longest 143 days of your life, but you already know this might not be the end of the ‘hospital life,’ and you’re right. I’m going to let you in on a little secret though…Carter will be physically okay! You’ll have some bumps in the road but nothing as major as the surgeries he endured in the NICU. I promise. You’ll find the perfect…
Read MoreWhy her? Why us?
We try not to have too many why her/why us moments as it is a slippery slope but sometimes it is hard not to. I just don’t get why this has happened. We did everything right. Why her? Why us? Evie is 2 years and 9 months old, currently non-verbal and being assessed for autism. We first thought that Evie may have developmental issues early on, around the 12-month mark, when she didn’t start talking, pointing, waving and all the other usual things on the autism “check list”. However, we…
Read MoreA Mom to Two Only Children
I’m 7 months pregnant with my second child while sitting anxiously with my husband and 17 month old child in a waiting room of a speech and food therapist office. Every time the door opens to the waiting room I can feel my heart racing faster, and then Zachary’s name is finally called. An hour and a half later our very first evaluation is over. I’m left feeling more empty in my car then when I came into the office there. It’s hard to rationalize and almost defend your child…
Read MoreFriend, Thank You for Helping Me
Dear Lindsay, Our friendship is officially old enough to have a drink this year. I wanted to take a few minutes to thank you for all that you’ve done for my family through the years and to tell you how much you truly mean to me. When I met you at Chuck E Cheese back when we were 16 I admired you so much. I never told you that before but I did. Me being a “rookie” was welcomed by you and the other girls. I thought you were all…
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