There are all kinds of fathers. Strict, playful, reserved, affectionate. Some change diapers and nuzzle newborns, others prefer toddlers, or even teenagers. But you are a special-needs father. You are in a league all your own. I remember the way you gazed upon this baby with a mix of bewilderment, and awe. I watched you […]
I have said it before, and I will say it again. I cannot teach my son to whisper. Hi. My name is Carrie. I am married to a man named Joe and we have five kids and they are big and loud and sweet and funny. I have been cooking for seven people during the […]
Hi. My name is Carrie. I have five kids, and my second son is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. His name is Jack. His actual birth-certificate-name is John. But we call him Jack because we like to stand around in airports while the official in customs flags us down because Jack/John insists he is not […]
Autism is a beautiful phenomenon. It is a different way of thinking and an unfiltered view on life. It can also be difficult, and insidious, and deeply frustrating. Life with my son Jack and his autism has forced me to consider the ways in which we chase joy, while simultaneously live within the realms of […]
Hello everybody, I’m Joey Cariello. I am the oldest of five siblings, and my brother Jack has autism. Originally, I planned to write this post as a Mother’s Day gift, and center the piece around my relationship with my brother. However, when I sat down at my desk, a different narrative came to mind. Right […]
I have never once sat in the bleachers, and rooted for you to hit a homerun. I have never sat in a stuffy middle-school gym, and rooted for you to spell the word paragraph into a microphone. That’s the tricky thing about autism. It makes me consider how we don’t root for the same things as […]
[May 9th, 2020] Dear Jack, Sixteen years ago today, you exploded into this world—nine pounds, three ounces of squirming pinkness. Daddy cried, to meet his new son. Today, you are over six feet tall. Your shoes look like canoes. You aren’t sleeping. I hear you moving around the house all night long—into the bathroom and […]
Sometimes when people learn my son Jack has autism, they ask if he is high functioning. They sort of stammer and shuffle their feet a little, as though they are embarrassed. The question doesn’t bother me, not in the least. It’s a good question, really. I just don’t have a simple answer. If you search […]
With autism in my life, I have had a lot of chances to grieve for things I thought should be mine, and his—a driver’s license, a job beyond counting widgets and sorting recycling, maybe a degree. I am not saying this so you will feel sorry for me, I promise. I am saying it because […]
I just love all of this family time. If one more person talks to me, I will light my eyelashes on fire. Starting today, I am going to eat healthy! Another cookie can’t hurt. I need to stop watching the news. Let me just check Facebook for a minute. These days are so long. I […]