Category Archives: Uncategorized

This little guy of mine is about to turn 9 in exactly one week. Birthdays, for some reason, have always been a bit of a challenge for me. I think it’s tied to how we measure children by age, and my guy never quite fits into that “supposed to be” place. I will say thatContinue reading “Here Comes 9”

Perhaps it’s because I grew up as one of six kids, and almost always surrounded by people, but I’ve always been okay being alone. It brings me comfort and a sense of regulation. Although, life’s trials have taught me that being alone isn’t synonymous with loneliness; it isn’t isolation. Isolation comes when no one aroundContinue reading “The Fear of Isolation for My Autistic Son’s Future”

I refer to them as “the justs.” They come when you’re sharing your concerns, often intending to offer advice. More often than not, they arrive as unsolicited advice. They feel dismissive, like someone stating the obvious to someone they perceive as clueless. When I struggled to potty train my son for years, I heard, “justContinue reading “The Justs”

Today as I shuffled through monotony that is laundry. I cried sitting in my son’s closet over his pajama bin. I may sound a bit silly, but I’m someone who tends to cry. There are times when a mixture of anxiety, fear, and shame accumulates within me, and the only way to release it isContinue reading “Understanding Autism: Pajamas, Progress, and Parenthood”

We named her after two fictional characters. One, curious, independent, and thriving in the fantastical. The other, unabashedly herself, loyal, and optimistic. All attributes I hope she can discover within herself. She was born into the atypical, and I am profoundly grateful for that. I hope she recognizes the value of her unique journey throughoutContinue reading “Her Own Journey with Blood Disease”

The concept of friendship is a highly subjective one. As I step into my mid-30s, I’ve been pondering what friendship truly means to me. Recently, I came across a book on the topic of friendship, and as I discussed it with a friend, we found ourselves somewhat perplexed by how someone had the time andContinue reading “Navigating Friendship in the Midst of Motherhood and Autism”

You know what nobody told me before stepping into parenthood? How your children can become entirely different individuals in the blink of an eye. It happens so swiftly that you scarcely have time to say goodbye to the versions of them that have slipped into the past. You find yourself becoming the keeper of memoriesContinue reading “Embracing the Ever-Changing Faces of Our Children”

Today was my birthday. Each year, I look back and find a theme for that year. It’s not always easy, and this year was tough. 34 brought its share of difficulties, but it was also a year full of wonderful surprises. Things happened that I never expected. Our family went hiking together, my autistic sonContinue reading “Today I am 35”

I don’t know if my son has anyone who considers him their friend, besides his cousin, Lukas. If you ask Jesse who his best friend is, he says, “Lukas.” It’s not always mutual, though. Although, it used to be. My son is autistic and eight years old. He is 18 months older than his cousin.Continue reading “Autism and Friendship: The Bond of Cousins”