Posts Tagged ‘Autism Spectrum Disorder’
This is What We Work For
This morning I asked my son Cooper if he wanted four or five of something. And he responded with a happy sound and five fingers thrust high in the air. I went on with what I was doing and then paused for a second. Communication. Choice. Independence. Happiness. It is the most beautiful thing. I’ve been told over the years that I want to change Cooper. That I want to make him less autistic. Ha. It’s so far from the truth. My goal as a mom has never, and never…
Read MoreHappy Birthday Jamie
Happy birthday to my husband Jamie! So much to say. So little time because one kid is in the dog dish, one needs a snack, Cooper can’t find his iPad, and I’m attached to a breast pump. So I’ll just say thank you for being with me on this journey. It’s never dull. It’s never quiet. I miss you a lot…even when we are in the same room. We have our four beautiful children to blame for that. We are blessed beyond measure. I know that for certain. And maybe…
Read MoreCar Rides and Autism
What are car rides like for your family? For ours, I would say it’s the area where we have made the most improvement over the years. Back when Cooper was just diagnosis and the word autism felt foreign on our tongues my husband and I referred to car rides H – E – Double Hockey Sticks. We didn’t shine in the car. Cooper was a screamer. And a thrower. He would get upset if we turned the wrong way. Or stopped at a stop light. We couldn’t get gas or…
Read MoreMy Bookends
My bookends. My big and my little. 10 and 3 months. I’ll tell ya this much. They don’t pay too much attention to each other. Their worlds rarely intersect. But if anything comes close to falling (or jumping) on that baby…ahem…like a toddler brother…Cooper is the first to give a holler to let me know. That’s something special if you ask me. Also, see Cooper’s treasures? The items around him? He’s loving brown and white paper right now. He has a whole stack. Those photos? They are from my trip…
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 MoreHe Made up for It
Yesterday when I was talking about the chapters in my book, someone asked about Cooper’s relationship with his dad. And if I touched on it in my writing. The person then asked a follow up question about affection. ‘Does Cooper show affection to his dad? Has he always?’ The answer is no…he hasn’t always shown affection outwardly. Coops was more of a lone wolf when he was younger. And it was hard at times. Lonely even. We wanted so desperately to engage with our beautiful son. But his dad made…
Read MoreMy Biggest Cheerleader
Sawyer: Mama, I told everyone at school about your book and that they should buy it. Me: You did? That’s awesome. Wait. Do you know the title? Sawyer: Yeah. Of course I do. It’s about my brother. Me: So what’s it called? Sawyer: Cooper. Cooper’s Voice. Er. Um. Finding the Boy. Forever. Me: Yes. That’s exactly right. Nailed it. My biggest cheerleader. PS. Forever Boy is number 44 on Amazon. That’s of all the books. Like all of them. I am humbled and honored. I don’t think I can ever…
Read MoreTrust in the Good
Today is my son’s third day of school. He is a fifth grader. I get so scared sending him anywhere alone. But I have to trust. I have to trust in good and kind and grace. I have to trust that people will know the yellow haired boys name is Cooper because he won’t be able to say it under pressure. I have to trust that they will ask him if he wants a drink of water because he won’t think to ask. I have to trust that they will…
Read MoreThank You for Learning About Autism
I want to say the hugest, most heartfelt thank you to each and everyone of you who has supported me and my family on this journey. I know that so many of you have fallen in love with Cooper and our story. Sawyer, Harbor and Wynnie too. And of course Jamie. 8 years ago I sat on my couch in Duluth, MN and I created a blog. I named it Finding Cooper’s Voice. And I truly had no intention of anyone every reading it. I poured my heart out to…
Read MoreThe Things That Matter
One of the things I adore the most about my son Cooper is the way he gets excited over things. Things that most people may not think are all that big of a deal. Like a cow in a field. Or when it rains. The wind in his hair. A tractor. When we drive by Target. A train t-shirt. People who look like Santa. Halloween decorations tucked away in a closet. Photos of mom and dad as awkward teenagers. And when his brother gets a haircut. Of course Cooper needed…
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