What’s this about?

I’m the mom of one fabulous, mysterious, intelligent and quirky kid. I never considered myself a writer until I became a parent.

I am not sure if our story is unique enough to be interesting, or universal enough to speak to any larger truths, but I find solace and affirmation in writing about my parenting experiences.

I began writing about raising my son as a coping mechanism, as a way to come to terms with my complicated new role, my son’s lifelong needs, and the unnerving but valuable redefinition of life that autism awareness brings. I sent long emails to my friends: rants about schools, fears about the future, revelations about this kid who amused, frustrated and inspired me. I wrote stories of commiseration on parent support boards, posted status updates and longer “notes” on Facebook, offered articles for school newsletters, and drafted many other pieces that didn’t get posted anywhere.

The joys and challenges of being my kid’s parent are complicated and intense – I need to write them down to understand them. I started this blog thinking I might as well store my essays all in one place.

I write to offer a glimpse into an experience of autism from a parent’s perspective.

I seek to diffuse the pressure of special needs parenting by inviting laughter and documenting the joy that coincides with the anxieties of caretaking.

I write to explore the myriad of ways my son’s disability has altered my perceptions, to advance understanding of this complex disability, and to encourage a more inclusive world.

These stories provide insights into this quirky life:

– the parenting missteps that inform and reshape my relationship with my child;

– the creative, sometimes accidental discoveries that allow us to break through seemingly insurmountable barriers of connection;

– the daily detective work to uncover the meaning of the behaviors that serve as communication for my limited-verbal child;

– the personal moments that refute, clarify or expand on the broad national headlines about autism and disability.

Thanks for visiting.

Stay Quirky, my friends.

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