Posts Tagged ‘Special Needs Parenting’
Learning the Value of Self Care
Self care is EXTREMELY important. It’s the reason they tell you to put the oxygen mask on first and then give it to your kids. If you are not OK, you can not help others. Having a child with special needs is taxing, extremely taxing. In years past, I was not using self care at all. I didn’t believe in it. I didn’t think I deserved it. I thought it was selfish. I thought it was fluffy stuff. So, I ignored it and actually went the other way which was…
Read MoreSeeing the Words Severe Intellectual Disability
Intellectual Disability. Severe. With language impairment. Non-verbal. Limited functional language. It was a mouthful. We weren’t to the end of the meeting yet. You know the part where you learn the diagnosis. We had just started on the 25 page document. I skipped ahead though and read the words. I wanted to know the results of his IQ test. I saw the number. Suddenly, I felt a ringing in my ears. The therapist was talking. I could see her lips moving. However, I could not quite hear her. I was…
Read MoreShielding My Autistic Son from Cruelty
My name is Amy and I live with my husband and son in Michigan. Our son Travis has severe autism with limited verbal ability. Travis is 11 and is very active! He is the center of the universe, and if you were unaware of this, he will use his super powers to convince you otherwise. Yesterday, we took him bowling. He was having so much fun. When he is excited and happy he squeals joyfully, and kind of side walks, very energetically. This is very typical behavior for him. It…
Read MoreJumping Into the Rabbit Hole
It was 2016 and we were feeling pretty good about things. The psychiatrist recommended an occupational therapist to use as a way to address our son’s up tick in outbursts. Within the last year the explosive tantrums were not occurring with the same frequency (yay), but when they did, they were fierce (nay). And when they were fierce there were times I would get sad and sink into what I call the rabbit hole. I would feel sorry for myself and lament that other families did not have to deal…
Read MoreWe Have A Little Secret…
We have been keeping a little secret! I am 21 weeks pregnant and couldn’t be more excited. Baby S is due in October! I know you will all have a million questions and I will gladly answer them for you. I am guessing this list will cover a few of them. Yes, we were planning this. Yes, we are excited. Yes, we are very nervous and scared but Jamie and I also refuse to spend our days worrying. Yes, Cooper’s autism impacts every decision we make. Yes, Cooper’s number one…
Read MoreOur Days Are No Longer Lost
For the first time, since as far as I can think back, I want time to slow down. I actually haven’t ever really felt this way. My whole life I’ve been sprinting to reach the next milestone. A shame I know, trust me. I wish it hadn’t of taken me thirty years to realize this. And it’s kinda an odd feeling to have made this shift. Since having Noah, all I’ve been doing is trying to catch up. Rushing to do everything and anything I could to get him ‘better.’…
Read MoreAdvice For The New Autism Parent
Dear New Autism Parent, First of all, I want to say I’m sorry! Even if you’ve suspected that your child has autism, having your theory confirmed hurts. It’s like a smack in the face. It feels like all of the plans you had are gone and the child you expected to have may never be possible. It sucks! Believe me I’ve been there not once but twice. I’ve had to sit through a meeting where they break the news that my suspicions were correct. Despite how you might feel right…
Read MoreYour First Time Seeing Autism
We’ve known each other for years. Friend of a friend I suppose you could say. We are the same age. Both married. Both busy. You don’t have children though. I would say you know me pretty well. You know where I work. Where I live. Who my friends and family are. I see you regularly. You know that my son has autism. You hear me talk about him often. Sometimes I talk about the hard times. The medical struggles. The sleep deprivation. The constant fight. Sometimes I talk about my…
Read MoreI am Thankful for Those Rare Moments
I’m going to be real here. Throughout the frustration, the exhaustion, the tears and screaming, I really start to question how much I can handle sometimes. There are days where I really don’t want to get out of bed and face the day. There are days where I want to hide away, just for five minutes of peace. There are days where I want to scream and cry. There are days when I truly do think, ‘autism really sucks.’ Then, there is the feeling of guilt that for a brief…
Read MoreHowever Hard Autism is for Me; It is Harder for My Son
At 9 months old, I knew there was something different about Zachary. At 17 months old I took it upon myself to get him started in feeding therapy, and then shortly after early intervention. At that early point in Zachary’s life everyone tells you, “he is fine…he is a boy, they take longer to do certain things” and all that extra fluff. As a nurse I knew differently, and as a mom I knew in my heart. Zachary will be 4 years old in April, which also means I have been a mom for that long as…
Read More