Posts Tagged ‘ASD’
The Wild Ones
Some kids are just mischievous. Wild. Busy. Exasperating. They see a puddle and have to jump in it. A glass of water and have to dump it. A counter and have to climb it. They see a toy and immediately want to know how it works. How it’s wired. Taking it apart becomes vital. What’s it made of they think. They see mail and need to know what’s inside. A package becomes a possibility. It could be a Nerf gun or a monster truck or ice cream. They must know.…
Read MoreThe Gift of Sight
One of the unforeseen blessings in the world of autism is the gift of sight. I get to see who the good guys are. The people who see him, really see him, and choose to learn and understand… The people who wave and smile… The people who fall in love with him for the amazing kid that he is… The people who help him when he’s struggling… The people who treasure him… Today was haircut day. Haircut day is challenging and scary and a whole lotta other emotions. Thankfully, our…
Read MoreI Don’t Want it to be the Last Time
My sweet baby will be 5 weeks old tomorrow. I am right in the thick of it…the hard season of no sleep and around the clock nursing. She’s leaping as they say and the two of us watch the sunrise together before my other three toddle down the stairs one by one. A few days ago I shared how the exhaustion was getting to me. How momming 4 kids felt like too much on no sleep. And a dear friend of mine messaged me and said…‘during those hard exhausting moments…
Read MoreCongratulations Dylan!
Congratulations to my nephew Dylan on his graduation from high school! We are so proud of you! We definitely spread all of the autism awareness at the party. Cooper did his best and that’s all that any parent can ask for. And we will try again next time. Because that’s how we learn. Now it’s time to rest because this mom and dad are exhausted. Back to Minnesota we go. Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting…
Read MorePast Denial and Into Acceptance
There I am. Still in denial if you ask me. Still hopeful that Sophie will blend in to this loud and crowded party with a bunch of busy, loud excited 5-year-olds. Hopeful she’ll strike up a conversation with one of these kids. Hopeful she will smile and laugh and run around interacting with these kids. Hopeful she’ll appreciate the hand sewn dress that was made for her special day. Hopeful she won’t yell at anyone. Hopeful she won’t hide in her room. Hopeful she won’t run out of the house,…
Read MoreBeyond Measure
Like so many special needs parents, I’ve spent countless hours filling out paperwork and rating scales about my child. I know all too well what it feels like to anxiously wait in doctor offices, therapy lobbies, and conference rooms…to go over the results of various assessments, listening to the numbers that describe my son. I’ve left meetings, only to replay the conversations in my head, trying to stay positive and put the scores behind me. The numbers and scores for my son, Charlie, are always associated with significant delays and…
Read MoreA Boy Who is Doing His Best
This beautiful boy is nonverbal. He has severe autism and a handful of other diagnoses as well. He jumps, flaps and twirls when he’s excited. He lays down on the floor and rolls when he’s upset. He lives for dinosaurs, jumping on the trampoline, baseball and popsicles. He knows exactly what he wants and when he wants it. He just doesn’t always have the tools to express his wants and needs. Zeke hears and understands every single thing that is said to him and about him. He understands when his…
Read MoreHow Visual Schedules Overcome the Challenge of Change
Many people argue that change is important for growth. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t hard. Throw in having autism, and we’re in a whole new ball park. For kids with autism, there is almost nothing more difficult than change. Ironically, change is pretty much the only thing we can count on in life. So how do we empower kids with autism to face something so consistent, so important, yet so difficult– with confidence? Stick with me, and hopefully you’ll take away a tip or two. Why is Change…
Read MoreJust See Him
People ask me all the time how they can help. Kind people. Loving people. Strangers. Friends. Family. People on this page. I speak about that out of control feeling that happens when my son starts struggling. When his big feelings about waiting or sitting overwhelm him. Or when the noise is too much and the lights are too bright or he smells something in the air that you and I can’t make out. Maybe we are in line at the grocery store. Or at a park. Or in the paper…
Read MorePictures in My Mind
When you become a parent, and probably even before, you imagine your child’s life. You imagine your own. You have this picture in your head of what it will look like. Scenarios. Highs. Successes. Wins. The beautiful moments. That’s normal. As humans we do that. We daydream. We imagine. When something challenges those images it can be hard. Like really hard. What you thought would be is not. I’m here to tell you that once you step off the path of what you pictured and into the unknown, your life…
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