Carson turns 13 years old tomorrow. This makes me the father of two teens now as his older brother, Beckett, turned 14 in May.Carson is not much for celebrating these sorts of things. In fact, he can’t come up with one thing he wants for his birthday. It says a lot about him. He’s just… Read more »

Though its biggest influence will be on my son, boarding school is also impacting my life in a huge way.I am learning as much as he is about this new way of living. There are certainly positives and negatives with this journey, but far more bright spots to celebrate and enjoy.We spent three nights with… Read more »

In the vein of providing parent support, some “I see you …” thoughts over the last few weeks. I intend this as more of a “I see you and I feel you” type of observations. We are all in this together. I see you … parents rolling through the drop-off at school and feeling the… Read more »

Homecoming weekend festivities brought Beckett home for a couple days from boarding school.It was a whirlwind 48 hours, but it was great to see him. While it was so foreign at first to not have our oldest son around, it’s weird how life adapts. Now, after two months away at school, it seems strange when… Read more »

Parenting a special needs kid can be at times like walking cautiously through a minefield. What’s key through the navigation is optimism.The trouble is not always visible. The route previously deemed safe one day can be disastrous on another. What brought on anxiety and peace once may not always and vice versa. Every day truly… Read more »

Laughing may not cure everything, but it sure helps me to see the lighter side of things through this parenting journey of life.Some examples of late: Things have been a bit bumpy with Carson, 12, at school of late as he adjusts to the new faces and environment. Transitions are tough for him, resulting in… Read more »

A positive COVID test brought our boy home from boarding school last weekend.Rather than quarantine at school in a designated isolation area for five days, Beckett, 14, wanted to come home and “serve my time” – as he put it — in his own room with his family.Fortunately, he was asymptomatic when I picked him… Read more »

All seems to be going well one month into my older son’s boarding school experience.As for Pam and me, we are adjusting to our new normal. Weird is the only way I can describe life nowadays. I miss Beckett, 14, but it’s different than I thought I would feel. I am not sad. It’s just… Read more »

The relief I feel after a successful school drop off in the morning is hard to explain.For parents with neurotypical kids – I have one, so I know – the run to school is just a part of the day, most likely on the way to work, the gym or elsewhere. It’s an errand in… Read more »

The general sights and sounds of Surfers Healing every August are what makes it so special, but it’s the dozens of small interactions taking place throughout the day that tell the story.My favorite thing each year during Surfers Healing – a traveling camp featuring experienced surfers taking children on the Autism spectrum surfing — is… Read more »