Hi. My name is Carrie. I have five kids, and my second son is diagnosed with autism. His name is Jack. He is fifteen. Most people assume I have made peace with the whole autism thing by now. And I have. Truly, I have. I have made peace with the person he is and the […]
What can I tell you that you don’t already know? When you love someone with autism, your life is automatically different. You notice how fast people talk, the way we shout and laugh and sneeze and, in general, make a whole lot of racket all the time. Yet at the same time, our culture is […]
We are almost a month into the new school year. You’ve probably figured out how to unlock your locker by now. You know where the library is, and you’ve made a few new friends. Maybe you have the weird kid in your class. You know, the one who has a grown-up standing around him all […]
Mom. Can we take. My autism away. Oh, buddy. Today, I did one thousand things wrong. I broke a glass at exactly 6:01 this morning, and I forgot to switch the laundry. I had a terrible workout. I missed a meeting at the school and I barely made it home in time for the bus. […]
That’s the thing about autism. Whatever needs to happen in the moment, will happen in the moment. Like a steam train gathering speed, there is no changing course on the inevitable, be it a cough, or a swear word, or an honest explanation about why Tide simply doesn’t get the job done on those tough stains.
I turn over and squint at the clock. It’s 6:14 in the morning. I was in the middle of a dream, something about the beach and waves crashing. I hear the shower turn on down the hall, and the familiar tone of a voice. I can’t make out the words. By 6:31, he is done […]
You and I, we are about to begin a short journey together. A journey where you read what I’ve typed and I sit back on my heels, all folded hands and closed eyes, and hope you find a piece of yourself inside my words. Let’s start with the details, shall we? My name is Carrie. […]
Hi. My name is Carrie. We’ve never met. I know this because I have never met someone who has been shot with a gun. Important people on television talk about statistics and data and events. I want to know other stuff. When was your first kiss? Were you an early […]
There are many doctors who tell us autism is a diagnosis—an incurable disorder with many challenges. They write big long articles about executive functioning and perseverative behavior and self-stimulation. They lecture about the way it can change a family, and destroy a marriage. They are right about this. At the same time, I know a […]
Have you ever met my son Jack? The first thing people usually notice is his height. He stands over six feet tall. He wears glasses. He chews his fingernails a lot. He jumps around, as if he’s dancing to music only he can hear. The truth is, you don’t simply meet my son. You experience him. […]