How do you ask the right questions when you don’t even know the questions to ask in the first place? Or when you don’t even know to question at all? This is a really hard dilemma that many people have been faced with. In my opinion, the toughest part about it is that often times you don’t even know you’re in the midst of the situation, when you’re definitely in the midst of it. Questions and Ignorance Ignorance. It can…
First of all, pretty sweet title – Tenacious D – right!? I have to thank my wonderful wife for that one. A couple months ago she referred to little D as being tenacious, and he really is. Next, we’ve been pretty fortunate as a family to be able to meet our needs throughout the challenges we’ve faced. We have a situation that is unique to us and we make it work to the best of our ability, as most people…
Beyond tantrums and meltdowns, through tunnels of misunderstanding and sleeplessness, on the other side of isolation, there exists the beautiful side of autism. I’m certain nobody experiences it the same but we are fortunate enough to get views of it, probably more often than many. I’ll often hear or read the phrase “and then autism reared its ugly head…” It’s used in many different lights and contexts, but overwhelmingly it conveys something misunderstood, difficult, and largely undesirable unexpectedly surfacing. I…
It’s one of the first thing I thought about when I found out I was going to be a parent: “What does the future hold?” It’s such a broad question and one that my mind has a tendency to run with if given the opportunity. Right away I remember myself thinking about the limitless possibilities and infinite potential of our child. What would our son be like? Would he share in my or my wife’s interests? In which areas would…
As I write this, D is coming up on four and a half and S is fast approaching two and a half years old. It’s not so much the actual numbers of their ages that are important but more so the development they each have achieved along the way. We have known since S was born that at some point it would be very likely that certain aspects of the boys’ development would be at a parity. It seems as…
I will often read or hear that when your child receives an autism diagnosis it is like being punched in the stomach. All the air leaves your lungs, you can’t take a breath, your vision tunnels and you break out in a cold sweat. Truth be told, when D was officially diagnosed, it was nothing like that for us. You see, by the time he was medically considered on the spectrum, we had been receiving pretty intensive intervention for some…
What’s cuter than getting your child’s picture taken with Santa and having it be a smiling, happy, magical moment? Getting your child’s picture taken with Santa and having it be terrifying and filled with screams and tears. I’ve always loved both versions of Santa pictures. They’ve both got their merits and they’re both endearing. I’m sure Santa gets it, he sees each scenario regularly. Santa Helped Us With Autism Christmas season, 2014, my wife and I decided to take D…
To my boys: It’s December. When I was a little boy I remember December being absolutely magical as it’s the month that houses both Christmas and my birthday. I recall the days leading up to the festivities, being excited and feeling the building anticipation. The snow on the ground, the Christmas decorations and potential school closings would add to the sense of wonder that surrounded the whole season. “Would I get to shovel snow in the morning?” That was seriously…
Where does the name Stacking Blocks come from? The CDC has a list of developmental milestones that are commonly used as reference when gauging a child’s growth and development. Pediatricians will typically also have lists that may be a bit more comprehensive to go over at a child’s routine checkups. Developmental Guidelines, Not Laws Using these lists as guidelines while your child is growing up can be a really helpful way to see if your child is on track compared…
Certain questions are posed to me from time to time along the lines of “What is it like having an autistic child?” What is the most difficult part of having an autistic child? What are D’s biggest challenges? Your biggest challenges? Your family’s biggest challenges? What My Autistic Child Is Like To be perfectly honest, I love getting these questions. Autism presents itself in so many different forms and often times it’s simply not recognizable from one person to the…