I’ve spent the last two weeks putting this message together. It’s actually pretty comical how much energy I’ve put into it in relation to how simple it is now that it’s here. But that’s OK. This message is for everyone – not just parents like us. The Backstory If you’re following us on Facebook, you […]
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If you missed it on Facebook, here is the video I posted in which I discussed the idiosyncrasies of living with autism with the man himself. Enjoy. And please share with others! Subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss anything!
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Our family’s version of autism is a little like Wheel of Fortune. Every morning, we spin the big wheel and watch in anticipation as all of Max’s attitudes spin round and round. Whatever attitude it lands on usually dictates how the whole family’s day will go. I will say that most days we land on […]
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The ups and downs of parenting an autistic child.
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A couple months ago, Jamie asked me, “What do you think we should get the kids for Christmas?” “I don’t know,” I said, “What did we get them last year?” “I don’t remember,” she said. “Neither do I,” I said. “Kids! Come in here!” I shouted, “Do you remember what you got for Christmas last […]
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I walked into the kitchen the other day, and Jamie handed me a sheet of paper with a weird look on her face. There was no explanation, no words. Just an odd look that I couldn’t interpret. I grabbed the paper, still looking her in the eyes and very curious. I slowly glanced down. It […]
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I took a break from writing for a couple months. I’d love to say that I’ve been too busy, or my computer was broken, or some other excuse. But the truth is this – my head has been in a fog and it’s been tough to concentrate. It would be nice to point to one […]
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For some strange reason, Max is a gigantic Baltimore Ravens fan. Actually we know the reason. When Joe Flacco was their QB, he was number 5. That’s Max’s favorite number. I don’t think any other QB at the time had number 5, so Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens became Max’s favorites. Russell Wilson and […]
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For a long time, when trying to explain communication, interaction, and understanding with Max to those around me, I’ve used the imagery of an invisible set of chains wrapped tightly around his head. They’re thick, heavy chains, and no matter how hard Jamie and I try, no proverbial crow bar or bolt cutter can remove […]
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As a blogger, I can write posts and leave them in my drafts folder to edit and post later. This post has been sitting in my drafts folder for a really long time. Too long. Especially since I’ve been pondering this idea for many years. This post has gone through several iterations, and I’m just […]
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It’s that time of year again! Kids are back in school and there’s plenty of things to be anxious about as a parent. For us, the big one this year is that this is Max’s first year at middle school. He no longer has his elementary special education teacher and her classroom as a safe […]
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In my upcoming book, I Wish Someone Had Told Me, a whole chapter is dedicated to how parents of an autistic child experience change, good and bad, in their social landscape. The general premise is that parenting an autistic child can be hard to experience as a parent, therefore can be hard to watch for […]
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DISCLAIMER – I got Max’s full permission to tell this story publicly. In no way do I ever want to embarrass or humiliate him, so I fully explained to him what I was doing prior to posting. We had a good laugh about the story that I’m about to tell, and it’s purely meant as […]
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A formal autism diagnosis brings a wide range of emotions. On one hand, there’s a sense of relief. You don’t have to wonder anymore. You don’t have to explain your situation by a set of idiosyncrasies. You can call it what it’s formally known as. And maybe best of all, you can put together a […]
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Don’t miss the video at the end One of the biggest focuses of my life has become the need to stay physically, mentally, and spiritually fit. Sure, I enjoy being active and want to perform well when I’m skiing or riding my bike, but that’s not the primary focus. As an parent of an autistic […]
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