This is very beautifully written. Patience is so difficult in highly charged situations. I used to tell parents (former teacher), no one gets up in the morning and says, “I think I’ll screw my kid up today.” We all want what is best for our children. It takes a village. Kindness snd acceptance goes a long way for both the child and the parent. Thank you so much for sharing your heart. Neurodivergence is sprinkled all through our beautiful family, myself included. I wouldn’t change them for the world. You have an amazing sweet girl and you are her champion!!
Thank you, for sharing your journey and being so open. I’m sitting at my corporate office right now as I read this, in a puddle. Constantly feeling guilt for my long hours, and thinking 24/7 how I can do more, be more for my bright beautiful wonderful sweet autistic little girl. She’s 9, level 1, and it has been a long journey, advocating, learning curves, feeling like a terrible parent, growing, listening, being present in a way I never have before. What a gift. I’m neurodivergent myself, only discovered later in life after my daughter. We are a team the two of us, she is my best friend, I am forever grateful for the way her mind works. Even when I cry with overwhelm, so very blessed. The world feels loud at times, and reading this beautiful share makes it feel less so. Thank you.
Ugh… this got me. My daughter was born hard of hearing and wears hearing aids, and while she hasn’t been labeled neurodivergent, she absolutely experiences the world in her own way. She processes things differently, feels everything deeply, and has this level of curiosity and imagination that honestly takes my breath away. And her comedic timing? It regularly makes me forget she’s only 8.
But I’ve also seen those moments you described- the subtle shifts in a room, the effort it takes to keep up, the quiet awareness that she might be experiencing something differently than the kids around her. And as a parent, that feeling of just wanting the world to meet your child with openness and acceptance, exactly as they are… it’s everything. And it doesn’t always happen.
What I’ve come to realize is that these kids aren’t “behind” or “missing something”; they’re expanding how we all see and experience the world. They’re asking us to slow down, get curious, and lead with more empathy than we thought we had.
Your words about patience and curiosity really stayed with me. That constant shift from “what’s wrong?” to “what might be hard right now?”- for them and for us.
Thank you for sharing this so openly. It made me feel a little less alone in it all. Sending hugs from Austin 🤍
This was beautiful. I know many children who have some form of autism and the way they experience the world can be so scary for them but it's so beautiful as well. They see things with a light that some of us will never see! Thank you for writing this; it truly opened my eyes even more!
Odette, your essay is extraordinary. You didn’t just write about raising a child with autism — you opened a window into the fierce, tender, complicated love that lives inside that journey. The honesty, the vulnerability, the humor, the exhaustion, the joy… you captured the entire emotional spectrum with such grace. Thank you for sharing it with the world.
Ty! This was beautiful. It takes courage to be so open about it all. Thank you for sharing. As an ASD mom myself I know firsthand that we are so so hard on ourselves so I find the community sharing to be therapeutic and helpful!
Thank you for sharing this with us! As the Nana to a four-year-old autistic granddaughter, we can certainly relate. Every day is different. Every day, you don’t know what you might get. We don’t love them any less, in fact, we love them more. I appreciate you sharing your perspective and your family with us.
Every word you wrote resonates with me. My daughter is five and level one autistic. There are so many moments, every day, when I know she needs my calm. And the moments I fall short or lose my cool stay with me like a lead weight. I lay awake at night and tally my mistakes in my head. I lay awake and miss her and want to wake her up to apologize all over again and make sure she knows she’s perfect to me. It’s hard. But I am so grateful I’m her mom and I was chosen to protect her and help her and love her.
We’re up the road in Georgetown,TX and I would love to know more about the therapies and services you guys have found in Austin.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I relate so deeply. My daughter only just recently got diagnosed at 11 years old after searching for answers and help for years and years. It’s hard and lonely. Thank you for being so open.
