My son Jack has autism, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. He was diagnosed with autism before he was two. Anxiety crushed him like a ton of bricks when he was six. And obsessive-compulsive disorder? Well, we have no start date for that. It simply seeped into our lives like water in the basement. Every once in […]
I’m sorry, miss, he can’t order the chicken tenders. They’re only on the kids’ menu and it’s for twelve and under. My son. You stood in line for the diving board. And I forgot to feel proud. You tried a bite of lasagna. And I forgot to feel proud. You laughed out loud during dinner. […]
Lady, there’s no way I can fix this. Oh, okay. By the way, my name is Car— I mean, has the vent ever been cleaned? I stood next to the repair man as we both peered into the dryer. Well, I think it might be— No, listen it’s not that. You don’t know. I glanced […]
My son Jack has autism. He is seventeen. For seventeen years, I have tried to climb inside his mind and understand how he thinks. I listen to music through his ears. I watch movies through his eyes. I attempt to tells his story as if it is my own, because in some ways it is. […]
It’s August now. The days are still long and warm, but there’s a slight chill in the evening. Autumn is coming. Soon, the leaves will turn from a gentle green into brilliant red and orange. And in just a few short weeks, we’ll move you into college. My firstborn, my oldest child, my son. Once […]
Hi. My name is Carrie. I have five kids, and my second son Jack is diagnosed with autism. He is seventeen. About two years ago, Jack announced he wanted to graduate from high school his senior year. We clapped our hands. We jumped for joy. We told him we were very proud. It was never […]
Editor’s note: My son Jack has autism. He is seventeen. He just finished a summer program at a college designed for unusual learners. He was there for nearly three weeks. It was hard. Then it was better. And in the end, it was good. For me. I don’t want this. I don’t want to stay […]
One green, green day, the Lord looked upon the earth. He admired his sons and his daughters. He smiled at all the wonderful animals, and he gazed tenderly at each new baby. The round blue earth, with all its people and puppies and flowers and trees, seemed complete. But the Lord was not so sure. […]
Hi. My name is Carrie. I have five kids. My second son, Jack, is diagnosed with autism. He is seventeen. Jack has been away for almost a week now, at a summer program specifically geared toward those who learn differently. He’s staying in a dorm, eating in a cafeteria, and taking classes in something called […]
When our son Jack was diagnosed with autism, my husband Joe and I thought it would—in our own words—blow over at some point. He was a toddler. He had light brown hair and a grin full of mischief. He ran from me every chance he got—through grocery stores and malls and parking lots and the library […]