No Regrets...

When my son was first diagnosed with autism I felt like it was the end of the world. I spent hours pouring over the internet and medical books trying to prove that whatever he had was anything but autism. That was back when he was three, he's now 15 and I have to say that because of my his autism I have had the chance to meet some truly wonderful people that I would never had the opportunity to meet if autism wasn't a part of my life.

From other parents that I've met and connected with either in person or on the internet, to therapists, teachers and individuals who work tirelessly to improve the lives of children with autism, virtual strangers who've helped me get items that I needed for my son such as camp, a special bike and an iPad to true celebrities who've used their status to raise awareness of autism and provide comfort to my family and thousands of others.

Don't get me wrong , there isn't a day that goes by that I don't wish my son was able to communicate in the way that you and I do and didn't face the challenges that he does. However now that we've traveled on the autism road for a number of years I am able to appreciate the scenery and the wonderful individuals we've met during our journey. So next time your travels seems rocky or you have a blow out take a minute to think about where you've been and the people you've met and I guarantee you'll head down the road feeling just a little bit lighter.

Humor In Autism? How Can It Be?

As the mom of a fifteen year old autistic child over the years I've had my share of struggles, tears, frustration and just plain old anger. Who wouldn't? Autism is one of the most puzzling of all the disorders. No one knows what causes it, there is no known cure and what works for one child won't work for another. The one thing that is certain is that as parents of autistic children we are all in this together and sometimes it helps to find the humor in the often uncomfortable and weird situations we find ourselves in due to our child's behavior. If you're a parent of a child who has recently been diagnosed you might not think that there is anything remotely funny about autism, believe me you're wrong. Over the years I've discovered there is humor even in autism you just need to look for it.

I wrote this article about the humorous situations either I have experienced with my own son or friends who have autistic children have shared with me. I hope you enjoy it and are able to look at your own situation and find some humor too. Without further adieu I give you, You Might Be The Parent of An Autistic Child If...

Welcome To My Blog!

This is my first attempt at blogging so please bear with me as I learn the ins and outs. I'm the mom of a 15 year old son Jamie, who is autistic and non verbal. My son regressed, lost his language and was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old. Over the years I've learned a lot about living with autism, how to locate resources and activities available to kids with autism in Southern California. I started this blog to hopefully share what I've learned with other families who are also living with autism and to hopefully make their journey a little easier. Until next time I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes that seems to apply to those with autism even though it was written many years prior to the first documented case. While the goal of every parent is to improve their child's life as much as possible we also need to cherish the things that make our children so special and unique.

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away."
Henry David Thoreau 1817-1862