Author Archives: MarjH

I am a Domestic Engineer, Total Babe and SAHM to two boys with autism, ADHD, OCD and a variety of other acronyms. I was a band geek in high school, live vicariously through computers and prefer dogs to people, which means I have STELLAR social skills.

What Happens When They Grow Up?

One of the most difficult things to think about when raising a child with autism is what happens when they are no longer a child. The unknown is very scary to me. I know there are options and I’ve looked into a few things, but I’ve not actually met a real, live adult with autism….

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Irony and Autism

You know what’s awesome? When your kid does something LEAST expected. For example, when Luke was 3 and was having some behavioral issues in preschool? He kicked a kid for wearing a red shirt because RED FOOD IS EVIL and then months later, red was suddenly his favorite color. Hmmm. How about them apples? And…

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Autism Superpowers

When Luke was first learning to understand his autism (and his, brother’s) he came up with his own explanation of how it worked. We explained to him that everyone had sensory issues, or had something they were afraid of or something that bothered them. He decided that everyone had autism, except that some people had…

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Special Exposure Wednesday

Ian is a very affectionate child but it MUST be on his own terms. He loves his cousin Wil and one day couldn’t get enough hugs and kisses. You can tell by Wil’s face how much we all appreciate it when Ian is “ready” for a hug! “Grab the Special Exposure Wednesday button for your…

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Getting Better All the Time

When Ian used to have school breaks, it was really rough. On all of us. His Early Intervention Provider had a really funky schedule and it was not uncommon for him to have 2-3 weeks off during winter holidays, spring break and summer. For a typical child, 2-3 weeks off is difficult. For a child…

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The Safety Dance

Well, our little Houdini is at it again. We try to keep it safe and locked down around here, but the truth is he is getting older and bigger and smarter and he’s figuring it all out. See, most devices and locks and whatnot are for BABY PROOFING. Not IAN PROOFING. Even autism-specific products. We…

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Telling Your Child With Autism That They Have Autism

I’m not a big television watcher but the buzz this week on social media sites was apparently Max’s parents finally sitting down and telling him he had Asperger’s (that Parenthood show). Now, on the show Max is like, ten? Something like that? Ten. Soak that in for a minute. And they were JUST telling him….

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Autism: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

I’ve never been one to sugar coat it. Autism in our life brings out the good, the bad and the ugly. Sometimes we see good more than bad, sometimes we see ugly more than good. But it’s all there. Sometimes our life is fabulous. And sometimes it’s a real drag. This week has been one…

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Special Exposure Wednesday

Ian spends just about every waking moment on his swing. And if he can’t swing outside, he swings on the swing we installed inside. And he swings, and swings, and swings… Grab the Special Exposure Wednesday button for your post!

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Here’s the Thing About Autism

Autism is a spectrum. When you’ve met a child with autism, you’ve only met ONE CHILD WITH AUTISM. They are all vastly different in their needs and strengths. They are all exquisitely beautiful and inherently amazing. And no, life is no picnic. But when have I ever claimed it was? No two snowflakes are alike,…

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