Unapologetically Embracing Autism

Let's get real for a minute. Being a parent is tough. Being a single parent? That's a whole other level. Now, throw in raising a kid with autism, and you've got yourself a perfect storm for burnout. But here's the thing – it's okay to admit it's hard. It doesn't make you a bad parent. It makes you human. My Story I'm a single mom to an amazing 10-year-old boy named Cortland. He's funny, smart, and happens to have autism. Our life is a rollercoaster of laughs, tears, victories, and challenges. Some days, I feel like I can conquer the world. Other days? I'm lucky if I manage to get us both fed and dressed. Cortland was diagnosed with autism when he was 3, and let me tell you, that day turned our world upside down. Suddenly, our lives became a whirlwind of therapies, doctor appointments, and IEP meetings. Don't get me wrong – I wouldn't change Cortland for the world. His unique way of seeing things has opened my eyes to a whole new perspecti...

  As a parent, all you ever want to hear are your baby's first words. You long to hear them say your name for the first time or to hear "I love you." I was fortunate enough to hear Cortland say "Mama" first, and I'm eternally grateful that God allowed me that moment. Little did I know that a year later, he would lose what vocabulary he had – one of the key signs of Autism. When Cortland was diagnosed with autism, it was just the beginning of our journey. Soon after, we learned he also had both receptive and expressive language disorders. This combination presented unique challenges in our quest to help Cortland communicate. Having a nonverbal child is challenging, but I never allowed it to defeat us. Before we got his Autism diagnosis, we were approved for speech therapy. We started learning sign language, but Cortland resisted like crazy. It proved to be difficult because at times it was simply hard to know what he wanted or needed. We tried everything - vi...

Picture this: We're at a family gathering, and I'm trying to coax my three year old son into trying a new food. As I navigate this delicate dance, a well-meaning family member sidles up and whispers, "But he doesn't look autistic." I swear, in that moment, I could feel my eye twitching, and my mouth forming the words… “what in the hell does autism look like?”  Welcome to my world – a world where autism isn't just a topic of conversation, it's our everyday reality. Buckle up, folks, because I'm about to take you on another wild ride through the ups, downs, and sideways turns of raising my beautiful, autistic son, Cortland. Let me tell you, nothing quite prepares you for the barrage of comments that come your way once family and friends learn about your child's autism diagnosis. It's like suddenly everyone's an expert, armed with Google searches and that one article they read in a waiting room magazine. "Are you sure? He makes eye contac...

It was a Tuesday afternoon, and I found myself sitting on the    floor in the bedroom closet, overwhelmed by the day's challenges. Cortland had just had a meltdown over a change in his routine, and I felt like I had failed him. In that moment, it seemed like all hope was lost. But as I sat there, gathering my thoughts, I realized this was just another step in our journey with autism – a journey filled with ups and downs, challenges and triumphs. As parents of children on the autism spectrum, we often find ourselves riding an emotional rollercoaster. Just when we think we've got everything figured out – a stable routine, a successful approach – a new obstacle appears, threatening to derail our progress. It's easy to feel defeated and deflated in these moments. I've certainly been there, wondering if I'm truly equipped for this journey. But here's the thing I've learned: these obstacles aren't roadblocks. They're tests of our resilience, opportunities ...