Monday was a doozie, reminding me Autism can be sad, frustrating and emotional.The day started fine for Carson, our 12-year-old special needs son with a complicated diagnosis that most simplistically can be referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder. The term spectrum is perfect because the severity of the disabilities spans a wide range, and each… Read more »

It says a lot when newspaper deadline pressure is easier than being off work.It’s how I felt this week after having Beckett home from boarding school with two exchange students from Guatemala for 11 days (and nights).In mid-August, as we left Beckett at his new home away from in Virginia, the concept of our son… Read more »

The house has been full this week.Beckett came home last Thursday for an extended Thanksgiving break from boarding school. A few weeks ago, he asked if his friend Diego, an exchange student from Guatemala, could come home with him for Thanksgiving. He needed a place to go, and we were excited to have him.One day… Read more »

Boarding school’s impact on Beckett has been profound.As far as we can tell from our 14-year-old boy, three months in, he likes his school and just about everything about it. The biggest immediate impression – one we were told would be the case – is his independence. Boarding school forces maturation on high school kids… Read more »

The headline read, “We need teen showers to be a thing.”It did what it was supposed to do – got me to click the online story by Laura Hanby Hudgens on grownandflown.com.Contrary to what initially was thought, the headline has to do with the need for parents of teens – moms specifically – to get… Read more »

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 »