Day One

I have spent the last few years drowing in appointments, meetings, and paperwork. I have been muddling through life with a severely disabled child. The last eight weeks have nearly killed me. But I survived, and today is the first day of a new chapter in my life and my son's life. I can think clearly and stand tall knowing that he is safe. He is comfortable. And for the first time in his almost ten years on this planet, the sole responsibility of his care does not rest on my grossly under-qualified shoulders.

Braden's Momma Wears Combat Boots

If I am an expert on any one thing, it's autism. And I'm only an expert on our brand of autism. I never wanted to be an expert in any kind of autism, but I was drafted. Which, quite honestly, makes me angry. I wanted to be a mother, desperately, but this...I'm the soldier who grew up wanting to serve and came of age in the middle of a war. I'm terrified most of the time. The part that terrifies me most is that our war, our journey-however long it feels like it's been-has only just begun.