Posts Tagged ‘autism mom’
Never Miss a Moment
Recently I took my son to a local indoor water park for a few hours. He loved it. I had a few very interesting social observations. One of the most obvious was how we, the parents of special needs kids, never miss a moment in our kids lives. We are ever present, hyper vigilant, (over bearing at times) and just stuck to them like their own shadow. I get to experience and watch 98% of every single thing my son does. It dawned on me when I was watching two…
Read MoreAutism as a Full Time Single Mom
My five year old son has autism. I am currently a full time single mom, who used to be a part time dog mom, and that about sums up my little world. We are a little over two years into the diagnosis and up until seven months ago, my son was considered nonverbal. He has made huge strides in so many areas, mostly in speech, and I am so, so, so grateful for the therapy and resources we have used to get us to where we are today. I don’t…
Read MoreFind Hope and Hold Onto it With All You Have
I wasn’t one of those mothers who saw it coming. I was blindsided when I heard the word autism. It hit my like a freight train and shattered my soul into a billion pieces instantly. That horrible feeling of not being able to breath, unwavering fear, fear of the unknowing, and worst of all, hopelessness, took over every inch of me. I thought at that moment I would never feel as horrible as I did then. As many of you know that would not be the case. That feeling would…
Read MoreMy Son Does Not Have To Hide
I’ve had a couple of moms ask me lately if I consider how my son Jackson might feel about me speaking publicly about his struggles. And they’ve asked if I’m considering his feelings and if it might hurt him if he reads these words one day. I thought about their question long and hard before I started journaling about him privately for myself. And I thought about it even harder before I put my words out there for others to hear. I felt slightly attacked and caught off guard and…
Read MoreGaining Perspective in my Life
Our lives are so narrow in experience. We understand most clearly the circumstances we are born into and the experiences we acquire over our lifetime. Yet there are so many variables that can shape our lives. Immigrant status, skin color, religion, socio-economic status, ethnicity, gender orientation, disability, addiction, abuse—we are shaped by these factors. Prior to being a mom, I identified as a middle class American Jewish woman. I experienced some religious discrimination in school which left me with a desire to explore diversity. I wanted to make room in my…
Read MoreIt’s Not All Sunshine and Rainbows
Times are hard right now. For everyone. And if you’re a parent of a child with a disability, being off school isn’t as “cute” and “pretty” as it may seem across social media. I’m not saying every minute of every day is hard, but it’s not all fun crafts and cookie baking either. As I sit and reflect after a very difficult day, I want to express my feelings and the reality so many families are facing right now. You see, cancelling school doesn’t just mean no school for a few…
Read MoreA Letter To The Mom With A Newly Diagnosed Child
Dear Mama, I know you’re probably feeling every single emotion flooding through your body right now… And I wish that I was there to wrap my arms around you and give you the big loving hug you so desperately need. I may not physically be there with you, but please know that I am here…along with an army of fierce mamas who have been exactly where you are. I’ve been on this journey for almost 9 years now and there are a few things I’ve learned along the way. Many…
Read MoreThe Ability to be Vulnerable
Hi. My name is Carrie. I have five kids, and my second son is diagnosed with autism. His name is Jack. He is fifteen years old, and over six feet tall. As an autism mama, I am pretty used to advocating for the things we need, whether it’s an adjustment to his IEP, or a new kind of therapy, or a change in his medication. This has not always been easy for me. I have sat in many meetings, and through many appointments, with a bubble of rage in my…
Read MoreFor Every Autism Mama
For the mama who has just heard the very words that split her heart in half. He has autism. For the woman is lost amid a tidal wave of appointments, and meetings, and therapy sessions—who thinks longingly back to the days of high heels, and boardrooms, and a paycheck. I get it. The mama who longs for a crystal ball to know the unknowable. Will he learn to talk, or read, or drive, or work? Will he graduate, or have a career, or get married? Who will take care of…
Read MoreThe New Normal
I’ve always hated phrases like, “the new normal,” or “it is what it is.” In my eyes these expressions are just the lazy person’s way of not trying hard enough to make a difficult situation better. We’ll just call it, “the new normal” and move on. I can’t make it better so, “it is what it is.” I’m getting older but it’s cool because, “50 is the new 40.” You get the idea. When my youngest of four children was diagnosed with autism eight years ago, it felt like anything…
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