I said recently that I was sent off on this road trip without a map to follow. I was wrong. I had the perfect map: it was with me all along and drawn by the most loving and selfless person I have ever known. All I had to do was follow her example: give myself ...
I can’t take away her fears. But I can hold her, listen, and make her trust in her soul that she’ll never face them alone. I can’t melt away his anxiety. But I can support, comfort him, and be his rock. I can’t answer all of her tough questions. But I can listen and offer ...
It’s all about the experience. Eric has a few borderline obsessive compulsions. He loves to go to Target, Walmart, or BJ’s to buy a toy. What kid doesn’t, right? But, Eric specifically only wants to buy “Cars” characters. Yes, he has several dozen of each of them. We kind of just went with it for ...
Yes, you should be expected to put the needs of your children first. Yes, you should be expected to sacrifice greatly for their happiness. No, this does not mean you should be expected to feel guilty about, or bury your valid, honest emotions. No, you are not a bad parent for taking time to process ...
Brothers and sisters, we are losing. We can argue about the reasons why (reality vs. perception); we can argue about the biased media; unreasonable expectations; poor self-promotion. But, the brutal truth is many special needs individuals and families are afraid to call us when they need help. They are afraid we will hurt them. They ...
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, ...
