I can’t tell you how many times I have been told ‘No’. But there’s nothing worse than when you are asking God a question, or for something you really want, and His answer is ‘No’. This week I got to talk to my son about getting answers to prayers. And he wanted to know why God says no instead of giving us what we ask for. It was the first time in my life that I could stand at the... Read more
Telling your child that they have High Functioning Autism (Asperger’s) requires some preparation, and a specific frame of mind. And because telling your friends and family is also a challenge, I will also address that in this article. But before I say anything else, I must emphasize AUTISM IS A DIFFERENCE, NOT A DISABILITY. The only disability comes when we don’t provide help and a chance to overcome their struggles. I know a lot of people with Asperger’s who are... Read more
(This article was previously published on Abby’s page on LDS Blogs.com.) I was recently invited to speak to a group of Cub Scouts about Autism. Their pack was having a meeting about diversity, and I wasn’t the only speaker. They are so young. All of them are between 8 and 11. So I adapted my talk to their understanding, and focused on how they can be a good friend to someone who is different. It is a topic I think... Read more
I remember the day my son was diagnosed with Autism. It was a relief because we finally knew what the problem was. But it also made me terribly sad because I knew he would face a lot of difficulties no parent wants for their child. I cried. But then I got to work. Because, for me, I needed to be doing something about what I had just learned. Time is of the essence I knew from watching my... Read more
Earlier I talked about the importance of making your home a haven for your special needs child. Sensory disorders can really make the world a challenging place. And having a safe space to come home to really makes the difference. Today I would like to expand on how I’m working on creating that haven for my son. Clothing My son is very sensitive to different clothing. He won’t wear jeans or structured pants. He really doesn’t like socks,... Read more
I’ve been struggling to know what is best for my son for a while now. As you may know, I had to pull him out of school about a year ago because of severe bullying. Recovery from that trauma is ongoing, but for the most part he is finally back to his old self. I have been homeschooling him for the last year. And he has straight A’s. I am really proud of him. But I have noticed that even... Read more
I recently read this amazing essay by Emily Perl Kingsley, that I hear is rather famous. It’s called “Welcome to Holland”. Essentially the author compares being a special needs parent to taking a deviation from a planned vacation. You have spent your whole life looking forward to going to Italy. You have planned, and saved, and read every brochure out there about all the best places to see. So you purchase your ticket, board the plane, and sit back to... Read more
We recently went on vacation to Orlando Florida, and brought the whole family. In the days before the trip I did everything I could to ensure my high functioning autistic son would be comfortable on our journey. I packed his favorite stuffed animals, blankets and pillow. And I made sure all his favorite shows were downloaded onto his Kindle Fire so that even when we had no internet, he would be able to watch what he loves. We also... Read more
This article was previously published on Abby’s blog on LDS Blogs.com. My son in on the Autism Spectrum (ASD). He is high functioning, but from the minute he turned 3 he has really struggled with Primary. Here are a few things I wish every Primary teacher and leader knew because it would make it much easier for him to function and enjoy church. 1- He won’t look you in the eye when he talks to you. It is... Read more
I have a friend who has cancer. It’s pretty advanced. He’s suffering a lot. He already has 4 kinds of cancer, and last week they found a cancerous brain tumor. Cancer number five. After a quick operation, he is back to his old self…with only 4 kinds of cancer. Why is this happening to him? I had surgery several years ago and before going in they asked me if I had a living will. I wondered what that was,... Read more
Select your answer to see how you score.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In