Posts Tagged ‘autism blog’
Some Days I Dwell…
My kid is awesome. He is seven. He also has nonverbal autism. And even though he may never do the things typical kids do or even meet typical milestones…we are okay. He is amazing in his own way. I will give him his best life. And as his mother, I refuse to let myself dwell on the hard parts. The sadness. The things he will never do. It’s not healthy. It’s not who I am. And honestly, it’s just too sad. So, I use my energy to focus on the…
Read MoreWithout Autism…
This weekend my son Cooper is spending time with his grandparents. He is getting spoiled, doted on, and loved in that special way only grandparents can do. We needed this break. We just welcomed a new baby into our world. Our five year old Sawyer needed a break. Mom and dad needed it. Cooper needed it. Within 30 minutes of dad dropping him off, I let out the breath I had been holding. The breath I have to hold when I have Cooper. The breath I often don’t know I…
Read MoreAn Autism Halloween
I love this reminder: With Halloween upon us, please keep in mind, a lot of little people will be visiting your home. Be accepting. The child who is grabbing more than one piece of candy may have poor fine motor skills. The child who takes forever to pick out one piece of candy may have motor planning issues. The child who does not say trick or treat or thank you may be non-verbal. The child who looks disappointed when they see your bowl might have allergies. The child who isn’t…
Read MoreA Mile, A Marathon and A Tour Guide
Every once in a while, somewhere out in public, Noah will scream or screech with delight in a place he loves. He can’t help it! He has autism and he’s non verbal. It’s how he tells me he’s happy. However, sometimes it’s at a place like the grocery store or Lowe’s where it echoes across the whole store. That’s when I get a few different kinds of looks. Sometimes I get the look of pity which is unnecessary but at least has good intentions or I’ll get the ‘I get…
Read MoreA Day in the Life of Brayden
As the days tick down and school is about to begin I can feel the anxiety starting to climb at our house. When I was growing up I remember back to school as a glorious time. I remember going on a shopping trip to Mall of America or the local mall. We would spend the day laughing, wandering, and occasionally picking up a new pair of jeans or a needed pair of tennis shoes. It was never about the stuff. It was about spending quality time with your mom. Now…
Read MoreCall Out: I’m Thankful For You This November
This November, I will honor the therapists, teachers, doctors, friends, children, spouses, therapy centers, and family members that make a difference in your family’s life. This could range from the friend who sat with your child while you showered (for the first time in weeks!) to the doctor who finally listened to you. Or, the grandparent that took your other child to the park so they could get a break from their sibling’s disability to the therapist who puts in hour after hour teaching, modeling and praising your child. It…
Read MoreI Thought I Heard my Nonverbal Son Call for Mommy
I can count on one hand all the times that I have dreamt of Zachary talking in my dreams. You would think since my son is four years old and has nonverbal autism that I would be constantly dreaming of his little voice. At this point I think I subconsciously put a wall up in that area. Those dreams are so vivid, so beautiful, and feel so real. As I start to wake up from those dreams I sense myself being so unbelievably happy, and then I become fully awake…
Read MoreAngels on the Seas
On a chilly, blustery day somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico, I sat on the deck of a cruise ship watching two young women in orange T-shirts lift a wheelchair-bound teenager out of his seat, carry him up a flight of stairs, and slide down a water slide with him. I watched as his face reflected pure glee at the bottom of the slide. The ladies lifted him out of the water and carefully placed him back in his wheelchair. Then they did the whole thing again. All to give…
Read MoreLiving the Unique Autism Life
It is really scary for me to share my experiences with Autism. I have been living this ‘unique Autism life’ for over 18 years; and I’ve received everything from pity, to criticism, to compassion, to hatred because of my children. I really don’t want any of those feelings. I just want people to enjoy my children for who they are, and see the imperfect blessings they bring. So, it’s with trepidation that I put this out there…to share my little piece of what it’s like. Not just the physical ‘alone’,…
Read MoreIt Wasn’t Just About Autism
This was our view while we waited for fireworks on Independence Day. It was a lovely sight with the flag hanging in the street and kids laughing and playing together. Some were doing cartwheels. Some were playing catch. Some were shooting hoops. They were all ages from toddler to teenager. It felt like summer. It felt like freedom. It felt like community. Until it didn’t. My son is 7. He’s sweet and funny. He’s creative. He loves peanut butter and books and Lego person heads. He has beautiful blue eyes.…
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