I’ll tell her: Your body will change over the course of your lifetime. It’s supposed to happen that way.

Today I am sharing my heartfelt journey raising an autistic child. From grief and acceptance to growth and understanding, this essay sheds light on the challenges and joys of parenting a child with autism.

A phrase used within the Maori people, Takiwatanga, translates to “my own time and space.”  Autistic children are seen to have a strong sense of wairua (a strong spirit), meaning they can strongly connect with a higher spiritual realm. This is what we need to be told when we receive an autism diagnosis— a message of hope and curiosity towards what is different. Instead we receive fear based strategies to “fix” the problem when there is nothing to change. Today I share a candid story about the waves I experience being an Autism mom & how comparison is a thief of joy. I also provide instagram, podcast, and book resources for you to leverage & to remind yourself you’re not alone.

Hi, I’m Nikki. I’m an Autism mom. A sentence I never thought I’d say and a sentence that has transformed me more than I could have ever imagined. My son is Autistic. And it’s not a death sentence. If anything, it’s a life sentence. An opportunity to see the beauty of the human experience. April is Autism Acceptance Month. My hope with time is that it becomes a norm… not a month to celebrate but an every day experience.