My son Jack has autism. He is seventeen years old. This May, Jack will wear a cap and gown, and graduate from high school. Life alongside autism is like a thrilling rollercoaster ride—heart soaring one moment, a pit in your stomach the next. I am so proud of him I could burst. And yet I […]
Sometimes when people learn my son Jack has autism, they ask if he is high functioning. They sort of stammer and shuffle their feet a little, as though they are embarrassed. The question doesn’t bother me, not in the least. It’s a good question, really. I just don’t have a simple answer. If you search […]
God made many beautiful, precious things. He made green, green grass and luminous butterflies and very strong trees. He made a bright blue sky warmed by a round sun, and a moon for the darkest nights. He also made autism. He made a child with a memory for hundreds of dates and facts, a child […]
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. […]
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 […]
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. […]
Do you love him more? Come here, buddy. Sit beside me, and let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a mama who had five ducklings. The ducklings were born all in a row—one right after the other. Boy. Boy. Boy. Girl. Boy. This mama, she assumed her ducklings would be […]
Let me tell you a story about a boy. This boy, he is like no other boy. Oh, he wants to be! He wants to be like you and me and everyone else. But he is not. Sometimes this makes him sad. Other times he doesn’t seem to care. It’s hard to know, really. Some […]
Hi. My name is Carrie. I have a son with autism. He is fifteen. His name is Jack. When you have a child with autism, your life is a delicate tightrope. Every day, you stand upon the thin wire, one foot balanced in front of the other, hoping for the smallest step forward. And on […]
One night, I kissed you. And you kissed me. Then we got married. We had five kids. We bought a minivan. We got a dog. We discovered autism. Or autism discovered us. Either way. Neither way. Raising children is important. It is fast, and fiery, and special, and ordinary, and fun sometimes and not-so-fun other […]