When your child is diagnosed with autism, a new stage of life begins. This is what I wish someone would’ve told me. Every mom with a child on the spectrum remembers the moment she heard the word. The moment the doctor confirmed what somewhere, deep down inside, she already knew. The moment the diagnosis was…
Sleep deprivation and mothering a child with special needs – I am writing this to remind myself, and maybe you, that sleep deprivation has an impact on our mothering. There is no way around it. I celebrated my 44th birthday last summer. My family blessed me with exactly the right gift – two nights away…
It’s hands down, one of the most difficult parts of my son’s sensory processing disorder: Bathing. My son has never been one for baths. It was evident from the start. When he was just a couple of weeks old, he was admitted to a children’s hospital. He was desperately ill, and no one knew why….
Traumatic Stress and Moms Of Children With Autism (and many other special needs) go hand in hand. Here’s why. I recently read a study that found moms of children with autism, have also been shown to have stress levels similar to combat soldiers. (I know, very encouraging way to begin this right???) I have…
Navigating the holidays with special needs requires care and planning. It is also exhausting. I am tired. Really tired. Not so much from a lack of sleep, although I am that kind of tired too. No, I am more weary, soul tired. My limbs feel heavy as I move through my days, and find I…
Real life, practical tips for sensory kids (and their parents!). Please, do not get me started. I just read another article, with another ‘expert’ stating that sensory processing disorder isn’t a real thing. I can’t even. If you are a mom of a child with sensory processing disorder, you knew it far before anyone ever…
The constant turmoil of parenting a child with special needs is difficult to describe. But it is real. “It feels like our lives are totally out of control. And there is nothing I can do about it,” my husband replied. I looked at my son’s doctor, wondering what she might say. She looked down at…
The constant stress and pressure of special needs moms is real. And we need help. I had a dream last night. In it, my son was in pain, but I couldn’t understand where, or what was causing it. I was calm, but focused. I kept trying to ask him questions about his body in a…
Autism and anxiety often overlap in our children. This is our experience. “It’s probably time to think about a prescription for something to help ease his anxiety,” the doctor said carefully. She looked me straight in the eyes and said, “If he is being buried in overwhelming anxiety attacks, he won’t be able to learn…
Lately, there has been no escape from the endless lists. Of symptoms Of medications Of side effects Of doctors appointments Of helpful books to read Of therapists to see Of other people who have struggled with the same differences and grew up to be perfectly amazing Of diagnoses Of educational options Of future possibilities for…
My son was diagnosed with autism more than seven years ago. So much has changed. So much has stayed the same. This is what has surprised me most. I have been thinking a lot lately, about the day we received my son’s autism diagnosis. The anniversary is August 1st. I don’t celebrate the date. I…
The day I ordered my son’s wheelchair was not a good one. Just pressing the “ship now” button made my heart hurt. After years of autism therapies and anxiety medications. After years of doctor’s appointments and educational evaluations. After years of learning everything possible about his sensory system and urgent need for tactile input. After…
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