The Conversation: Part 1

(Just a quick note… the conversation is paraphrased and not verbatim.)

It had to happen someday. I was hoping that it would be much later on, but I suppose we were just postponing the inevitable. We have to do this all over in a few years anyway, so I guess we might as well get on with it and hope for the best.

I have thought about it many times. I have had the conversation in my head more times than I can count. I planned well in advance because I knew at some point in her young life, Sofie was going to have to understand why Bianca is the way she is, she was going to have questions and it was only a matter of time before they came up and we had to explain autism.

Family Matters

"Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach."

- Tony Robbins      

One of the most common questions I get asked by other parents that have a child on the spectrum is about having more kids after an autism diagnosis has been introduced into the family unit.

I was recently asked this on my Facebook page and I wanted to give the response the weight it was due, so I decided to answer the question via my blog:

“So I'm trying to decide, when is the best time to have another child. My son is 2 and has ASD, and is our first. I think it'd be good to have another child for him, and I want them to feel close, but at the same time I don't want to take any of the attention he needs away from him. So I'm wondering if you might be willing to let me know what your opinion is on this subject?“ 

- Leslie D.

I don't know that there is a right answer to this question Leslie. It is something that as to be talked about between you and your husband at great length though. I can share with you my experience, and provide the disclaimer that I am not sure that what we did, nor how we did it was ideal. I am certainly not suggesting that our story be used as a blueprint, so please take what I am about to write for what it is worth... my flawed experience.