Posts Tagged ‘nonverbal autism’
My Son was Assaulted and he Couldn’t Tell Me
A while back my son was kicked by a person that was supposed to be caring for him. It happened one day and I didn’t find out until the next. He came home from school like any other day. He was happy. He was smiling. He asked for a cookie and his Kindle. We played. Had dinner. Took a walk and then a bath. And he went to bed. I had no idea he had been kicked multiple times at school that day. The next morning I received a phone…
Read MoreThings I Wish I Had Known When My Son Was Diagnosed With Autism
THINGS I WISH I HAD KNOWN WHEN MY SON WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM: To tackle guilt from the very beginning. To focus on self-care earlier on. To make finding peace a priority. To not judge my beginnings so harshly. To focus on the good more, even when it was hardest to find. To stand up for myself sooner. To realize that the child I have right now is not the child I will have a year from now. To stop worrying so much about my child. He will be…
Read MoreEvery Single Day I Choose Joy
I read a comment today from a follower who said I was glossing over the hard parts. I’ve been thinking about it all day. It’s a funny comment from where I’m sitting actually. Most people tell me I’m too negative. They find the realities of my world to be depressing. Even though they are indeed, the realities of so many. Here is what I will tell you. I’m not glossing over the hard. It’s here, right under the surface. Always ready to creep in. And at any moment, if I…
Read MoreMy Plea, Please Don’t Criticize a Child in a Stroller
Here is my plea, from a mom. Please, pretty, please, don’t criticize a child, a teen, or an adult who is riding in a stroller. Even if they appear ‘normal. A few weeks ago, our family was out for a walk. I was carrying the baby on my chest in a carrier, Sawyer was riding his bike, and Jamie was pushing Cooper in the stroller. This was a pretty big deal for us. Just a short time ago we were unable to go for walks. But we practiced. We made…
Read MoreRemoving the Pressure of Halloween
As special needs parents, certain things matter to us. Maybe it’s the perfect family photo or having a birthday party or your child with needs attending church for a sibling’s baptism. I want to tell you, it’s okay to care about these things. It’s okay to want to try, and continuing to try. Because if you are like me, it’s about helping your child to be successful and ultimately your family. That’s how a holiday like Halloween is for me. It’s about so much more than the costume and the…
Read MoreI just Focused on Making Life Easier
This morning my son slept in until 7:30. That is unheard of for him. To say at age 8 we’ve had our fair share of sleep struggles is the understatement of the century. We live sleep struggles. But lately, we have some days that are better. Easier. Traditionally, he wakes up before 4 am, comes in our room, sets all of his treasures and blankets on the floor next to our bed, undresses, turns all the lights on, goes potty in our bathroom, and then stands next to my bed…
Read MoreDoes Autism Last Forever?
A few days ago, my middle son Sawyer and I took a drive to meet Grandma and Grandpa. They had the baby overnight so this mama could finally sleep through the night. It was delightful. I slept 12 hours. Anyhow, the drive was just under 45 minutes which means 45 minutes that I get to hear about Pokémon cards, hockey, school and life from a six year old. And I love every second of it. This last year has went so fast. I feel like Sawyer grew up overnight, already…
Read MoreThe Day My Son Hit Me
Autism is a spectrum. My son Jayden is on the severe end of that spectrum but what I always have held on to is the fact that he has never been violent, and he still has not intentionally ever hit me in a violent manner. He has swatted at me when making him push through school lessons. He has pushed me away when he did not want to do something. But he never hurt me, until today. Today, he kicked me unintentionally when I was changing him and I saw…
Read MoreWhat is it like to be Non-Speaking?
I have no words to describe what your experience must be like. I have no words, because I simply don’t know what it’s like. Only you know, my sweet boy. I have no words to describe what it must feel like to wake from a nightmare at three and a half years old, get out of bed silently, and run toward your parents’ room. What is it like to hope you find the door open, so that you can run right in? Sometimes, we forget to leave it open. Sometimes,…
Read MoreThe Kindness of a Mom who Gets it
My husband’s team lost their football game Friday night. It was a tough loss to a rival and I know many people would love to forget it ever happened, but something wonderful happened at that game that I hope I never forget. I was tired and almost didn’t go. It had been a long week at school, but I felt guilty for missing last week’s game. Eli reconfirmed my decision to go when I told him we were going bye bye and he replied, “football?” The fact that he remembered…
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