Posts Tagged ‘autism blog’
The Day My Son Was Different
I’ll never forget that day. The day that I realized, this wasn’t just a speech delay. That he wasn’t just a boy that was going to develop at his own rate. I’ll never forget the moment, that I actually had to admit to myself, that my son was more than likely, autistic. I chose to be a stay at home mom. My husband and I made that decision, the very moment we found out about Carter. It was something that was important to both of us, so that’s what I…
Read MoreMy Son, You Showed Me That I Was Stronger Than Autism
A Letter to my son Daniel: It’s hard to believe you are already fourteen months old, as it feels like just yesterday I was holding you in my arms for the first time. I know you are still a baby but I hope to read you this letter one day when you can better understand it all. Watching you grow and reach exciting milestones this past year has healed my heart in so many ways and brought so much joy to my life. You are always smiling and laughing and…
Read More10 Truths I Know About My Son’s Autism and Sleep
The number one question I am most commonly asked is…does your autistic son sleep? And if he does, give us your secrets. The questions pour into my inbox during all hours of the night. I’ll look at the time stamp and see 3 and 4 am. I’ll read the words of desperate parents wondering if they are going to survive the sleep deprivation. The answer is yes. He sleeps now. But he didn’t for nearly six years. And, most importantly, I understand. Sleep deprivation or irregular sleep is really hard.…
Read MoreIs Letting Go the Key to Enjoying this Journey?
With the flip of a page our Speech therapist asked our son Jojo simple questions as part of an assessment update. The first ones he nailed, naming objects like girl, ball and horse. Then it was, point to the spotty dog IN the box, the teddy UNDER the bed, the dolly with PINK pants. With each line of questions the answers were less correct. These simple questions, that a three year old would know, yet my boy who is turning five next birthday can’t answer. The therapist closed the book…
Read MoreYou Got A Friend In Me
Exactly one year after we received our oldest son’s diagnosis of autism, the four of us are on our way to celebrate a cousin’s birthday. It’s a children’s birthday party, and I’m terrified. Weeks before I had tried to insist to the mother that the dates that were picked wouldn’t work for us, but I was just trying to shield my child. Now here we are, parked in front of their house. I’m always anxious when we stray from our routine, or should I say from Zachary’s routine. As a…
Read MoreWhen Your Home Isn’t Your Safe Space
I am a home body. I always have been. I love being in the comfort of my home and it’s definitely my first choice when it comes to weekend plans. And I guess in a way, that’s a good thing, because Cooper’s autism brings a high level of isolation. Some could say I even settled into the isolation faster than my spouse. He is a social butterfly. Just like our other son. Lately though, the stress of being home is catching up with me. And it’s not just the isolation…
Read MoreWhen a Doctor Told Me I Wasn’t a Terrible Mother
So, here’s a thing that happened the other day. I took my son Ivan to the dermatologist to have a look at his moles. We have a history of melanoma in the family and it seemed like the responsible thing to do. Are moles Ivan’s biggest challenge or at the top of our medical list? Heck no! Ivan is totally blind, nonverbal, in a wheelchair and he has uncontrolled epilepsy resulting in multiple seizures a day. We see about a dozen different specialists and dermatology is definitely at the very…
Read MoreDiagnosing Autism in Girls…Not So Easy
I’ve learned that girls with autism are better at masking their symptoms than boys. They are able to watch social situations between people, and then copy what is being done. So, when they have their own situation arise, they are often just using what they have learned from seeing other people interact. Also, girls with autism usually have special interests but they are more in line with typical girls their age. But when you look closely, they are much more intense about them than typical girls. Before my daughter Lillian…
Read MoreFebruary Writing Challenge: My Ah-Ha Moment
Thank you to everyone that submitted a post in December and January. If you sent me one and I haven’t published it yet don’t be concerned. I received so many and it takes me time go through them all! Which is an excellent problem to have. This February I would like you to write about your autism ‘ah-ha’ moment. This might not necessarily be the moment your child was diagnosed. This is the moment when you realize that your child REALLY is autistic. And it’s not going away. I’ve had…
Read MoreThe Secret World of Autism
I am often asked to write about autism. Especially in preparation for Autism Awareness Month. Prior to my son’s diagnosis, I never knew this month even existed. That’s how it typically goes I guess. People don’t pay attention until it’s their life. I get it. That was me pre-autism. Now, my whole world is an Autism Awareness Month. When I am asked to write about autism I struggle with finding the right words. Autism makes up a million different stories of hope, love, adversity, struggles and beauty. How do I…
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