Author Archives: Amanda

It’s 11:00 on a school night and Tyson is still awake. It’s going to be one of those nights when sleep doesn’t come easy. I hate those nights. I absolutely love my sleep and I am quite crusty (that my word for contrary) without it. I don’t need much, a good 6 hours works forContinue reading “Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep”

I was recently reading a friend’s blog about her gratitude practice and it reminded me of when I use to keep a gratitude journal. It has been years since I actually wrote in a journal however in my head, I always have lists of things I am grateful for in my life. Sometimes it isContinue reading “Gratitude”

As we head into a new school year, I wanted to reshare something I wrote last year at the beginning of the school year. It has been a very common experience for us, as an autism family and I’m sure for many other families that are a little different like ours. When Tyson and IContinue reading “Just Say Hi!”

I don’t know about you, parents, but do you find now that your child has an autism diagnosis, whatever medical issue arises is attributed to autism? Tyson has had acid reflux since about 8 weeks old. It is chronic and persistent. When he was younger, he was medicated for it many times but it neverContinue reading “When It’s Not Autism”

Chicken nuggets Goldfish (original) McDonald’s fries Chicken nuggets KFC popcorn chicken Mary Brown’s taters Brookside Blueberry and açai dark chocolate Home style restaurant fries (Swiss Chalet, Ziggy’s, Ches’s) Cheesies Ketchup (does ketchup count as a food!?!?) Did I mention chicken nuggets? Jane’s chicken nuggets, to be specific. That’s the list. The complete list of theContinue reading “What’s on the Menu?”

After posting my last blog (My Love Hate Relationship with Summer) I found myself lying in bed one night wondering what other people thought when they read it. Do they think our life sucks? Do they pity us and our struggles? Please don’t. I am actually a very content person. I love my two beautifulContinue reading “Perspective”

The warmth of the hot sun. The smell of lilac and fresh cut grass. Blue raspberry soft serve. The sound of the ocean and the squeals of children trying to outrun the waves. S’mores on Topsail Beach. Walks after supper. Vacation. What’s not to love about summer? It is the season I hate to love.Continue reading “My Love Hate Relationship with Summer”

Before talking about where we are now in terms of communication, I need to take a step back and talk about how we got there. In my last blog, I talked about Tyson using PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) as his primary method for communication as a toddler. In addition, we supplemented his language developmentContinue reading “From PECS to Proloque2Go and Everything in Between (Part 2)”

The other day I opened a file on my computer called “pics” and it made me smile, laugh, sigh and pause all at the same time. Pause to reflect on where we were and where we are now.   I am guessing most of you have folders on your computers with the same title, but I amContinue reading “From PECS to Proloque2Go and Everything in Between (Part 1)”

Bright, blue eyes. Tangly, curly hair. Handsome face. Energetic. Stubborn. Determined. Strong. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Apraxia of speech. Sensory Processing Disorder. Two very different lists. It is the combination of the two that makes Tyson who he is. The beginning years focused heavily on the second list. The listContinue reading “ASD and Tyson”

I remember one day sitting on the couch watching Tyson on his indoor swing – he was so happy. He was smiling, laughing – enjoying the world only he was in.   As I watched him, I thought, how is it that I can be so sad, yet he is so happy? How can IContinue reading “Finding the Joy”

If asked the question, what is the most memorable event in your life, what would your answer be? Just take a moment and really think about it. I am guessing that most people would say their wedding day, the birth of their children or perhaps the death of a loved one. For me, the dayContinue reading “The Beginning”