Posts Tagged ‘family’
Tell Them He’s Autistic Mama
We were swimming in the pool at the hotel. It was our fourth time in two days. My boys love water. It’s the one and only activity that the two oldest will actually do together. It’s also an activity that we can all enjoy. We would spend all of our time in the pool if we could. Sawyer is always drawn to other kids. He’s been that way his whole life. If he sees a little kid enter the water, he will be with him or her. Cooper, he’s oblivious.…
Read MoreNavigating the Autism Maze
When I first learned our sweet, beautiful daughter had autism I felt as if a tsunami had swept me up, taking with it my family’s happiness and peace. I thought from here on, our life would be limited to therapies and hardships. I was frightened and uncertain about our now shaky future. Would our almost three year old daughter ever be able to fully communicate? What type of relationship could she and I have as she grew older? She blends in now, but what sort of behaviors might she develop…
Read MoreNot the Summer I Expected
I am a special ed teacher. I am so fortunate to have my summers off. I look forward to them. After April vacation the countdown begins. I get to spend time with my boys doing all the things they love; going to the beach, swimming, playgrounds, hanging with their cousins and my friends’ children. Only this will not be the case for one of my sons. My 3 year old Dominic will spend a 32 hours a week at his ABA center. He will go to occupational therapy. This hit…
Read MoreWe Aren’t Excluded but we Aren’t Exactly Included Either
I was talking with a friend the other day. I was telling her how summers can be so hard on our family. In a way, part of me actually dreads them. Our friends, family and neighbors are so busy. We hear about it. We see it on Facebook. Pictures. Stories. They are traveling to Disney. Going to summer festivals. Grabbing candy at parades. Attending baseball games. Going for bike rides. Visiting the latest waterpark. On Facebook it seems so effortless. And while I know that everyone has struggles, I’m not…
Read MoreDear Family, Friends, and Even Strangers
Thank you. Thank you for pouring positivity into my life. Thank you for the kind words. Thank you for trying to supply me with hope. On my days when I post, comment, or even mention in conversation how I long for normalcy and desire making memories often associated with raising children, I know you mean well when you reply stating how happy my son is and offer the encouraging words of “Don’t worry about what others do! Just enjoy making memories and special moments with your little family!” I know…
Read MoreWould you be so Understanding?
I found myself out today in the community with my six year old son and my baby. We were in a group of people. We were quietly sitting. And by quietly I mean Sawyer was bouncing off the walls and the baby was chatting up a storm. Just as kids should be. Busy and happy. It was lovely. The three of us out together. I’m stretched a little thin these days so it’s nice to get time with my kids. I found myself looking around. I found myself missing Cooper.…
Read MoreA Victory for our Family
Here is the photo that means so much to Jamie and I. We take nothing for granted because we know how hard our son works to do tasks that seem so simple to the world. It’s not as simple as going to church. It’s pressure. It’s putting on special clothes. Riding to a new place with his personal care attendant. Walking into a building. Staying calm with noisy people. Smiling for photos. We practiced for months. We worked on skills every single day. It’s a pretty big deal. And in…
Read MoreThe Balancing Act of this (Autism) Life
It’s 9 a.m. and my toddlers are eating popsicles. They are content (even quiet?) in their car seats behind me as we drive to ABA therapy. We are going on year three of “potty training” (I could call it a lot of other things) with my son Wilson, who is almost five years old and on the autism spectrum. He really pulled one over on me this morning with the new potty sticker chart by managing to sit and pee in the toilet four times more often than he would…
Read MoreThe Parts No One Talks About
There are parts of autism that the world simply doesn’t talk about. The ugly parts. The scary parts. And the sad parts. No one talks about physical aggressions or self injuring. Or fecal smearing. Or even what happens to nonverbal, severe kids when they grow up. And I don’t just mean age 20. I mean age 60, long after their parents are dead. Do they go into nursing homes? Who cares for them? Instead, we hear about the beautiful parts of autism. And the dramatic ones. The newsworthy ones. You…
Read MoreBrother, I don’t Understand Autism
I don’t understand you Cooper. And I really don’t understand autism. Do you know that I used to think autism was an actual thing. Like an object. Mom would say you have autism. And you’d get a cookie. Or get to have your Kindle at dinner. And I’d want autism too. Only, I didn’t have it. I was the different one. Mom and dad always say that they don’t have to worry about me. I guess because I don’t have autism. And I guess because I talked. And potty trained…
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