As written by Paige Carter from her blog @OakforAutism "Can't you try harder?" These words were said to me by a nurse last Wednesday whilst trying to get my son to take a disgusting sedative...
Try Harder
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Blog
Here you’ll find relevant essays related to raising a child with unique and complex needs. The purpose of these posts is to form connections through our shared stories. Stories have the power to change the world when we feel less alone in our struggles and finally seen.
Maybe One Day
As written by Margaret Hay from her blog @A&Me I am sometimes seen as rude. Uninterested. Detached. Maybe it is because when I bump into you when out, I often just say "hi" and then rush off...
Autoimmune and Gastrointestinal Disorders Are Part of Our Autism Journey
This guest post was written by Laurie Hellmann from her blog "Welcome to My Life" From as far back as I can recall, Skyler has experienced digestion issues, painful eczema, skin tearing and severe...
When Losing Hope isn’t an Option
The following guest blog post was written by Michelle Kiger of My Redhead Warriors The last thing I ever want to do is lose hope. When our life gets really hard I try to think of our past. Look back...
Don’t Tell Me
Don’t tell me It’s not severe When it’s my story To tell. Don’t tell me It’s not severe When I daily live A version of hell. Don’t tell me It’s not severe When all you got Is something to sell....
A Holy Shift
I descended the stairs, immediately irritated by what was awaiting me with each scream originating from my 15-year-old son. Great, I muttered as the uninvited stench rose to greet my nose. Luke, my...
Holy Work
“This is holy work,” I begrudgingly reminded myself a day after returning home from a much needed vacation; a week of relaxation, sun, and reconnecting with my husband, and here I was now, again,...
Manna for the Moment
Luke has been back in school for about a week now. Experts claim that special needs caretakers often experience PTSD, and I particularly notice this tendency when I don’t have him on my radar for an...
Luke’s Brain
I often struggle to understand or explain Luke’s thought process to others. Luke, my 15 year old primarily non-verbal son with profound special needs. Friends, bystanders or even specialists will...
MOM! Don’t Bring Luke!
A few weeks ago, on a particularly warm summer day, Ryan and I announced to our crew – Kids! You’ve been so helpful lately and did your chores without complaining so we’re going to have a family fun...
Why You Should Care About Children With Special Needs
It can be difficult to understand the complexities of raising a special needs child if this calling is not part of your daily reality. I get it. I never gave these children nor their caretakers a...
See Me Too – A Caregiver’s Plea
Dear mama with normal children, Normal? Typical? What’s politically correct you might wonder? As do I and – What is normal anyway? Honestly, I’m not sure because I’m tired. And I don’t spend my free...