I vividly remember arguing with our first ABA therapist in the middle of our living room. It was 7 years ago. The emotional scars of our diagnosis were still fresh. I was holding it together… barely. I didn’t have the first clue what I was doing, but the boring, disciplined, clinical approach she was using ...
We were at the beach. My wife and I were standing ankle-deep in the water watching Eric having a ball swimming and jumping over the waves. A group of three other kids ran up and started playing, splashing and chasing each other in the water. Eric gave them a passing glance and went about his ...
Dear Sir, I’m not one to write to celebrities, but I think it’s time I reached out to you. Conventional wisdom says I should be sick of you… resent you. You are able to reach my son in ways that sometimes escape me. But I don’t resent you (any more) and I am not sick ...
The most common questions I get asked about my son revolve around the treatments and therapies we have tried and my opinions about their success or merits. The honest answer is “too many to count,” and “I have no frigging idea what has worked and what hasn’t.” Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t. Here is ...
So, I didn’t get to complete the full 100 mile ride today. Since this is about teaching my son lessons, I thought I’d pass this one on: Lessons aren’t always obvious, kid. You start out the day with the intention of riding a long long way to prove that anything is possible. Then you are ...
1. Admit to her that you’re afraid. You don’t have to pretend to be Superman. She ain’t buying the act anyway. 2. But be strong for her. 3. It’s OK to get angry and frustrated. But don’t take it out on her. 4. You don’t need to have all the answers. Sometimes she just wants ...
Right now, somewhere out there a Mom or Dad is desperately trying to redirect their ASD child from a burdensome fixation or obsession. They may be at their rope’s end trying to curb that obsession and break through to that mystical, elusive land of “typical play” or “age-appropriate interests”. I want to share a story. ...
I’m kind of an emotional guy. When it comes to defending and protecting my son, I am finding that I have a very short fuse. Busch Gardens, Virginia: If you have ever been there you understand that it is basically built on the side of a mountain. It is extremely hilly and difficult to navigate ...
So I’ve been doing this blogging thing for a couple years now. I am so appreciative to everyone who has taken the time to read my stuff. And it has been humbling to hear that the things I have written have helped a few people. My proudest moments are when I am told that I ...
Legendary cyclist Greg LeMond is credited with a wise and brutally honest response to a question about his training and dedication to his sport: “It doesn’t get easier, you just get faster.” I received an email recently from a mom who was dealing with a fresh diagnosis of her four year old son. She was ...
