Posts Tagged ‘special needs parenting blog’
To my Son’s Teacher
Tomorrow my son will start in your classroom. It will be our first real time spent apart since he was born. I worry you won’t like him. I’m afraid he’ll be too much for you to handle. Everyone tells me this will be good for him…good for me. I hope you love him like your own. Chances are, my little guy will have no idea I’ve even dropped him off because he lives in his own world. He will probably grab your hand and happily go with you because he…
Read MoreA Simple Trip to the Store
Four years ago, when my autistic son was four years old, I took him to Target. He had just been diagnosed with autism. Life was just starting to get more challenging. The list of places we could go and things we could do was getting smaller. Anything outside of our home was nearly impossible. He struggled to walk, to ride in a cart or stroller, to be calm, to wait, you name it…we felt it. But I needed something from Target. I needed to pick up a prescription. I needed…
Read MoreWe won’t be Silenced
Severe autism, level 3 was my son’s first diagnosis. But I’m not supposed to talk about it. Severe learning/intellectual disability was my son’s second diagnosis, I’m allowed to talk about this one. Most children with this level of autism have very complex issues and learning disabilities. You can talk freely about most disabilities and special needs without being shamed. Autism is not one of them. Some severely autistic children will live at home forever, or in a residential home. Some severely autistic children will still need help with all of…
Read MoreThank you to Those who Don’t Give Up
He had just turned three years old. It was Mother’s Day weekend. My third one. I picked him up from daycare and she said…’He refused to put his hand in paint and I don’t do art projects for kids. You don’t care about my work.’ I remember watching all the kids toddle up to their moms carrying little messily wrapped packages. Huge smiles from the kids, so excited to show off their homemade gift. My son was sitting in the dirt driveway. Picking up the sand, sifting it through his…
Read MoreWhen Hard Work Pays Off
This kid played one heck of a baseball game tonight. He hit the ball twice WITHOUT mom’s help. He ran the bases and didn’t need my help to stay calm! He clapped, cheered and perfected the double high five-down low-up high-chest bump with mom. Grandma and Grandpa were there cheering so he brought his best game! He even stopped mid-base to wave at them and request they clap. In the field he snagged a few balls, ran them back to the coach and took in a few minutes of Thomas…
Read MoreI Don’t Know How You Do It
I don’t know how you do it. Those seven words grate on my very last nerve. What do you mean how do I do it? Isn’t that what a parent is supposed to do? Isn’t that our #1 job? When I entered this parental world, I never imagined it would be like this. I never knew such a deep love and sadness all wrapped in to one. I never knew Autism. Autism knows no bounds. It ravishes your life piece by piece. Autism takes away so much. It takes away…
Read MoreWatch our Son with your Heart
Many emotions arise each time we start a new chapter with our son Benton. I hope for understanding in a world that speaks only with our mouth and so seldom our hearts. Benton was given the ability to speak only with his heart. Watch him with more than your eyes. Look beneath the supposed behavior and imagine what he may be saying to you by his movements and sounds. Conclusions must not be rushed to with our children. Think first what could have caused him to cry, or run…
Read MoreWhat your Child’s Teacher wants you to know…
Dear parents, I guess emotions are running high at this time of year; excited for back to school and some peace and quiet, but nervous about how your child is going to settle back into routine, what will his new teacher be like, will her SNAs be kind, will they understand him, will they manage if he has a meltdown? I imagine some of these questions are going around in your head at the moment and as a teacher I can tell you that we understand. We understand that these…
Read MoreTurning Invisible
I remember when my son and I turned invisible. It wasn’t fast. It wasn’t overnight. It happened slow at first. And then one day, I felt like we were gone. There were no playdates. No conversations at Kindergarten drop off or pick up. He wasn’t involved in sports or clubs. His interests never changed. No new hobbies. No hobbies at all actually. He’s never had a birthday party invitation. Time was a continuum. No start or stop. No new grade levels. No spring, summer or fall activities. If we went…
Read MoreOur Winding Road back to Preschool
My son, two years ago you were about to make your official preschool debut. You were almost 22 months. I was so happy to have finally gotten you into your sister’s school. I had been begging for a spot since you were 15 months. I felt you badly needed to be in that environment with other children, I guess I already had a hunch. This was going to be so great! You would be with your sister all day, she could walk you to your room, watch over you on…
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