Posts Tagged ‘autism blog’
I’m Thankful for My Son’s Para
My name is Corinne and I am the proud mom of an 11 year old boy named Dante, AKA…Mini. He was diagnosed low functioning and non verbal at the age of three. We have had many paras over the years but none who compare to our Ms. Jennifer. Ms. Jennifer came to us when mini was seven and the immediate bond between them was amazing! She was able to get him to do things we were told he would never be able to do. She is the most kind and…
Read MoreWhat it Stole From Us
I stand in the shower and let the scalding hot water burn my skin. The first quiet moments of day. I take a deep breath. And let it out slowly. I give myself the grace to feel and think about what it stole from us. The grace every parent should give themselves every now and then. Of course we shouldn’t dwell there. But it’s okay to visit now and then when it is warranted. Especially on days like Christmas. And birthdays. And other milestones. As the water burns my back,…
Read MoreThe Boys Meeting Santa and Ms. Claus
Santa and Mrs. Claus made a visit to see the boys! It was absolutely beautiful. Here is a video with a peek at our Santa visit last year and this year. Sawyer asked for ALL the toys and Cooper said ‘I want Santa’ and ‘I want present.’ He nailed it. We are a blessed family. ‘Anything can happen child. Never stop believing.’ https://www.facebook.com/findingcoopersvoice/videos/338074990355936/ Merry Christmas! Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because…
Read MorePerfect After Autism
I found myself sitting on a bench nursing Harbor at a store today on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. We were out grabbing a few last minute things. A train magazine for Cooper. A sweatshirt for Sawyer. My bench happened to be right in front of the line to see Santa Claus. I had the perfect view of the big guy in red. And all the kids that were so excited to see him. Little girls in fancy dresses with bows in the their hair. Little…
Read MoreA 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…
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