As a mom to a son with autism, I'm no stranger to doing things differently. We learned a "new normal" even before he was diagnosed, even though it took years to come to terms with it. (That's a whole other story.) But along the way, our "new normal" kept changing. And now, our "normal" is waaaaay different than how we started. It's not completely unlike what parents of non-special needs kids … [Read more...]
How to Have Peaceful & Meaningful Conversation About Disability
I recently watched the new Netflix series, "Atypical." I won't go into a review of the show (though, in short, I found it relatable in many ways, despite disliking some plot lines), but I will mention one particular non-spoiler scene where the husband attends the autism support group with his wife (which he never has been to since the first time he tried and then quit.) The wife shared a story of … [Read more...]
The Strongest Strength
Has anyone ever asked you, "Why are you so tired?" Let me count the ways. First of all, it's not just the kind of tired at the end of a long day. It's not the kind of tired after a work-out that pushed your limits. It's not the kind of tired after a big event. It's something so much more. I don't think I need to write out a list of possible reasons why you feel sucker-punched and unable to peel … [Read more...]
How I Feel about My Son’s Autism
I have a secret to share with you. Sometimes, I don't always know how I feel about my son's autism. It seems there is a vast divide between two extremes of perspectives from parents of kids with disabilities. On the one side, there are parents who view the disability as something that makes an otherwise perfect child broken. They would desire for their child not to have any disability, if it … [Read more...]
What If You Knew How Much You’re Loved
Every mother and father longs for the day to hear their child say those three magical words, "I love you." For parents of kids with special needs though, especially those who are nonverbal, the longing turns to aching as more time passes without hearing those words pass through the sweet lips of their children. We all want to love, and be loved. But what if we're putting too much stock in words? … [Read more...]
When You Really Don’t Want to Fight the Good Fight
Over the summer, we were hit with a triple whammy. Over the course of just a couple of days, we got three letters, one after another. Each one was a punch in the gut, increasing in intensity each time. First, the SSI benefit Sam had been receiving that was our only available option to pay for therapy was being taken away effective the following month. This, just after receiving a letter a couple … [Read more...]