Author Archives: emandu

I got this text yesterday before I left for Costco.  I spent the five minute drive to Costco in tears.  There’s always one- there’s always been one kid, usually a girl who has connected with him on an out of this world level. Every year since preschool, that’s been the case. I don’t know whatContinue reading “Simon Says and Being Grateful”

She broke me in.  He broke me down.  Ten years ago today the sun was shining. It was unseasonably warm, and I remember basking in it on the way to the hospital- hoping that maybe it would make the anxious excitement that was encompassing me turn into just excitement. It didn’t. He didn’t cry whenContinue reading “happy birthday”

You know those people who can’t take a compliment? The ones who, when you offer up a complimentary word or phrase to them that you genuinely mean, either deflect it or just simply laugh? Well, sometimes they cry, because they just don’t know how else to respond. If you don’t- you do now.  I’m oneContinue reading “On Compliments and Shifting Perspectives”

All babies cry when they get their first bath. Right? He didn’t. He was born with a head full of hair. I remember the nurse washing his hair after he was born and him gently cooing. “Oh you like this!” she said to him. When we gave him the first bath at home, we hadContinue reading “Invincible and Water”

1 in 54.  More likely in boys.  Celebrated once a year for an entire month dedicated to raising awareness and acceptance.  Autism.  When your son is diagnosed at 2.5, the gap seems small. There’s a few things here and there that you start to notice- it’s why you even had the appointment where he wasContinue reading “April 2nd.”

For a long time it was easier to list the things he wasn’t doing. Sleeping through the night. Self soothing. Eating a variety of foods. Talking. This autism thing? There’s not a road map or a crystal ball. You’re never super sure what you’re going to get on a given day. Will he sleep throughContinue reading

“We don’t know what he’ll look like in the future- emotional and social issues are common in children on the autism spectrum.” I remember the developmental pediatrician saying the day Seton was diagnosed. He continued on telling us about how he may have difficulty relating to other people, even ones who are close to him. Continue reading “Football and Rage”

I lost my shit last week.  It was bound to happen, and it didn’t actually include any swearing or yelling at anyone. But In the span of 3 hours I somehow managed to ugly cry on three different calls with two different teachers and a para. I was overwhelmed and frustrated and couldn’t see throughContinue reading “On Losing my Sh*t and Giving Grace”

You might say I’m a card carrying member of the special needs parents community. We’ve been at this a long time- so it’s a fair statement. He turns 9 this fall, which means that over 75% of his life we’ve been on this journey. We’ve made a lot of hard decisions- therapy providers, schooling, medicalContinue reading “On COVID, Remote Learning, and Feeling Defeated”

Some of my earliest memories are of setting up classes for all of my Cabbage Patch kids and teaching them math, reading, etc. I was pretty sure I was destined to be a teacher, but eventually it became evident that writing was more in my wheelhouse, and as such- reading became my passion.  While mostContinue reading “On telling stories, WZA, and why I’m glad somebody put a camera in my hands.”