If I were a painting, I would be colorful and bright and messy and unusual. If I were the ocean, I would be calm and blue one moment, and gray and stormy the next. If I were a song, I would begin softly, and slowly. Then I would increase my pitch and my volume until […]
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 […]
Note: I wrote this post based on many, many conversations with my son, Jack. I tried to use language in the same fashion he does, because I find it fascinating. My name is Jack. I am fourteen years old, and I have autism. Autism is something in me that never sits still. It is my […]
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 […]
Hi. My name is Carrie. I am forty-three years old. I am in decent shape. I exercise almost every day, and I don’t take medication, and I don’t have any medical issues. For the most part—aside from the occasional cold in the winter and monthly bouts of PMS—I am healthy. And yet, I often think […]
Last week, I stood behind you in line at Pier One. I was buying throw pillows. I overheard you chatting with the cashier about baseball and kids and school and whatever. I wasn’t really paying attention, but then I heard you say, “I told my kids, they better get all A’s or they can’t play.” […]
Hey there, Mama. I see you. I see you trying to put that jacket on wiggling spaghetti arms. I see you holding a flush-faced toddler in your lap at the doctor’s office. I watch you load your card with groceries while a little person trails behind you, begging for a balloon. I see you. I […]
Your birthday is coming up this week. I remember the day we brought you home from the hospital. I looked out of the car window while Daddy drove and I noticed how all the trees were sprouting small buds at the end of their branches. And the grass was so green, I couldn’t believe it. […]
One green, green day, the Lord looked upon the earth. He admired his sons and his daughters. He smiled at all of the wonderful animals, and he gazed tenderly at each new baby. The round blue earth, with all of its people and puppies and flowers and trees, seemed complete. But the Lord was not […]
My son Jack is thirteen years old, and he has autism. His brain is wired in a different way. Because of this, he doesn’t read social cues or fully comprehend language or understand why you shouldn’t ask a woman if she is pregnant. On top of that, he is anxious. So people make him nervous. […]