I remember so vividly Alec's difficult toddler days. My son had less than a handful of words. The days were a series of one tantrum after another. I was a stressed-out mother on the brink of a personal meltdown of my own. Oh, yes, I remember those days. I loved my son desperately, but hadn't a clue how to help him. I obsessively scoured every piece of advice I could find from any expert … [Read more...]
One New Habit That has Entirely Changed My Life
I've added one small habit to my day that has entirely changed my life. Seriously. No, it isn't jumping out of bed to do the latest 5 minute exercise fad. It isn't chugging down a veggie-packed juice recipe or learning to use the latest productivity app. Amazingly, it's so easy that I am asking myself why I didn't start doing this simple thing long ago. But how can one small thing—something … [Read more...]
The Power in Your Story
I remember the feeling of awe I had when I first connected to the Internet in the mid 1990's. I was amazed that suddenly I could connect with people from all over the world. I began blogging about my families' journey with autism in 2004, and I did it simply to record our story. I wanted to have a way to look back and be encouraged by Alec's progress whenever I was having a hard day. I never … [Read more...]
The Secret in Not Knowing
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” - John 14:5 Do you know what I most want right now? The details. "Sit me down, God," I pray, "Press some heavenly remote that lowers a screen from the clouds above—one big enough to make the guys at Best Buy cry with envy." This is my prayer..."God, would you light up that screen with an … [Read more...]
Laying Down My Isaacs on the First Day of School
The first day of school was today. I load up my two kids with book bags, lunches and enough school supplies to make a mule stagger. My daughter walks to the bus stop on on her own. (It's soooo not cool, you know, for mom to tag along to the bus stop.) I watch her, forehead to glass, from our upstairs window. She turns three times to look back with a strange smile on her face, a mix of … [Read more...]
The Greatest Therapy
When Alec was first diagnosed, I became obsessed with finding out everything I could about autism. I researched every autism theory, every therapy and spent every waking minute on the phone or online with other parents trying to create the best possible plan for Alec’s care. If someone told me that they were providing their child with a therapy that Matt and I could not afford, I was desperate … [Read more...]