Posts Tagged ‘autism child’
Home From Grandma’s
Cooper adores going to his grandparent’s house. He can hardly wait to get there and typically gives me a quick wave when it’s time for me to go. He likes to stay two nights and no more. That’s his max time he will happily be away from home. At grandma’s he gets spoiled rotten and treated like a little prince. There is ice cream and swimming and snuggles and endless episodes of Family Feud. Today he came home. He always struggles transitioning too and from. He wants to be home.…
Read MoreI am Human
“Can you tell me why you’re crying?” Andy asked softly, his face wrought with concern. “I’m just upset about Leo’s session this morning,” I began. This particular remote learning session, intensely challenging for my boy, and in turn, for me, as I attempted to navigate the resulting behaviors. “I’ve been thinking about it all day,” I explained..“Wondering what I could have done to prevent his upset, or at least minimize it before it escalated…” Andy listened calmly. Pausing for a moment before responding.. “It’s okay to be upset about this…
Read MoreA Glimpse Into the Non-Speaking World
My son is nonverbal. Although I’m not supposed to use that term anymore. The preferred term is ‘non-speaking.’ I am tired of arguing about descriptions so I will just explain. I think it’s easier that way. My son is ten years old. And he has no actual words. It’s hard to believe but it’s important to understand. It’s important to take a glimpse into someone’s life sometimes. That’s how we learn. He can say his name if asked. Cooper. He makes a sound for each letter. Six sounds. The two…
Read MoreSome Don’t Follow the Beaten Path
Some kids never follow the beaten path…Whether it’s from birth or from a later date, some kids don’t follow the beaten path. They don’t meet milestones on time. They don’t follow the norm. They don’t do what every other kids is seemingly doing. My son Cooper is that way. He takes note of what he is ‘supposed’ to do and does the opposite. Some people call him a free spirit. Some call him stubborn. Even challenging. Autistic, disabled, special needs…all words thrown in. It’s hard sometimes. I won’t lie about…
Read MoreLosing His Normal
Summertime is different for some kids… So many of you are asking me about Cooper’s summer plans. A valid question. He finished up school yesterday. He is now officially a 5th grader. He absolutely understands that school is done for the year. I know because yesterday when we walked him to the bus he held up one finger the entire way and had us repeat…’one more day.’ He likes his reassurance that one. Summer breaks are different for kids like Cooper. Or maybe it’s just him. I guess I’m not…
Read MoreWatching His World Open Up
People ask me all the time about my son’s first signs of autism. For some children, it’s textbook. A quick google search returns a lack of or loss of words, struggles with eye contact, and lack of imaginative play. For other kids, the diagnosis doesn’t come so easy. It’s more complicated. Pages full of questions and checkboxes that parents agonize over. Waiting. Worrying. Wondering. For us, our sweet boy was born autistic. From the second he was placed in my arms I knew. Maybe not what. But I knew something.…
Read MoreRemember My Boy
The next time you are stuck at the grocery store, irritated with the man at the front of the growing line because he keeps chatting with the clerk, think of my boy. The man might be verbally ruminating about new soda flavors he saw on tv or explaining his frustration that the store is out of the only bread he eats. How it is very important because he eats this bread for every meal in his day. He may also bring up the triangle-shaped crackers he saw on aisle seven.…
Read MoreAsking for Help Didn’t Make Me Weak, It Made Me Stronger
For some people it’s the diagnosis that stings. That punch in the gut that takes the breath right out of you. For me it was the months that followed. My whole life…the word Autism never meant anything bad. It never really meant anything to me. I felt relieved that finally no one could place the blame on me for my son’s behaviors and actions. However, that diagnosis became way too real for me. For the first time ever at Jackson’s first therapy appointment, he would not look at his therapists.It…
Read MoreTo the Man of My Life now, You Keep Me Going
My Bubba, You made me lucky enough to be a mom. I thought I had lost the only baby I’d ever have. You’re the only man in my life now buddy. You’re the kid who flips me the bird when you’re mad about something, and you’re the first one to apologize when the dust settles. You write me notes and push them under my bathroom door. You got up before me and made my Mother’s Day card and gave it to me. You referenced all of our little inside jokes…
Read MoreI’ve Had Many Jobs, but Being Your Mom is My Favorite
I am lucky enough to be Declan’s mom. I always wanted to be a mom and thank goodness I have my one-and-only child. I became a parent at “advanced maternal age.” Declan is 10 years old, non-speaking, and autistic. He uses AAC (a dedicated iPad with TouchChat) to communicate. I’m a Mom, not a warrior. I’m more of a lover than a fighter. I’m not a warrior or a mama bear. Although hibernation sounds nice. I am working on getting more sleep. I don’t find it helpful to frame myself…
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