Posts Tagged ‘Autism diagnosis’
I Will Listen
I think a lot about what a privilege it is to be able to communicate and be understood. Probably more than the average person. Not always of course. When my son was 1 and 2 and even 3-years-old, and not babbling, I remember crying in worry on the phone to my mom and her saying…’everybody talks Katie.’ I can still here her saying it. The words providing so much comfort at first. Even my dad sneaking in…’I just know he is going to talk sweetheart.’ Well, here we are. 11-years-old…
Read MoreSafe Room, Premiering on Lifetime, Features Actually Autistic Actor, Nik Sanchez
This Saturday, on the 15th, Lifetime will be premiering Safe Room, a thriller that centers on recently widowed Lila Jackson (Nicole Ari Parker) and her 14-year-old autistic son Ian (Nik Sanchez). Since the death of her husband, Lila is grateful for their kind neighbor Neil (Boris Kodjoe), who looks out for them. After Ian accidentally witnesses a break-in in the house across the street and records the horrific murder of the homeowner, Lila becomes embroiled in a deadly struggle to protect her son from intruders Dominic (Mackenzie Astin) and Rocco…
Read MoreYou Can Persevere in a Life Unplanned
Once upon a time, over seven years ago, I conceived a little boy. I had an IUD. This was not the plan. That little boy was born, let’s call him Pickle. He was born quickly and without any assistance from any qualified professional. He was caught by his father, in an inflatable kiddie pool, in the master bathroom of his family’s house. This was definitely not the plan. But that was just the beginning of life unplanned… Pickles popped out to us, I held him in my arms and checked…
Read MoreWhen You Hear Autism for the First Time
Did you fear the word autism the first time you heard it in relation to your child? This morning, I was asked why I feared the word autism in the beginning. The question came from an autistic gentleman in a completely non-judgmental way. I’m thankful he asked. It’s one of those questions that pushes me out of my comfort zone. One that prompts me to look inside myself. Look back. Be honest. And learn. When I heard the word autism for the first time in relation to Cooper, I was…
Read MoreA Story of Hope-Pre-order Forever Boy Today
An excerpt from chapter 9 of Forever Boy: When the professionals first told me about autism, they described it to me as a spectrum. I immediately thought of a spectrum of light, like a rainbow through a prism. But it wasn’t that kind of spectrum. Or at least the experts didn’t explain it that way. They described it as a long line, with one end being the most severely affected and the other end being less affected. They threw terms at me like high-functioning, low-functioning, severe, moderate, and mild, even…
Read MoreI’m Starting to Forget
I’m starting to forget. The other day, over coffee, I chatted with a mom whose daughter was just diagnosed with autism and a few other things. Epilepsy. Language disorder. The list far too long for a little girl who wears a pink tutu and pigtails. This mom was looking to me to help her. To give her the answers and the secrets. To fill her up with hope and take away the sting. I mostly just listened. Because that is what I needed 8 years ago when my own son…
Read MoreControl What You can Control
I had the honor of speaking to a room full of mothers a few weekends ago. To say it was a group of amazing women is an understatement. These moms are strong, resilient, brave, kind, and have the ability to find humor and joy even on their darkest days. They are no stranger to disability. Or stepping into the role of nurse/therapist/teacher. And driving to and from therapy centers. Living in waiting rooms. Children’s Hospital. And living on hope. They became advocates simply by giving birth. They inspire me. These…
Read MoreYou are Welcome Here
You are welcome here. I see so many posts online telling parents how to feel about their child’s diagnosis. Some tell them to only see the positive. To celebrate every part of it. Some shame them for saying they are scared. Or hard. Or that they are worried. Some tell them they are awful parents. Some ridicule them for thinking a certain way. Some act self riotous because they didn’t shed a tear when their child was diagnosed. And they shame anyone who did. I read those posts and they…
Read MoreForever Boy is in the Top 100 on Amazon!
I don’t know if it’s going to go away so I want to post this right now as I dance around my living room with my kids! #83! Forever Boy cracked the top 100 on Amazon! This is all you and this absolutely amazing community! Thank you so much for believing in me and our story. For following! And for ordering a preorder copy! It’s such a huge deal that a little old mom from Minnesota made it this far. I am humbled. Thank you for being with me on…
Read MoreMy Message to Laura Clery
My message to Laura Clery… Your son has just been diagnosed with autism. Maybe it came as a shock. Maybe not. Maybe like me you already had an idea that something was going on. But you still felt the sting when the words were said out loud. There are so many things I want to tell you. So many important things that I feel you should know. But right now, if you were anything like I was 7 years ago, your head is spinning. You are motivated and paralyzed at…
Read More