You can join our walking team or make a small donation by visiting our Team Page here.

Did you know that every 20 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism? This has occurred in my family.

When our son Noah was diagnosed with autism last year, we had a vague idea of what to expect but nothing could have fully prepared us for the extreme challenges that lie ahead. Autism affects marriages, siblings, and relationships with extended friends and family. In other words, it flips your family's world upside down. We want, more than anything, for our son to be able to socialize, experience emotions like us and be able to express himself to us. This is why organizations like Autism Speaks are so important.

I am walking in the fight against autism at Walk Now for Autism, joining tens of thousands of other people united by a single cause and dedicated to raising money to find a cure and build awareness for autism. The money raised at Walk Now for Autism supports Autism Speaks mission to finding the causes, effective treatments and a cure for autism through funding essential biomedical research. One in every 150 children is diagnosed with autism. Autism Speaks directs 75¢ out of every dollar raised to autism research, awareness and outreach.

I am well on my way to reaching my goal. Please help me reach my goal by making a donation. You can make a donation online or visit www.walknowforautism.org and search for my name.
Thank you for taking an important step in the fight against autism.

Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Autism Speaks 501 (C)(3)  Tax Id #: 20-2329938

Thank you so much for your help and support. I understand that we find ourselves in tough economic times, if donations are difficult to make, we would love to welcome you on to our walking team!

I will be mentioning them from time to time (like probably every post) so I thought it would make sense to introduce you all to my awesome family.

Here is a picture and a little intro for everyone. Enjoy!

This is my wife, Sabrena. She is the best thing to ever happen to me.


Our oldest boy is Connor.


Dawsyn is the most energetic child on Earth. This is us swimming.


Here is Noah also swimming but in a smaller pool.

I've started up a little online store. Here's my first product. It is a chubby sized profile card meant to hand out to people who stare at my son in public. The back side has information about Autism and explains why my child is making a scene in the first place. Hopefully it also makes them feel bad. And slightly ashamed for staring in the first place.



buy unique gifts at Zazzle

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One of the daily struggles I encounter is that Autism apparently has a tendency to hate clothing. Noah is very adamant about not having clothes on. When we leave the house, he'll get dressed. After an hour or so at a Burger King play land (whole other story) he starts stripping. . .

In fact, my mom used to make random visits to our house un-announced (which is a long standing huge problem) and would always be sure to bring along my grandma to ensure she would not be turned away. I'm not sure about anyone else's experience, but I have a feeling that grandmas just don't get Autism. From that point on, all my conversations with my grandma would be focused on whether or not Noah was wearing pants. I was told it should be the House Rule that when he wakes up he is to wear clothes or stay in his room. I tried to explain that this is a ridiculous concept to a child who has autism. This would be like telling your deaf child that the House Rule is speak when you are hungry or you have to stay in your room. In fact, my grandma just passed away a few weeks ago, and our last words were about Noah  being naked at home and how I shouldn't be so hard my wife. Oh, and that her idea of Christianity is tarnished because of my relationship with my mom. . . grrrrrrr.

Anyways, today I put some pants on Noah along with his favorite orange coat vest and so far it has stayed on! I expect it won't last, but maybe I can take a couple pictures before they come off.

(it didn't last. . .)

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I don't use the words shut up or stupid, but somehow my children have learned them. Probably from TV and probably from Spongebob. This morning, Noah and Dawysn (I should do a post where I introduce my kids. . .) were fighting over who said the word stupid first. Eventually, it ended with Noah screaming.

When I scooped him up to try to redirect his frustrations, he started yelling at me.

Shut up, Stupid! Shut up, Stupid!

And various  other combinations.

Placing him in the corner for a time out just means I have to hold him there physically. At this point, he is now yelling at me and trying to scratch me. Its obvious that he is oblivious to the concept that time out is bad. It makes me want to punch myself in the face. Its also especially hard when my wife is home and this happens because I am the stay at home parent. When my disciplining fails miserably, I feel like a miserable failure, which turns into anger.

Eventually, the whole thing blows over like it never even happened and I am stuck feeling angry and frustrated for no good reason. I wish I could shake things off as easily as he does.

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Today, Autism double fist punched me right in the balls.

My daughter and middle son were fighting loudly over who gets to play with the miniature Yoshi toy, Noah's autism decided that the excitement was too much. Next thing I know, I'm being socked in the crotch. I think I muttered something like, "what the hel..." on my way down to the floor.

Its so hard not to be mad at him for it, but the more I blame it on the autism separate from him, the easier it becomes. OK, so it hasn't started getting easier yet but I have a theory it will eventually. . .

I hope.

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This Noah. He's brilliant, smart, funny, aggravating, charming, frusterating, demanding, adorable, mesmarizing, infuriating, habitual, and complete joy to have in my life.

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I started this blog - at the prompting of my wife - not only as a means to vent my frustrations and share my experiences with Autism, but also in the hopes that other dads of autism can know that they are not alone. I know what it means to get really mad. The sleepless nights, the fits in public, throwing objects at your other kids, scratching you. . . I've been there. I'm there right now.

This isn't a blog designed to complain or secretly announce what I don't like about my child. I love my son - I don't love the autism. You aren't going to find any secret diets or methods of therapy that will fix your child or make life easier. I'll share pictures, glimpses into my life, my thoughts and frusterations - you know, the good stuff.

I am a stay at home dad to 4 amazing kids. One of them has Autism. These are my Confessions.

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