This is very beautifully written. Patience is so difficult in highly charged situations. I used to tell parents (former teacher), no one gets up in the morning and says, “I think I’ll screw my kid up today.” We all want what is best for our children. It takes a village. Kindness snd acceptance goes a long way for both the child and the parent. Thank you so much for sharing your heart. Neurodivergence is sprinkled all through our beautiful family, myself included. I wouldn’t change them for the world. You have an amazing sweet girl and you are her champion!!
Thank you, for sharing your journey and being so open. I’m sitting at my corporate office right now as I read this, in a puddle. Constantly feeling guilt for my long hours, and thinking 24/7 how I can do more, be more for my bright beautiful wonderful sweet autistic little girl. She’s 9, level 1, and it has been a long journey, advocating, learning curves, feeling like a terrible parent, growing, listening, being present in a way I never have before. What a gift. I’m neurodivergent myself, only discovered later in life after my daughter. We are a team the two of us, she is my best friend, I am forever grateful for the way her mind works. Even when I cry with overwhelm, so very blessed. The world feels loud at times, and reading this beautiful share makes it feel less so. Thank you.
I recommend researching hyperbaric oxygen. The benefits are amazing.
What a beautiful post 💕 Thank you for sharing. As parents we all benefit from sharing.
Ugh… this got me. My daughter was born hard of hearing and wears hearing aids, and while she hasn’t been labeled neurodivergent, she absolutely experiences the world in her own way. She processes things differently, feels everything deeply, and has this level of curiosity and imagination that honestly takes my breath away. And her comedic timing? It regularly makes me forget she’s only 8.
But I’ve also seen those moments you described- the subtle shifts in a room, the effort it takes to keep up, the quiet awareness that she might be experiencing something differently than the kids around her. And as a parent, that feeling of just wanting the world to meet your child with openness and acceptance, exactly as they are… it’s everything. And it doesn’t always happen.
What I’ve come to realize is that these kids aren’t “behind” or “missing something”; they’re expanding how we all see and experience the world. They’re asking us to slow down, get curious, and lead with more empathy than we thought we had.
Your words about patience and curiosity really stayed with me. That constant shift from “what’s wrong?” to “what might be hard right now?”- for them and for us.
Thank you for sharing this so openly. It made me feel a little less alone in it all. Sending hugs from Austin 🤍
From one mom to another, both on this journey, I appreciate your words so much.
This was beautiful. I know many children who have some form of autism and the way they experience the world can be so scary for them but it's so beautiful as well. They see things with a light that some of us will never see! Thank you for writing this; it truly opened my eyes even more!
What a wonderful, open and honest post. Thank you for sharing.
Odette, your essay is extraordinary. You didn’t just write about raising a child with autism — you opened a window into the fierce, tender, complicated love that lives inside that journey. The honesty, the vulnerability, the humor, the exhaustion, the joy… you captured the entire emotional spectrum with such grace. Thank you for sharing it with the world.
Norm
Ty! This was beautiful. It takes courage to be so open about it all. Thank you for sharing. As an ASD mom myself I know firsthand that we are so so hard on ourselves so I find the community sharing to be therapeutic and helpful!
Thank you for sharing this with us! As the Nana to a four-year-old autistic granddaughter, we can certainly relate. Every day is different. Every day, you don’t know what you might get. We don’t love them any less, in fact, we love them more. I appreciate you sharing your perspective and your family with us.
Every word you wrote resonates with me. My daughter is five and level one autistic. There are so many moments, every day, when I know she needs my calm. And the moments I fall short or lose my cool stay with me like a lead weight. I lay awake at night and tally my mistakes in my head. I lay awake and miss her and want to wake her up to apologize all over again and make sure she knows she’s perfect to me. It’s hard. But I am so grateful I’m her mom and I was chosen to protect her and help her and love her.
We’re up the road in Georgetown,TX and I would love to know more about the therapies and services you guys have found in Austin.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I relate so deeply. My daughter only just recently got diagnosed at 11 years old after searching for answers and help for years and years. It’s hard and lonely. Thank you for being so open.
Beautiful piece. Kids truly teach us about the powers of patience, presence, and perspective.