Posts Tagged ‘autism and siblings’
Unlocking the World of My Nonspeaking Son
Before I had my son Cooper, I knew nothing of autism. Not really. And I can say with absolute certainty that I knew nothing about nonspeakers or nonverbal individuals. I’m sure I had ideas. And I’m sure they were wrong. My son is considered nonverbal on paper. And he has so much to tell us. At 12 years old he has 20 or so words. He has some sign language. He loves sounds and gestures. He can spell and read and type when he chooses too. He uses a speech…
Read MoreUnbreakable Bonds: Siblings and Extraordinary Connection
Someone once said to me…’siblings to children with disabilities are not special. And they shouldn’t be treated as such.’ I’ll tell you this…in all my years of sharing on social media, very few statements have bothered me as much as that one. I adamantly disagree. These two. Siblings. Brothers. Two years between them. Roles of older and younger often reversed. Sawyer. Holding his brother’s life jacket when we go fast. He doesn’t need too. But he does. Life is different for him. Not bad by any means. Just…different. And it’s…
Read MoreFinding Shared Understanding: Care for the Caregiver Retreat 2023
A few weeks ago, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Care for the Caregiver Retreat in Minnesota, put on by the More Than a Project and Finding Cooper’s Voice. It’s hard to put into words the sense of camaraderie and love I experienced during that time. When my son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder three and a half years ago, I withdrew into myself. Even before the diagnosis, our family had become isolated. Going out in public became a challenge as I couldn’t bear the judgmental stares…
Read MoreA Simple Card, an Unforgettable Gift: The Impact of Inclusion and Support
There is a memory I often share about Mother’s Day. In fact I think it’s even in my book. It impacted me so deeply. So much so that I’m still talking about it 10 years later. My son Cooper is the one who first made me a mom. Today he is 12 years old. He has a diagnosis of severe nonverbal autism. I like to tell the moms and dads of newly diagnosed children that it takes time. Every part. Acceptance. Understanding. Advocacy. It all takes time. Ten years ago,…
Read MoreTwo Brothers Side-By-Side
I’m raising two boys side-by-side. There is barely two years between them. When I found out I was pregnant with my second son all those years ago…I had plans. Big ones. Visions. Expectations. Best friends. Teammates. When the oldest was diagnosed with severe nonverbal autism it all changed. Ever so slightly at first. Than greatly over time. They didn’t play together. They didn’t even acknowledge each other. But time…it has a way of healing and growing. Understanding comes. Loyalty. Love. Devotion. And advocacy. Tonight I watched the one with no…
Read MoreBelieving in Progress: A Brother’s Love
Tonight my older son Cooper and I went to his 10-year-old brother’s baseball game. We were armed with a blanket, a chair, an iPad, hotspot, snacks, a drink, and talk of a visit to the fire station this Saturday. And belief in a boy with autism. Belief in progress and hard work. See he is 12 years old. He doesn’t care much for sports. But he sure loves his brother. He stayed for 1 hour and 45 minutes. I saw almost every inning. I saw my son catch. I saw…
Read MoreMy Son Saves Me Everyday
I want to tell you about a boy. He is ten years old and his name is Sawyer. In my book I say he saved me. The story goes onto share how my heart stopped beating during active labor with him. I came back for him. So he would be okay. I knew he needed me to live for him. But it’s more than that. He’s saved me countless times since then. I spent the last 72 hours with hundreds of moms. Moms like me. And Sawyer stood by my…
Read MoreBrotherly Love: Navigating Autism and Anxiety Together
I heard his little voice before I saw him. ‘Cooper. Cooper. We don’t hurt our body. We love it.’ I peeked around the corner. What I saw made me gasp. The four year old who wants to be 10 like his next older brother. Blonde hair. Bare feet. Scabbed over knees from a crash on his bike. A Paw Patrol costume half on. He was holding a Ninja Turtle in one hand. The other hand was stretched out. Holding his older brother’s hand. Cooper. He is 12 years old. And…
Read MoreThe Ones Who Don’t Bat An Eye
I saw them before they saw me. Cautiously walking into the movie theater. A mom. A son. The boy was big. Taller than me. He had headphones on. His hands danced like my son. He moved fast and slow getting the lay of the land. I greeted her immediately. I knew she was with us. She was kind. She was looking for her people. ‘After our kids get older, it’s so hard to meet people. Once they are in their twenties…’ her sentence trailing off as she followed behind her…
Read MoreHe Joined Us
You see a child lying on the floor watching an iPad in front of the tv. I see progress. I see hopes and wishes happening. I see a child who joined our family for a movie tonight. See, it doesn’t happen all that often. Typically, he stays up on his room watching the history of the great American railway or John Deere tractors. But tonight he came down. He joined us. He brought 3 blankets. And his stories on his iPad. He started on the couch. But prefers the floor.…
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