Guest Post
They Say it Takes a Village
They say that it takes a village to raise a child. I have wondered where you get this village. When my son was first diagnosed with autism I did not want to tell anyone. I knew that he would beat the odds and recover from autism. Maybe it was ignorance, denial, or wishful thinking. I thought that if I worked with him hard enough, provided him enough ABA therapy, changed his diet, gave him supplements he would return to the little boy that he had been before his regression. But…
Read MoreSanta did not Bring my Nonverbal Son’s Voice
Every time I go through a “grieving phase” of autism I always think it will be my last, or at least I always hope it is. However, emotions are fluid, and thus like waves in the ocean it never dies. I find that holidays are always a stressor for the grieving process. It truly is hard to let go of what you thought your life would have been like prior to the diagnosis of autism. I think it’s hard for people who aren’t going through this to understand that. It’s…
Read MoreThank you for Loving my Son
My son, Clark, was diagnosed with Level 4 Autism, Non-Verbal when he was two, even though as a mom I knew something was different about him around the age of one. Now, he is almost six, but is more on a 2-3 year old level developmentally, and is just now starting to say some words. As Clark’s mom, I decided early on that I would not let society define my son’s potential or his limitations. We started therapy prior to his 2nd birthday in our home, but he wasn’t making…
Read MoreDid You Know?
Right now, someone is playing charades, A child, wide-eyed, his voice upward inflected, A voice, but not words, His every desire affected. Did you know every word, Out of every girl and boy, Is not a given, it’s a gift, It’s a little piece of joy? Have you heard the screams ringing in your ears? A longing, disguised in sound. The weight of his need to be known, Bringing his whole body to the ground. Have you felt your frustration tremor just under your love, And wondered when the ground…
Read MoreWhy did this happen to us?
My husband and I often ask ourselves, “Why did this happen to us?” Is there a lesson that the universe is trying to teach us by giving us two children on the autism spectrum? Tonight, I think I figured it out after I attended two holiday parties. At the first party, I finally got closure about losing a friend after she made explicit comments. She thinks my child doesn’t have autism because she is not intellectually delayed and makes eye contact. My child has behavior issues (not autism) and needs…
Read MoreMy Transformation as a Mother
My “best” moment in regards to my daughter’s autism actually came on the heels of my worst. It had been a stressful week. My mother was in town visiting. I was kinda-sorta halfheartedly still trying to potty train. Kira was sitting on the toilet. I knew she had to pee but she was holding it. She started to fuss and threw her head back, hitting it on the toilet lid. When she self-injures, which is rarely, it triggers something in me—immense frustration; almost rage. I snatched her off the toilet and…
Read MoreLooking to 2019
2018 has been one for the books. So many positives have transpired. I woke up to a beautiful smile this morning. Tap, tap! In the world of special needs, just like in typical parenting, when our children are thriving or, “gasp,” getting ahead, there are often those who are not cheering us on. Have you ever felt guilty because your child is moving forward and maybe a friend’s child is not? I get it, I really do…most likely I have been that mom too. One of my goals for 2018…
Read MoreUntil All the Pieces Fit
Holy moly. Another year has come and gone. While I long to make goals for myself as a person, you know, fitness goals, financial goals, faith based goals, etc, all I can seem to focus on, as usual, is autism. How far my sweet son has come in the past year. But what can’t put my mind at ease is how far we still have to go. Sometimes after a really great day, Jackson’s smiles, high fives and quirks seem to bring so much joy to so many people, and…
Read MoreA New Year’s Resolution
Recently my friend texted me, “I’m so happy our boys are out having fun together”. Just a normal text any friend would send when Dads take their boys to a basketball game together. Then I looked over at my sweet Finley who has Autism and thought I’m not happy because one of my boys is here with me and not out with everyone else enjoying a basketball game and that is because he has Autism. Then for the first time I started to realize that this kind of night would…
Read MoreDo you think that Elf knew that Brayden has Autism?
I heard excited footsteps on the stairs. Zachary was standing in the living room. His little body jumping up and down. “Santa came, Santa came.” His enthusiasm radiated through the house. I watched as my older kids excitedly watched him. Despite the fact that they are “too old” to be excited the joy that exuded from Zachary was contagious. I look to the corner of the room. Brayden is sitting on the kitchen table. He is rocking back and forth. His hands covering his ears and a sad cry escapes…
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