emandu

One day you might raise an incredible girl and a little brother who isn’t like everyone else. And as the incredible girl grows up, she will learn early on to be patient and to be kind and to be so caring and loving to others around her in some part because of having that littleContinue reading

on back to school anxiety.

As the parent of a kid with special needs, the back to school anxiety is something I’ve gotten used to. It comes around every year, consumes my thoughts and feelings for several days, and sometimes doesn’t fade until we’re well into the new school year. This year it started in July, which is early, evenContinue reading “on back to school anxiety.”

On Glass Kids and Unified Sports

There’s a term I heard a few years ago—glass kid. It refers to the siblings of children with disabilities: the ones people look right through because all the focus is (rightfully) on their brother or sister. They’re expected to be strong, to be understanding, to be flexible, to never need too much. And while theContinue reading “On Glass Kids and Unified Sports”

Siblings of autism

The following was written by Seton’s big sister for her freshman English honors class. As we sat on the floor of Ayla’s bedroom wearing our last day of second grade t-shirts, crowns, sashes, and whatever else our parents could find on Amazon, Ayla’s little sister barged in demanding to play with the four of us.Continue reading “Siblings of autism”

It occurred to me recently that there was a time when April 2nd was just…April 2nd. I mean I knew about autism awareness day or whatever we’re calling it now or may have called it then, but it was just another day. It’s not even that it’s more than just a day now, but it’sContinue reading

Autism Explained

This week somebody told me we should start having the conversation with him about what autism is and I’m not going to lie, I almost cried on the spot and I’m not even sure why. I knew we’d get here eventually but that topic itself feels…huge. Monumental. Like a giant turning point in the roadContinue reading “Autism Explained”

Halloween and Shades Of Gray

I recognized the hand grip as you were walking up with your son. The matching Spiderman suits were another giveaway. “Hey guys, Happy Halloween!” “He’s nonverbal, I’m sorry. We’re working on it.” Somehow my heart sank and I was filled with hope and admiration for you at the same time. I remember the first fewContinue reading “Halloween and Shades Of Gray”

Eleven.

Eleven. He started off his morning as an eleven year old just like he has most mornings for the last several years. Snuggled up on the couch, streaming YouTube videos and asking me if I could even believe what I was seeing. His birthdays have always made me reflective. Eleven sounds old. It sounds likeContinue reading “Eleven.”

Float Friday: the origin story.

Yesterday I had to go to Costco. We were out of apples and animal cookies. Food has always been a thing for us…a complicated thing. But apples and animal cookies are necessities. We’ve spent most of his life either feeding him before we go out to eat somewhere or searching menus before deciding on aContinue reading “Float Friday: the origin story.”

In seven days, he turns eleven. And he’s been counting down the days til his birthday for awhile. He loves them. He hates cake, but loves birthdays. It’s one of my favorite things about him- he’s always got to have a birthday cake. He never touches it. He will take a picture with it, butContinue reading