Our special needs son Andrew loves Disneyland; but that’s not what makes him unique. After all, you’d be hard pressed to find a child that doesn’t dream of spending day in and day out at the world’s most famous amusement park. What does make Andrew unique, however, is that unlike many other children his age,…
Why My Best Friend’s Daughter Made Me Cry
It’s not a conversation you expect to have with a 2nd grader. I was in the car the other day with my son Andrew, and my best friend’s daughter, Berkeley (yeah, like the school). We were in the McDonald’s drive-thru (hey, I don’t just want my kids to be unhealthy) when Berkeley spoke up from…
I’m Aware.
I’m aware. I’m aware that the majority of society does not look too kindly on having to slow down and wait for someone slower and clumsier than they are. I’m aware of every sound way before you are, desperately trying to ascertain whether the next noise my son hears will be the undoing of him.…
For the First Time (Since Ever) He Didn’t Sit Alone
Every morning I put my special needs son Andrew on the school bus buckle him in cover him in love and cross my fingers and toes that he’ll be okay while he’s away Every morning he stares at me through the window while I wave and blow kisses and jump up and down hoping…
Home Run
He started the day with his fingers crossed that the baseball fields would be dry. It hailed here yesterday and we Southern Californians are, well, a bit wimpy when it comes to weather. Our Parks and Recreation officials tend to take rain very seriously and baseball fields are often closed after a downpour. Even if…
Don’t.
If you’ve been a reader of my blog for a while, you should already know my opinion on the use of the r-word. If you’re new here, let me sum it up for you: Don’t. Don’t use it. Don’t ignore it when someone else uses it. Don’t be afraid to speak up and make…
Autism Parents: Common Myths and Misconceptions about Moms and Dads Raising Kids on the Spectrum
When Andrew was first diagnosed with autism in 2004, I remember feeling incredibly alone. Back then, autism was rarely discussed (negatively or positively) in mainstream media (or anywhere for that matter) and I was desperate to connect with other parents who were on a similar journey. I quickly discovered a wonderful group of fellow…