Posts Tagged ‘autism and siblings’
The Kaleidoscope of Autism: A Thank You Letter to My Kids
A Thank You Letter to My Kids, the “Typical” Siblings I know having a sibling with special needs has not been easy on any of you. Autism is like a kaleidoscope. While it certainly brings a lot of color to our life, each piece is different from the rest. Every twist gives a different view, and the effect is different for everyone. Autism has not only altered your sister’s life but the lives of all of us who love her and walk beside her. It is overlooked how much the…
Read MoreSanta’s Magic in Our Autism Journey
Every year at Christmastime, my older two children either went to see Santa, or we talked all about Santa and wrote lists. I could see the excitement building inside them and the anticipation on their faces on Christmas Eve as they got ready for bed. They would wake up on Christmas morning and run into the living room, yelling out, “Santa came!” and dive into their gifts. Olivia, on the other hand, was nonspeaking, and although I still tried to tell her about Santa and presents, she seemed to have…
Read MoreSiblings of Child with Special Needs
The reality of being a sibling of a child who has special needs, unique needs, disabilities…however you prefer to say it. The reality of Siblings of children with special needs is hard for most people to grasp if they have not been in that situation. Last summer, we dropped my oldest son off for camp and it was just myself, my husband, and the two girls for 3 days straight! This was a first for such an extended period of time. Yes, he has stayed with Grandpa while we took…
Read MoreAutism and Independence: In Her Own Time
In her own time. Those four words are more important than I can express. I am not sure I can put into words the incredible moment my autistic daughter had yesterday, but I am going to try. Yesterday, Kya asked to “go in the car to the dollar store for Elmer’s glue.” So we headed to the store. While there, she looked at clay but passed on it. We gathered what she wanted and headed to the till. Once there, she said clay, so I decided to let her go…
Read MoreUnseen Struggles: A Mother’s Tale of Parenting an Autistic Child
There have been a lot of ups and downs during this autism life. The highs are so high and the lows are so low. This causes a lot of emotional turmoil within. There have been some really hard times throughout my autistic daughter, Alyssa’s life. The grief period after diagnosis is devastating. The realization that this is the rest of her life. Seeing all the other kids develop and realizing how behind she is, and where she should be, and although that’s not her path, it doesn’t make it any…
Read MoreQuestions of Love: Raising an Autistic Daughter
Does she know she has been fighting her entire life? She fought to get nourishment and to breathe as a tiny baby. Fifteen years later she continues to fight. Fight for comfort, fight for words, and fight for peace within her own body and mind. Does she know she was born into a world that wasn’t built for her? Does she know I will move heaven and earth to find the right tools to give her so she can walk through this world as safely and peacefully as she can?…
Read MoreApples and Oranges: Navigating Daily Grief and Gratitude
My 13-year-old son Declan is non-speaking, autistic and uses an AAC device to communicate. We haven’t moved at all yet Declan is in seventh grade and has already attended twelve different schools. That is a lot of change for someone who doesn’t tolerate routine change well. We love our special education co-op but the lack of a physical school or local classmates takes a giant toll. I wish we had a regular school community and I had the support of parent peers. Overall, we are really isolated. It’s taken me…
Read MoreWalking Hand in Hand with My Son at the Zoo
Yesterday, I went on a field trip to the Minnesota Zoo with my oldest son Cooper and his class. It was pretty amazing really. He is 13 and autistic and it’s a really big deal that his class goes on field trips because not all special education programs do. But it’s so good. It’s so good for the kids and the community and the businesses and the parents. Cooper and I walked together every second of the way. We held hands or he held onto my arm. He was never…
Read MoreThe Weight of Autism
When I think about that little newborn baby—the first one I birthed, the first true obsession of my life—I recall the haze of sleepless nights and the excitement of new life. Babies are so raw and new; they wholly need you. You carry them and everything they will one day become. The fears, the worries, the hope, the determination. He matters merely because he exists, and to exist is a miracle on its own. Looking at that tiny being, my expectations were simple: health and happiness. But that little baby,…
Read MoreI Wonder if You Will Always Need Me This Much
My son, I wonder if you will always reach for my hand when we are walking. I wonder if you will always be precious and innocent. I wonder if you will always gasp at birds and at squirrels. I wonder if you will always point to airplanes. And wave to strangers. And bark when puppies walk by. I wonder if you will always run up to a mud puddle with such joy and excitement and then look back to get my attention before you jump in. I wonder if we…
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