Posts Tagged ‘autistic teenager’
Why I Am Afraid
I had a terrible dream the other night. My son Jack was walking up our driveway. He was crying—sobbing, actually—but he couldn’t tell me what was wrong. I ran to him and asked him over and over again what happened. He just stood there, towering over me, taking deep gulps of air as tears streamed down his face. He was so distraught. And in my dream, I couldn’t help him. I couldn’t reach him. When I woke up, my heart was racing. I was sweating, and yet I felt a…
Read MoreLet’s Lower the Bar for a Minute, Shall We?
Yesterday I got the email from a special education teacher. “You’re daughter is getting an F in math”. But my mind is far from academics at the moment. My mind is on the ortho surgery my 15 year old daughter with ASD, ADHD (combo type), OCD, SPD, GAD and severe depression will have this coming Monday. She told the surgeon ‘to hurry the fu*k up’ when he was putting on hand sanitizer entering the consult room the other day. My mind is on counting calories to prevent introducing a new med due to her recent weight gain. Weight gain caused by a medication we do…
Read MoreThe Six Foot Trick-or-Treater
Hello! My name is Eileen and I blog over at Autism with a Side of Fries. This is my 16 year old autistic son. He still very much likes to Trick Or Treat. He plans on once again being a Hot Dog for Halloween. (With the addition of a mask, of course.) Locals know to expect this Hot Dog (Three years running! We’re really getting our money’s worth from this costume.) to come flappy happy up the driveway. There is no age limit on enjoying a holiday. There is no age…
Read MoreOld Autism Mama
If you are reading this, there is a good chance someone you know has autism. Hi. My name is Carrie. I have five kids, and my second son, Jack, has autism. He was diagnosed when he was eighteen months old. I was a young mother with a three-year old, and a one-year old, and a tender new baby on the way. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. The world stood still when the doctor said the words Autism Spectrum Disorder. That’s the only way I can describe…
Read MoreConfessions of an Autism Mom
For as long as I can remember, I wished I had a crystal so I could see into the future with my son Jack and his autism. I hated when people said time would tell. Or to relax, it would all work out for the best. I wanted to know it for myself. Since the day Jack was diagnosed, I was always racing against the clock. I wanted to know when he would speak to me in full sentences, and if he would learn to potty train, and the night…
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 MoreI’m Thankful For You: My Son’s Middle School Teacher
(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Sydney and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) My name is Sydney Sorkin, and I live in Leawood, Kansas. My 14 year old son, Noah, was diagnosed with autism at age two and with ADHD at age seven. Noah’s autism-related issues were more severe when he was younger, but over time, thanks to a combination of therapies, medication, behavior modeling, and a very supportive village, Noah has progressed a great deal, and I’d like to offer up one of the…
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