Author Archives: Jaime Ramos

Last night I laid in a full-size bed, inside a tent, under a train blanket, with my 8 year old son. He had just fallen asleep. Beforehand, we talked, sang, and laughed. He asked me to hug him tight, and I did as he fell asleep. Slowly releasing him before he completely drifted off. TightContinue reading “Reflections on Acceptance, Understanding, and Making Space for Difference”

My sweet boy turns eight years old at the end of this month. Today, I made his party invitations. He is autistic and, like most things, that makes his birthday parties a little different. There are a lot of wins this year when it comes to his birthday planning. First, he picked where he wantedContinue reading “Hello 8!”

My son, Jesse, who has autism, and my typical nephew are both in first grade at the same school. They have a couple of classes together and lunch at the same time. Yesterday, my nephew told me that he tried to sing Jingle Bells during lunch, but Jesse wouldn’t let him. As soon as myContinue reading “When They Realize He’s Different”

I stood alone on a dark bridge on a warm summer night. I listened to the creek below as it attempted to drown out the sound of my children and their cousin, playing several yards away. We were at an unfamiliar park for a small family gathering. I left my two kids with my husbandContinue reading “When You’ve Lost Yourself in Motherhood”

“When are you going to get over this?” My husband calmly asked, as I laid in our bed yet again crying.  I can’t remember what event involving our son preceded it; Another evaluation, an elopement, an awkward moment at a family gathering or school, maybe it was another long meltdown. Whichever it was, I wasContinue reading ““When Are You Going To Get Over This?””

Time to go back to school. I think I’m supposed to be excited but I still get sad sending Jesse to school on the first day. I love being with my kids. Yes, like every mom I need breaks but I love having my little buddies around. With Jesse it’s a little harder because heContinue reading “Hello First Grade”

Hot, sweaty, and out of breath in the middle of winter I sat in a full doctor’s office lobby. Due to construction, the area we were in held patients waiting for the pediatricians as well as those waiting for gynecologists. It was packed. My newly two year-old son would not hold still while we waited.Continue reading “The First Time I Heard Autism”

This morning Jesse and I were lounging at a water park. He was working up the courage to go in the water with his cousin and sister. Something I knew he’d need the moment we walked in the park. He laid back eating his chips and as soon he was done he sat up andContinue reading “Our Language”