Guest Post
A Simple Card
Last night I did the usual unpacking of my daughter’s school bag, emptied her lunch kit and read her commination book to see how her day was. As I was going through her stuff, I noticed a card ‘’To Mom’’ which threw me as she calls me Jennifer. I opened it up and it was a Christmas card Kya had made for me. I burst into tears. To me it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. It was also the very first card from Kya. As a…
Read MoreLearning to Love Life with a Special Needs Child
It was still dark out when my eyes opened. One child was still breathing quietly under the comforters, while another cozied up next to me suckling at my breast. There was just enough time for me to put on a face and prepare for Julian’s Christmas party. If he can get 45 more minutes of sleep I thought to myself, we will be in good shape. I could coerce him into wearing something other than his dinosaur sweat pants…And just maybe, he will take delight in his Christmas party! I…
Read MoreTips for Holiday Survival
This is a quick list of the things that I have learned as an autism mom to make the holidays a whole lot easier for our family. My son Noah is going to be four next month, is nonverbal, and is considered a huge sensory seeker. My first and foremost suggestion is if you can host the party in your home, do it. Your kid is always going to be more comfortable being in their own environment with their own things. This will be our second year hosting Christmas in our home, and I believe it…
Read MoreAll I Want for Christmas
Dear Santa, Instead of toys, trucks and the usual boy stuff, I wanted to ask you for something a little different this year. All I want for Christmas is to be treated like everybody else. I’m just a regular little boy after all! It makes me sad to miss out on things. I want so much to be welcomed and included in ALL school and church activities. I want to be included in sports teams and clubs at school. I really want to be invited to parties and dances and…
Read MoreIt’s Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas…
What does Christmas look like for your family? For many families of those with special needs, it may or may not look like your, “Dreaming of Sugar Plums dancing in your head” vision. Christmas for our family begins soon after Thanksgiving with a late night visit from the Christmas Fairy. While I adore my decorations I have collected over the years, planning to set them out is almost like a conspiracy. My son does not do change in scenery very well. A few years ago, as we were getting everything…
Read MoreWhat I Really Want For Christmas…
I find myself having the same discussion that I’ve had every year around this time… Buying presents for my son has always been difficult. I remember going to the toy store and grabbing my basket and strolling through the store excited to buy him something he was wanting or truly looking forward to and then suddenly reflect on the fact that he doesn’t even know how to play with toys. I remember seeing all the parents together excited with their overflowing carts and chatting about how their child wanted this…
Read MoreMeeting Maya
I’m a mother of three amazing humans. But as a divorced mom it wasn’t always easy. I’m proud to send them out into the world and know that they will experience all of its wonders. I worked hard on being what they needed. As the story goes, I was living my life for them…the time put in was well worth it. And believe me twenty years goes by very slowly yet they grow so fast. All my babies have flown the nest. I guess it’s bittersweet my new found freedom.…
Read MoreFinding the Magic in Christmas Again
Christmas is supposed to be magical. When I was young, I spent hours dreaming about the wonderful gifts waiting for me under the tree on Christmas morning. My wish list was long, and my hopes were high. I even convinced myself that an old man with a big, fat belly flew around the whole world in one night to give every good little boy and girl a present. I couldn’t sleep the night before, and I was giddy with anticipation for the morning to come! Somehow as I got older the…
Read MoreHow the Autism Changed Christmas
I took my Christmas tree down on December 10th. Yes, you read that correctly. On a day when the slowpokes haven’t even put theirs up yet, I was taking mine down. I took down the glittery balls. I took down the ribbons. I took down the lights. I stuffed them all in a big tote and dragged it to the basement with hot tears in my eyes. Autism has taken a lot from my family. One of the biggest things it has taken from me personally, is certainty. It took…
Read MoreAnd Another Makes Two
Four months after I found out I was pregnant with my daughter J, I began to have concerns about my son PB’s development. He wasn’t answering to his name, he avoided eye contact, and his speech wasn’t where it should have been. After doing some of my own research, the same thing kept popping up. Autism. I fought hard not to accept that. There was no way my son had autism. I just couldn’t fathom that. But several referrals, early intervention appointments, speech therapy appointments, occupational therapy appointments, and an…
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