Some fathers have difficulty expressing this to anyone, especially their kids. Every time we talk with Trevor or Briana I make it a point to tell them that we love them very much. It’s not only important for them to hear it, it’s important for me to say it and remind myself what a wonderful son and daughter we’ve been blessed with.

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We all four love watching movies and can quote lines from movies such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas (“Stay Focused!”), Mrs. Doubtfire (“Helllloooooo!”), Aladdin (“BEEEE Yourself!”) and A Christmas Story (Fra-GEE-lay!). Now that the kids are adults, they still love to rattle off movie lines. We love it too.

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Trevor has always loved the arts, and in middle school he joined the drama club, which continued through high school. He was involved both onstage as a performer and offstage doing various jobs such as props and set decoration. His experience in drama was significant in helping him shape his social skills and learn how to interact with peers.

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Because Trevor craves order in his life, the randomness, yelling and other activity at recess was frustrating for him. While other kids may love the activity and stimulation, a child with ASD may very well see it as stressful and confusing.

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We signed Trevor up for soccer when he was four. When on the field he would stand there and cry. We learned that the randomness of the game and the yelling by parents and other kids was too much for him to take. We found more orderly sports like baseball and tennis to be more palatable to him, though he was never really passionate about either playing or watching sports.

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Your nonautistic sons and daughters can help your autistic child overcome daily pressures. Keep them just as educated about the autistic child as you are, and perhaps even let them read this book. This will benefit them when they get older.

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Because of the difficult transition between elementary and middle school, my parents decided to homeschool me when I moved to middle school. For two years, my schooling consisted of classes at my public school, lessons at home with my parents, and classes at a smaller homeschool center.  There are many options to consider when finding the right fit for your child.

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Start as young as possible visiting various doctors to find out your child’s needs and getting an exact diagnosis. I was diagnosed with speech and language delay at two and began private therapy with a speech pathologist.  This helped prepare me for finding the right preschool.

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For any age, whenever visiting relatives, sightseeing, or going out for extended periods of time, they need time away from others to be on their own. I still feel the need for occasional times alone while I’m out on vacation.

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Children with autism are often more interested in the texture of the furniture than they are in you, so they may not make eye contact with you. However, they are very observant, so they will notice everything, including your attitude toward them.

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