“My boy, you looked so young tonight. So small, so little, and so baby-like. I couldn’t help but worry about how you will feel—how you will cope—when you aren’t so young. I hope I am enough. I hope I can be what you need.”
‘Your dad and I, we didn’t work out. We failed to keep us all under one roof. We tried, but I am so sorry.’: Single special needs mom says ‘I hope I can be what you need’
‘Thank you, sis, for checking in even when I don’t always check on you back.’: Mom to son with autism says ‘check on your special needs family or friend, they may not know they need it’
“I whined about my stresses over the phone. I cried about how hard life is with a special needs child. I must have sounded so self-absorbed. And then you said, ‘I can’t relate at all, but you’re doing amazing. Don’t feel bad for venting, ever.’ Instantly, my anxiety washed away.”
‘Of course he doesn’t, he’s absolutely fine!’ Everyone laughed it off. My little boy wasn’t going to talk, EVER.’: Mom to son with autism urges ‘acceptance starts in the home’
“He can’t count, point, or wave. There are days he cannot look into my eyes. Days where I can only guess what might be causing his tears. But I could not imagine my world without my son.”
‘I guess you’re wondering about the results.’ It was like lightbulb after lightbulb going off.’: After diagnosis, woman advocates for autism in girls, ‘Representation matters’
“I’ve felt different my whole life. By high school, I was beginning to figure out I was queer. I’d assumed that was the thing ‘different’ about me. That’s not what happened. I was different at my core.”
‘He will bite. He’ll take years to pick up skills others get right away. You’ll hear about Jolene trying to take Dolly Parton’s man 5,000 times.’: Special needs mom pens letter to future caregiver
“But seeing his smile when the concept clicks will be the most rewarding win you’ve ever experienced. Please, I beg you, never stop trying.”
‘Last night, I had a dream my non-verbal son said, ‘I love you.’ I awoke in tears. Deep in my heart, I wish I could hear his voice.’: Special needs mom says ‘I hope he knows how much I love him’
“He’s not affectionate. He doesn’t let me cuddle or kiss him. He’s always too busy, too distracted to engage. Last night, I cuddled him while he slept. I smelled his face, heard his beautiful breathing. He didn’t move or push me away. I hope he knows how much I love him.”
‘There’s no mention of this in his records. Could it be?’ We were the only ones who noticed.’: Family helps foster son get autism diagnosis, ‘No one advocated for him like us’
“I cried. It made this momma mad. I didn’t know what it meant for his future and who would care for him.”
‘I rushed over to apologize. ‘He’s fine,’ she said in a quiet voice. I swallowed my tears. She showed me my son is not a nuisance, but a gift.’: Special needs mom shares stranger’s act of kindness
“Normally, I get chastised or sorrowful looks for the behavior of my boy with autism who ‘looks normal.’ I expected an annoyed stranger. Not today, though. Today was full of kindness. I held back tears.”
‘She said, ‘It’s pretty sad special ed kids will be allowed to attend school 5 days a week, but other kids can only go for 2!’: Special needs mom responds to school reopening backlash, ableism
“She continued, ‘The kids that are going further in life aren’t the special ed kids, sorry to say but it’s the truth. It’s easy to manage the class size and have them all attend.'”
‘My husband took the diagnosis as an insult. ’What is your problem?’ He began to cry, ‘I just don’t want anyone to hurt him.’: Parents to son with autism say ‘he is meant to be exactly who he is’
“I didn’t want to face it. It was scary and unknown. My husband had an even more difficult time. He stood fast, insisting Beckham just needed time. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.”
