My 20 Rules for the New Autism Blogger (or anyone thinking about becoming one): 1) Don’t chase “Likes”. You’ll end up sacrificing your core principles. 2) Know where you stand on tough issues, even if it’s in the middle. 3) Eventually, you’ll piss off 50% of your audience. If you have remained true to Rules ...
I know I’m fighting an uphill battle. The things I’ve read in recent days– the anger and bitterness I have heard– leave little room for optimism. I’m going to try anyway. I understand the fear. I understand the anger. My biggest fear is that my son will soon meet a police officer who will misunderstand ...
I ran my first marathon about a month ago. Twenty (freaking) six point two miles through the heart of Philadelphia. It was everything they said it would be. The thing that sticks with me was the spectators: Thousands upon thousands of friends and family and strangers lining the streets of the city to watch and ...
Here is where I am on this journey: Would I take away his anxiety? Yes.Would I heal his gut issues that give him pain and discomfort? Yes.Would I give anything to have a full and “typical” conversation with my son? Anything.Would I silence the quirky noises that draw stares from the uneducated? Maybe.Would I take ...
Walk with me a minute as I momentarily drift off the Autism topic. I won’t insult her by claiming to know the first thing about being a Freshman girl. But, I remember vividly being a Freshman boy, and it was an incredibly stressful time. All I wanted to be was a brick in the wall, ...
He gets a little excited. We pulled into the parking lot of Walmart for our semi-weekly excursion to buy a new Cars toy for being a good boy at school. I barely put the car in Park before he threw open the rear door. Finesse is not one of his strong suits. The car door ...
The kid is huge. He is a gifted athlete. He is the star of his traveling baseball team and, at 13 years-old, already famous in our small town for his ability to hit a baseball a country mile. He is popular, good looking and carries himself with the cockiness that can be expected from someone ...
It’s not like the movies. There isn’t a climactic “Ah-ha” moment where everybody cheers. The scene doesn’t fade to black and reappear with the credits rolling over an upbeat soundtrack and a compilation of all the main characters singing and dancing. Healing is slow. Sometimes you know the right answer in your soul, but your ...
-Discipline your child– you’re a bully. -Let him cry– you’re disconnected and insensitive. -Comfort him– you’re spoiling him. -Negotiate with him– you’re giving in. -Stay home– you’re not trying. -Bring them out– you’re disrupting others’ good time. -Ask for concessions– you’re milking the disability for special treatment. -Ask for help– you’re weak. -Do it yourself– ...
