"I could have forced it in order to present myself as a mom who can do anything. But I can’t. And neither can my son." Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this freeing reminder. It feels like the deep exhale we all need.
"The fight to look like everyone else rather than accepting the limits we have will take me down if I’m not careful." Yes and amen. Also, I just turned 39 and got my first tattoo. Welcome to the club.
I have 5 kids and 3 of them are hard. 2 are hardest when they are together and last year I decided to not take the hardest ones camping - to leave them home with my husband (who also hates camping) and go with my sister and her kids and it was the best decision I made for all of us. There was guilt at first but after when we came home to smiling littles and a tired but not stressed out dad and my cup was full from being with my big kids and my sister it immediately became a tradition. I’m proud of you. But mostly happy for you. Thanks for sharing your beautiful heart with us. As always. ♥️
Katie, this is beautifully written. My oldest son is autistic and intellectually disabled and it has been a grief to me to have to separate some of our family activities but it has allowed everyone to thrive. Here’s to continually learning new things!
Thank you for all of this, Katie. I am so happy for you that you got to take this wonderful trip and that everyone, including, Cannon had such a happy week! Thinking through what this type of acceptance would look like for our family and our little neuro diverse boy. So much to ponder and pray over.
This is so beautiful and refreshing to read - there is no one and no society in this world who gets to tell you how to vacation or parent or hold a pencil - and I also refused to die on that mountain of the pencil grip with our daughter (and she writes beautifully). In fact, my grip is shocking and I’m a qualified teacher so it’s all okay in the end… Loved hearing about your trip!
I loved seeing your photos of your trip and how much fun you all seemed to have. Not seeing Cannon with you I prayed that your mama heart was still able to relax and enjoy yourself knowing he wasn’t there. This was so sweet to read knowing how much fun you all and Cannon got to have during that time. ❤️
I wrote down all of the book recs and will be making those brownies in secret to test whether my husband (a notorious hater of beans) can detect anything awry. 🫣
The little things giving me life right now are:
1) Grocery pickup (I mean this is perpetually giving me life).
2) Photos of my sweet kiddos from our nanny while I am at work. They make the days more bearable.
3) Coffee and Crumbs podcast. Seeing a new one drop in my feed is honestly the best.
I've been told my entire life that I don't hold a pen/pencil correctly. I'm left-handed, so what teachers mean is, I don't hold a pencil the right-handed way, and poor things, they interpreted "right" as in "correct." They must've missed the vocabulary lesson on "right" and the many meanings it can hold.
Also, I saw Anne L. last week, and she is my hero. I just love her. Enjoying her new book right now.
I love hearing this point of view as a therapist! I’m an occupational therapist and I think what makes us special is that we focus on function and not what it looks like. Such a great reminder that holding a pencil the “right way” means very little and if he’s enjoying creating art and writing who cares!
"I could have forced it in order to present myself as a mom who can do anything. But I can’t. And neither can my son." Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this freeing reminder. It feels like the deep exhale we all need.
"The fight to look like everyone else rather than accepting the limits we have will take me down if I’m not careful." Yes and amen. Also, I just turned 39 and got my first tattoo. Welcome to the club.
I have 5 kids and 3 of them are hard. 2 are hardest when they are together and last year I decided to not take the hardest ones camping - to leave them home with my husband (who also hates camping) and go with my sister and her kids and it was the best decision I made for all of us. There was guilt at first but after when we came home to smiling littles and a tired but not stressed out dad and my cup was full from being with my big kids and my sister it immediately became a tradition. I’m proud of you. But mostly happy for you. Thanks for sharing your beautiful heart with us. As always. ♥️
Katie, this is beautifully written. My oldest son is autistic and intellectually disabled and it has been a grief to me to have to separate some of our family activities but it has allowed everyone to thrive. Here’s to continually learning new things!
you’re such a good mama 💕 thank you for the permission to accept the limits in my own life 🙏
“ I could have forced it in order to present myself as a mom who can do anything. But I can’t. And neither can my son.”
Lately, i think I have been forcing it to present myself as a mom who can do anything. And I’m worn out 🥹🥹 Needed this reminder ❤️
Thank you for all of this, Katie. I am so happy for you that you got to take this wonderful trip and that everyone, including, Cannon had such a happy week! Thinking through what this type of acceptance would look like for our family and our little neuro diverse boy. So much to ponder and pray over.
I just got a best friend tattoo this month! 10/10 recommend!
This is so beautiful and refreshing to read - there is no one and no society in this world who gets to tell you how to vacation or parent or hold a pencil - and I also refused to die on that mountain of the pencil grip with our daughter (and she writes beautifully). In fact, my grip is shocking and I’m a qualified teacher so it’s all okay in the end… Loved hearing about your trip!
I loved seeing your photos of your trip and how much fun you all seemed to have. Not seeing Cannon with you I prayed that your mama heart was still able to relax and enjoy yourself knowing he wasn’t there. This was so sweet to read knowing how much fun you all and Cannon got to have during that time. ❤️
I wrote down all of the book recs and will be making those brownies in secret to test whether my husband (a notorious hater of beans) can detect anything awry. 🫣
The little things giving me life right now are:
1) Grocery pickup (I mean this is perpetually giving me life).
2) Photos of my sweet kiddos from our nanny while I am at work. They make the days more bearable.
3) Coffee and Crumbs podcast. Seeing a new one drop in my feed is honestly the best.
Love you, friend, and hope to see you soon.
I’m so glad you wrote this 💛 Can’t wait for tattoos!!!
I've been told my entire life that I don't hold a pen/pencil correctly. I'm left-handed, so what teachers mean is, I don't hold a pencil the right-handed way, and poor things, they interpreted "right" as in "correct." They must've missed the vocabulary lesson on "right" and the many meanings it can hold.
Also, I saw Anne L. last week, and she is my hero. I just love her. Enjoying her new book right now.
This brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for writing and sharing with us. I needed to hear it & am encouraged by your experience.
Your storytelling is beautiful and a much needed source of encouragement for me. Thank you! 💕
This is so beautiful and freeing to let go of other people’s expectations on us and our children. Also, cannot wait to try those black bean brownies.
I love hearing this point of view as a therapist! I’m an occupational therapist and I think what makes us special is that we focus on function and not what it looks like. Such a great reminder that holding a pencil the “right way” means very little and if he’s enjoying creating art and writing who cares!