Posts Tagged ‘nonverbal autism’
Will My Autistic Son Understand When I am Gone?
I went to a funeral yesterday. It seems as I get older, and my family gets older, I am attending more and more funerals. I guess that’s the nature of growing older. Thankfully, if there can be a thankfully, they are funerals for beautiful souls that have lived long, wonderful lives. So, more of a celebration of life I guess. My Son As I sat there yesterday, I looked around and saw many faces I knew and many I didn’t. Ages ranged from babies to nineties. I found myself staring…
Read MoreRealizing How it Should Be…
I had one of those ‘this is how it should be’ parenting moments this morning. I was able to bring my four-year-old to preschool today. We weren’t in a hurry and chatted as we drove. When we arrived, we walked in together. He took off his boots, hung up his bag and jacket and went and sat down and played. I spoke with his teacher, looked at his artwork and so on. And then I left. Sounds so simple, right? I’ve never had an experience like that with my autistic…
Read MoreThe Scary Reality of Forever as a Special Needs Parent
The idea of forever is very different when you have a child with special needs. Will my child ever living on their own? Will they have self care? There are times when I will look at my son and think, ‘this might be okay.’ He might learn to understand safety. He might learn to communicate his wants and needs. He might, maybe someday, be able to stay home alone. But in all honesty, the future is unknown. I don’t know if these things will ever happen. And as parents we…
Read MoreAutism and Waiting On Those First Words
Autism. That word describes so many people. So many…different people. Have you heard the saying, “If you have met one person with autism, you have met that one person with autism?” How true is that? If you live on this roller coaster ride, that is autism, you know this to be true. You can’t talk to someone else about their journey, and expect yours to go the exact same way. You just take YOUR journey, one day at a time. I had to learn this, the hard way. “When did…
Read MoreA Look at Nonverbal, Severe Autism
When my peanut was diagnosed with autism I was so scared. Hell, at times I still am. But most of the time, this is what nonverbal, severe autism looks like for us. Funny, silly, adorable, snuggly, loud and oh, so cute. This is my Cooper. He’s pretty much the best thing ever. And this mama knows to not take one second for granted. We’ve worked for this. Every sound. Every touch. Every look. Sitting. Communicating. Loving. Hoping. Don’t give up my friends. Keep going. If your child is newly diagnosed,…
Read MoreI Often Wonder if My Son Is Lonely
Good morning! We are having a much needed snow day in Minnesota. It’s nice to slow down once in a while. I haven’t had a relaxing morning with Cooper in months. It has been pretty busy around here lately. We are the early risers while Sawyer and dad sleep. We sit together. I watch the news and drink coffee. Cooper gathers his favorite things and a blanket. This mornings favorites include a picture of Dad, a coaster, Thomas DVD case, Thomas picture, a yellow magnetic block (so good for visually…
Read MoreIdentifying Pain in Nonverbal Children on the Spectrum
I have a Super Cooper update. He’s been ‘off’ for a few days. Protesting school, quick to meltdown, not communicating. When this happens with my nonverbal child I know something is probably wrong. As Cooper’s mom, I’ve learned that when behaviors change in a child on the spectrum, finding the reasons why can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack. They can’t verbally tell you something hurts or feels weird. Nor can they always process it. In my son’s case, he shows us pain with increased or…
Read MoreA Letter to my Daughter, You’ve Come So Far
Dear Emma, my beautiful daughter. You just turned three and a half and I still wait to hear a word…any word… from your sweet little mouth. You will be four soon and I can’t help but think back to that day. The day I was told you were autistic and ‘that you might never learn to speak.’ I have heard that sentence so many times now you’d think I would be able to just brush it off. Be over it. But every time I hear it, it flaws me. I…
Read MoreThe Humorous Life of a Mother
We have one hard and fast rule in our home. Check Cooper’s treasures before he leaves the house because he has a habit of trying to bring ‘semi’ inappropriate pictures of his mother to school. Lucky me. Well, apparently, Daddy hasn’t been following the rule with the same intensity as me because the photos that Cooper has been bringing to school this week are OUT OF CONTROL. And they are all of me. The staff at his school has now seen photos of me at my graduation party, dressed as…
Read More13 Steps to Better Self Care
Self Care. Those two dreaded words. As a special needs mama, self care is the first thing to go when I feel sad. My son doesn’t talk. He doesn’t go to school. He doesn’t play. He doesn’t interact with children. He doesn’t play a sport or ride a bike. He doesn’t read. He doesn’t write. We rarely leave our house. We more so just live in his autistic world. And with that life comes a cycle of grief. The not knowing is hard. The knowing is hard. The accepting is…
Read More