Oh, excuse me, I’m sorry. He has autism. Well, that doesn’t mean he gets to go ahead of us! He has to wait his turn. The line was long. Most of the kids were waiting patiently. Sure, there was the occasional fidget and whine about how much longer it would take to see Santa, but […]
{ Editor’s note: I wrote this post after many conversations with my son Jack about receiving presents. } My favorite present I ever got was a frying pan. It was non-stick with a blue handle. I love the holidays. I love taking out all the decorations and putting them in the same spots from last year. […]
“Don’t be a helicopter mom!” she said brightly. “You want him to function on his own, don’t you?” I looked up from my credit card receipt. I had just ordered a new pair of glasses for my son Jack. I am not a Helicopter Mom. I am a Forever Mother. A Forever Mother will spend […]
Listen, the holidays can be hard on a marriage. On top of jobs and taxes and kid stuff like math facts and teacher conferences, there’s wrapping paper. For years, I raced around searching for wrapping paper. I sat in our basement, surrounded by scissors and tape, and alternated between Santa patterns. Then we have wreaths. […]
{ This essay was posted with teenage permission. } Season’s greetings, friends and family! I’m happy to report that 2022 has been a great year. My husband Joe and I are well, and all five kids are happy and healthy. Our two oldest sons are in college. They came home for Thanksgiving. If there’s anything that’s been […]
Editor’s note: I wrote this post based on some conversations with my son Jack. Hello. This is Jack. My mother said we are going to your house for a holiday party this year. I have autism. My autism means I like my schedule very, very much. I like to wrap myself in routine like a soft, cozy […]
My son Jack has autism. It impacts the way he eats, sleeps, moves, talks, and thinks. He is considered special-needs, because his needs are special. He needs to jump and hope to quiet the imaginary ants that race along his limbs all day. He needs medicine to cope with his overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety. He needs […]
I saw you today. I drove by just as you were standing on the hill taking pictures. The autumn leaves were brilliant confetti beneath your feet. You looked lovely. I have to be honest. Sometimes I look at new brides and think oh, sweet Jesus. It’s not that I’m cynical. I’ve just been around awhile. My […]
I remember it was warm that day. I remember I was hungry. We’d left in a hurry. The drive took over an hour—even longer to find parking in a nearby garage. We made it to the bridge with just a few minutes to spare. “Mom, are you sure?” My 16-year old Charlie shifted next to […]
Diagnosis day always brings us up short. We’re not made for it. No one is. Even those more prepared—those of us who had the word autism circling the back of our minds like wispy smoke at a campfire—well, our knees still buckle at the formal announcement. How could they not? Autism. The next day we […]