Navigating milestones as an autism mom looks different—bittersweet moments of joy, grief, and deep reflection. As one child prepares for marriage, the contrast with her autistic son’s path brings unexpected heartache, even amid celebration.

Mark woke me at 2 a.m.—not for trouble, but to line up biscuit cans as a reminder to bake. At 5 a.m., I found a frozen pizza and soda gone, his smile wide with excitement to see his sister. I could’ve been mad, but I’ve learned: autism makes life messy. If I respond with frustration every time, he feels bad and I stay angry. Instead, I choose joy, even in exhaustion—because these moments, chaotic as they are, are still filled with love.

Autism didn’t break our family or steal Ali’s childhood—it shaped her into a resilient, compassionate advocate. Through chaos, missed moments, and deep sibling love, she only grew stronger

Just Another Day: The Life of an Autism Mom

A few years ago, John and I went to a movie with my dad. As we walked into the theater, there was no one in the seats, but we noticed...

Over the years, John and I have taken Mark to movie after movie. Moviegoing is one of the most normal experiences we have as a family....

In understanding autism, we are all blind men living in a world of elephants, and I learned that through a glimpse into my son's concept...

During the summer Ali was eleven and Mark was seven, she and I read my favorite story, To Kill a Mockingbird, together. I became...

One morning Mark was cuddling with Ali on our oversized chair while John, Ali, and I watched a show in which he had little interest. We...

November 30, 2016 I finally did it! I broke down and ordered Mark adaptive clothing. I simply have not found any pants that fit his...

When Love showed up, It was years before I expected him. Love spoke with a mild Southern accent, With maturity and reserve. I did not...

When I was in first grade, my teacher assigned a long-term project. Students were instructed to design parachutes which they would later...

As Mark walked into the garage to get in the car, he took a detour. He walked out to the trash cans that had been emptied early by the...

As we start our daily FaceTime, Mark lets me see his smiley face. He doesn’t always, or at least not for long. As usual, he starts to...

A couple months ago, I started having nightly FaceTimes with Mark. I was at my home, and he was at his. However, I found him agitated. He...

While I've never been clever or disciplined enough to complete large jigsaw puzzles, I have come to enjoy the art and science of solving...

Five years ago, my confidence dropped. As I looked back at the huge investment I had made directly and indirectly in my son's...

It is exciting to watch Mark grow up. When Ali, my daughter, started dating her boyfriend a few years ago, I was nervous about how Mark...

I don’t know when or how my son became autistic, as some people like to say, or a person with autism, the term others insist upon, but I...

When I was a teenager, I swam competitively all year round. My coach told me I had the physical ability to be a top-level swimmer but...