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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
For the brand-new dad with a tiny, squirming bundle, and a wife who seems to have lost her ever-loving mind. The very sight of you sparks rage in her eyes. You change the diapers wrong. You fold the burp cloths wrong. You stroll the stroller wrong. Breathe, tender father. She will […]
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 […]
Hi. My name is Carrie. I have five kids, and my second son has autism. His name is Jack. He is fifteen years old. In my mind, I picture autism to be a huge tapestry with a lot of bright, vibrant colors. Actually, I don’t picture the front of the tapestry, but the back of […]
Motherhood is a curious thing. For many of us, it starts with tiny pink ears shaped like seashells. Soft newborn sighs, mingled with raging postpartum hormones. Before you know it, a few uncertain steps on wobbly legs, the first word, a game of patty-cake. From there, it follows a fairly predictable path: preschool, kindergarten, untied shoelaces, […]
Hi. My name is Carrie. I have five kids. My second son, Jack, is diagnosed with autism. I used to think the hardest part of autism was the day we got the actual diagnosis—the day I walked into the cold rain of a November afternoon, and attempted to zip my squirming toddler’s jacket. I was […]
It’s April now. Here in New Hampshire, we are treated to the occasional shirt-sleeve day, when the sun warms your arms and you can cast your jacket aside. April is Autism Awareness Month. My son has autism. His name is Jack. He is almost fifteen. What can I tell you about autism that you don’t […]