Posts Tagged ‘autism family’
An Unsung Hero Whispers ‘I Am Proud of You’
What is an unsung hero to you? Someone who quietly reaches out with a rescuing hand in time or need? Someone who gives you perspective before you have the chance to find it? When we started to have meetings with our son’s Montessori School about how our son wasn’t fitting into the school program, I began to feel something I was unfamiliar with. A feeling that sat and still sits quietly in the background. That feeling that things were on the horizon, as I felt a shift of worry from…
Read MoreThe Hero Who Helped Us Over Our Hurdles
I was a relatively new mom and had just experienced evaluations for speech, development, occupational, and physical therapy for my son Graham. But there was an even bigger hurdle…an Autism evaluation. I was told a referral was placed for the evaluation and that it could take time to get an appointment, so I was impatiently patiently waiting only to find out there was no appointment and there was no referral. Why? Because the facility the referral was sent to would not evaluate Graham due to him being under age three.…
Read MoreA Magical Place
When my son was diagnosed with autism at age three, I felt like I couldn’t reach him. I felt like he had this world, a secret one that I couldn’t enter. Some days I even felt like I would lose him to it. As if I was fighting to keep him here with me. I was scared of his world. It confused me. It worried me. Some days I felt like I should try and save him from it. He would laugh and cry and feel things that I couldn’t…
Read MoreThree Things I’ve Learned About Raising Boys
Things I’ve learned as a mom to my three boys… It’s nearly impossible to keep them clean. But messes typically equal fun so it’s important to remember you can hose them off later. They love to pee in the woods. There is just something about it. Trees are made for climbing. Little trees. Big trees. Trees with no branches. All trees must climbed. But also know they most likely will not ACTUALLY climb any trees. Just attempt. All found sticks must be thrown, no matter the size. Sticks also make…
Read MoreBeautiful Gifts
My middle son has been having some big feelings lately. He is 8 years old and sandwiched in between two very big personalities. I think sometimes it can be lonely to be the easy one. His dad and I are working for hard to make sure he knows how magnificent and treasured he is. Last night a movie on the couch with popcorn and tickles. This morning a doughnut date before school, just the two of us. And lots of conversation. Which is the best part in my opinion. I…
Read MoreBalancing Safety and Independence
I’ve been thinking a lot about safety lately. My son is ten years old. He is in the fourth grade. He adores riding the bus too and from. Every afternoon his driver with the kind eyes tells me that Cooper hugs his bus aide. He adores people. Always has. Cooper is a very smart boy. He knows the alphabet, how to search for ‘Hobart and Cosmo’ in YouTube, and how to do some addition. He knows when his baby brother is being naughty and to use a paper towel to…
Read MoreThere is no Perfect Life
Nobody’s life is perfect. I think it’s important to say that. In fact, most people’s lives are not easy. But yet social media sets this precedent that every moment must be magical and perfect. And a competition. Holidays. Family photos. Sunday mornings. I see it a lot specifically in the world of special needs parenting. Whose autism is harder? Because I’m happy most of the time, obviously our autism is easy. That’s one game I absolutely refuse to play. I will not compete or compare or rank out autism against…
Read MoreIn One Second
My son Stalen is almost 6 years old and on the autism spectrum. His safety is my priority, always. He has no sense of safety or danger. He elopes. He is a runner. He is an opportunist. As soon as he sees an opportunity he bolts. When these incidents occur, his strength and speed are super human. He has crossed beyond the tree line into the woods on me a couple of times. He has unlocked the door once and gone outside-luckily-into our fenced in backyard. He has bolted across…
Read MoreThe Third Child
There is just something about the third child. I hear they rule the roost usually. And are often little stinkers. Both true for this one. Right now he’s two years old. The third boy. The boss. He loves Nerf Guns, monster trucks, and Blaze and the Monster Machine. He has the most pleasant personality of anyone I have ever met. He adores his brothers. He drives both of them bonkers too. Without fear. He lives on chocolate. I kid. But for real, he loves snacks and treats and raspberries. Getting…
Read MoreHe Waits for Me
For the last few weeks, I have been spending a lot of my time driving back and forth to visit my dad in the hospital. And it’s no short trip. It’s nearly 3 hours one way. This means I’ve missed being home when my boys get off of the bus. Which is okay, my dad needs me. And these boys are in more than capable hands with their dad. But it’s hard. It makes me feel out of wack, like I can’t get my bearings. I don’t like missing anything…
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