Posts Tagged ‘nonverbal autism’
Cooper’s Treasures
See these things in my son’s hands? Most would probably call it junk. Or even garbage. To my son…it’s treasure. It’s nine pieces of construction paper. Two pages from a calendar. Four pages from a train guide book. 11 pages from a vintage train magazine. 12 empty DVD cases. These are his things. I told him to get ready for speech. He grabbed the necessities. They go everywhere we go. They go to the bathroom and to his bed. From couch to floor. They eat dinner with us. And if…
Read More30 Words
Since Covid started, and the world changed, me and a whole other bunch of parents have been trying to explain the unique ways it has impacted kids with special needs. We speak of loss of services and supports. We share stories of regressions and loss of skills. Some dare even share the harder parts. Often our stories are met with sympathy. Some shame. But we keep talking. We keep trying to get the world to see the hidden children. A few days ago it dawned on me that my son…
Read MoreThis Is Regression
I can’t tell you the last time this kid and I did a puzzle. It’s been a few months at least. I have a dozen excuses why. It’s summer and playing outside with a hose is way better. Covid hit and life got turned absolutely upside down and inside out. I am writing a book. Jamie is running a business. Sawyer is playing hockey and golf and flag football. The baby never stops moving. Then there is homeschooling. I’m not good at it. I want to be clear. It is…
Read MoreFinding Your Best Life
My son, you matter. I feel the need to say that today. Loudly. To all of these people who read about you. Who love you and want to learn about you. Not to remind myself. Or you. Because I know you are amazing. I know you love trains and paper and the movie Alpha and Omega. You sleep with six blankets every night and hug your brother every morning and like your chicken nuggets cut up. You love mail. And Amazon. And making noise. You are a person. A human.…
Read MoreThree “Simple” Words
I love you. Three simple words. Most of us throw them around loosely. Take them for granted. We say them when we hang up the phone. When a loved one leaves the house. When we kiss our little ones good night. Sometimes out of habit. It’s something a mother hears a million times.. over a lifetime. That is unless your child is… NONVERBAL. Then you might never hear it. One of those things that most don’t even think about. I have told my daughter “I Love You” everyday, multiple times…
Read MoreYou Will Be His Best Advocate
Sawyer, I am writing down the stories of you so that someday, when you are older, we can look back together at them. Sawyer, your brother Cooper started at your school last week. At first I didn’t know what you would think. Would you be nervous? Excited? Worried? Of course, you amazed me. Your response when I told you was….’now I can watch out for my brother, mama.’ You were so excited. I was a bit worried though. I want you to be a kid and not have to worry…
Read MoreSilence
Early this morning, I took my middle son, one of the twins who is Autistic, with me to run some errands. I did my usual commute to town which is about thirty minutes away. I went through the drive thru and grabbed an iced coffee, went to our pharmacy for medications and then I grabbed some breakfast. As I was in the last drive thru for the morning (which was crazy long), I started to ponder to myself… Wow it’s so quiet in this car. I thought back from home,…
Read MoreBig Changes
Things have a way of changing rapidly in our world. Today, this amazing kid started school. The same school as his brother. He is in 4th grade. I never thought this would happen but we got a little nudge from the universe. And it turned out to be a good one. I cried. His dad cheered. His brother was so excited. And he was too. He dressed himself, put on his own backpack, let me gel his hair, negotiated how many treasures he could bring to school, and made his…
Read MoreOur Secret World
Happy Sunday from this kid. We’ve had an interesting day. He asked me for a train guide from 2007. I told him I’d do my best but reminded him that he was most likely setting me up for failure. He asks me for the most obscure things. He had faith in me though. I know because he asked me well over 100 times. He also asked me to go shopping. And for amazon. And paper. And Target. When the Amazon van drove by I knew we were in trouble. I…
Read MoreTo My Son’s Hopefully ‘Never Needed’ Caregiver
Have you written a letter of intent yet? It is a letter written to the person who will take your child if something happens to you. Here is mine… To whom it may concern; Except you’re no random person. You were carefully and specifically asked to take on this huge responsibility. It will undoubtedly be the hardest thing you’ve ever done as it has been for us, and there is an immeasurable amount of gratitude and thanks to be given to you. But I’m sure that’s already been taken care…
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