Thankful
The Therapist that Changed Our Lives
We have been blessed with literally dozens of amazing people since starting this special needs journey. They all love my son and want him to succeed as much as I do. But for today I want to say how thankful I am that Kayli came into our lives. Max was six months in to his Autism diagnosis, after years of trying to get answers. We were four months into ABA therapy. Our family was going through so many changes. We bought our first home, Max was transitioning to full day…
Read MoreOur Tribe, I’m So Thankful For You
While motherhood has certainly been my greatest adventure, the vulnerability in becoming a mom, and an autism mom, has been a substantial challenge for me. I found myself, for the first time in a long time, in need of help. A lot of it. This has never been something I’ll easily admit, ask for, or receive. Thankfully, I am surrounded by the most patient, kind and generous humans who constantly offer their support. Our friends and family and friends who are family, you open your homes to our curious five-year-old…
Read MoreThank You Friend for Being Part of Our Tribe
Along the journey of Special Needs, we often forget to recognize those people who chose to truly walk beside our families and make a difference. Maybe, we just begin to feel like they are family, one of us. In reality they have chosen to to be there, and that’s a choice that deserves to be honored. With Thanksgiving around the corner, I’d like to take this opportunity to honor, Jake’s amazing speech therapist, Kelly Cadden! Kelly came into our lives almost three years ago when I embarked on the home…
Read MoreThankful to the Aide that Made a Difference
This November I am thankful for the aide that made a difference in my son’s life. The aides that work with our kiddos definitely don’t get the thanks they deserve. A little bit about our family…My husband Gary and I have been married for 12 years. We met working as Firefighters. I am now a stay at home mom and advocate for our son Andrew. Gary is a full time firefighter/paramedic along with a councilperson for the Village we reside in. We have twins who recently turned 9 years old.…
Read MoreHonoring our Therapists
I would like to honor the amazing therapists at Accelerate Early Intervention. They listened to me when no one else did. They believed in my sons abilities and they nurtured and cared for both of us like family for three years. I stumbled into their small facility teary eyed and scared when my son was around 20 months. Owen began therapy with them at age 2 and spent 10-15 hrs a week with them for 3 years. They became an extended family. They never gave up on Owen and were…
Read MoreCall Baapa
“Call Baapa. Call Baapa. Call Baapa. Call Baapa. Call Baapa.” Conor repeated this over and over and over (and over and over) while he paged through a book on the living room floor. He was stuck. This has started happening more lately and it always breaks me. As I stood there silent I couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks again. I just wish his brain worked right, the thought swept over me again for the 100th time that week. Conor was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome shortly after his second…
Read MoreHe Isn’t a Sad Story…
“… he isn’t a sad story.” Those are the words that changed my world. I always dreamed of becoming a mother. There was nothing I wanted more in life. Boy or girl I didn’t care, I just wanted a healthy little baby to love. I remember the day we found out we were having a little boy. My husband Josh was over the moon happy, talking about all the things they would do together. I think a part of the excitement came from him not growing up with his father…
Read MoreThank You for Believing in My Son
I chose a life of motherhood, but this motherhood chose me. A different one of sorts, a special needs one. And because of this, I have needed more help along the way. A lot more. My son Noah wouldn’t be where he is today without our village, truly. Each person we’ve encountered on this journey has played a crucial role in our lives, and I am so grateful for each and every one of them. There is one person in particular that I have been exceptionally thankful for lately, and…
Read MoreOur Daughter was Nonverbal
Our daughter was nonverbal. She did not sing. She did not make noises. She did not imitate. She did not point. We were repeatedly told she might not ever talk. Every time I heard this sentence it was overwhelming. Then we got the call from aeiou – an early intervention centre in Brisbane Australia. A place was available. A full time placement. My anxiety peaked. A full time placement for my nonverbal toddler. Do they REALLY understand what nonverbal is? How serious this is? Do they really know what they…
Read MoreIf You Are Struggling, Find Your Person
I am a wallflower. An introvert. Painfully shy. Making new friends in your thirties is hard. For many reasons, it seems even harder when you are Mom to a child with disabilities. Cloaked in a facade of smiles and ‘He’s coming alongs’, it can be mentally exhausting to keep cheerful and happy and all the things that make someone want to be friends with you. My dear friend Kristin calls this her mask and I think it is the best way to describe how many Moms feel on this journey.…
Read More