Come here, Jack-a-boo. Sit next to me on the couch. You can look through the DVD’s in just a minute. Yes, I know The Mummy is three minutes longer than Cool Runnings. For now, please, sit with me. See, I’ve been thinking lately about promises. You know, like how I promised that we would go […]
A few weeks ago, I chatted with a father I know who also has a son with autism. In fact, they had just put him into full-time residential care. He told me about the year-long process to find the right place, and the profound sense of loss so deep, it felt like a death. Just before […]
I had such a nice time talking with you tonight at the baseball game. You cracked me up with all of your questions. Once upon a time, I had little boys like you. Now they are big boys. They don’t ask me questions anymore. Mostly, they tell me things they know but they think I […]
I know, I know. I haven’t been to church in a while. Yet I pray to you every day. My prayers are short, and to the point. In fact, I usually just say one thing. Please, show me the way. I mean a lot of things by this. I mean show me the way with […]
When my son Jack was a toddler, he threw great big fits in the grocery store. I mean fits. He flung himself on the floor, and shrieked, and one time, he knocked a jar of spaghetti sauce off the shelf and it shattered everywhere. During all of these fits, not one person tried to help […]
Where is this all going? I ask myself this at least five times a week. I ask it when I sign another form with Autism Spectrum Disorder typed next to my son Jack’s name. I ask it when I call Walgreens for a refill of anti-anxiety medication, or make a late-night run for Melatonin. I […]
I’m not sure if you remember me, but we met the other day at the hotel. Well, I guess we didn’t exactly meet. I don’t know your name. We didn’t even speak. In fact, you were barely wearing any clothes, which would have been incredibly weird if you weren’t swimming in a pool at the […]
There are so many things I want you to know, but I don’t know how to tell you. We never have enough time in our meetings, between reviewing my son Jack’s IEP, and planning for summer school, and signing the endless pieces of paper. I want you to know I’m not angry. I’m grieving. And If […]
My son is thirteen. His name is Jack. He has autism. Oftentimes, there are no awards for people with autism. What I mean is, Jack will probably never climb the steps to the stage, and collect a piece of paper that says he made the honor roll. He’ll probably never stand on a chilly football […]
I really enjoyed meeting you this week. We had quite a bit of time together to talk when you drove me to the airport, since there was a lot traffic. I didn’t realize there was so much construction in Austin. I liked hearing the stories of your childhood in Sudan, and how great herds of […]