My son Jack. My husband Joe. I took this picture of them over the weekend. If I viewed it through a stranger’s eyes, I might believe it is nothing more than an 18-year old boy sitting next to his father. Both are relaxed. Happy. Yet there is so much this picture doesn’t say. Jack never walked. […]
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 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 […]
Your name is Jack. You have autism. There were times I tried to contain it, but containing autism is a little like trying to hold a tornado inside of a bucket. It doesn’t work. The bucket topples over and you are left with a lot of lightning and wind. You can’t hide autism. My son, […]
When it came to sending our son Jack to a college program, we weren’t exactly on the same page. We talked about it night after night. We argued. We took turns making our case for why we should send him, and why he wasn’t ready. In the end we decided to try. Drop off day […]
Tender Mama, Forever Father. I know how nervous you are to begin this new school year. I know because I was you. I know because I am you. The days are still warm and bright, but the sun shines a little differently now. The air is tinged with change as summer comes to a close. […]
I had the son who bit the teacher. I had the son who couldn’t wait in line at the zoo, or sit through a meal in a restaurant, or play tag at recess. I had the son who slept fitfully and woke at dawn. I had the son people stared at in the grocery store. […]
I was in a hotel gym recently, running on the treadmill. I struck up a conversation with the guy next to me. He was in town touring a college for his son. “He is very smart,” he remarked casually as he fiddled with his laces. “Like really smart.” Sometimes comments like this mean nothing to […]
I am married to a man named Joe. We have four boys and one girl. Our second Jack is diagnosed with autism. He is eighteen. What can I tell you about my husband? He doesn’t have a middle name. He loves calamari, Wordle, board games of any kind, the Buffalo Bills, and watching thunderstorms from the […]
Don’t mind me. I’m just a mom, sitting in a minivan, crying behind my sunglasses. I have a son about your age. His name is Jack. He has autism. A few days ago we dropped him off at a college program. This program is geared for kids like Jack, who need extra support for daily […]