Hi! My name is
Chelsea. I am the mother to two darling, completely opposite little girls, Cali
(4) and Ava (2) and a wife to my best friend, Casey. Almost seven years ago,
Casey and I started an uncharted adventure we have come to love and treasure
each and every day… even the hard, want-to-crawl-up-in-a-ball days! Our oldest daughter, Cali, was diagnosed with Autism in February of 2010. We are a
family who loves to travel, spend time watching college football, having the
girls play with their cousins as much as possible, LOVE LOVE LOVE eating at
yummy restaurants, attending church once a week, and much much more! Having a
family is the most treasured part of my life. Nothing better!!
Chelsea. I am the mother to two darling, completely opposite little girls, Cali
(4) and Ava (2) and a wife to my best friend, Casey. Almost seven years ago,
Casey and I started an uncharted adventure we have come to love and treasure
each and every day… even the hard, want-to-crawl-up-in-a-ball days! Our oldest daughter, Cali, was diagnosed with Autism in February of 2010. We are a
family who loves to travel, spend time watching college football, having the
girls play with their cousins as much as possible, LOVE LOVE LOVE eating at
yummy restaurants, attending church once a week, and much much more! Having a
family is the most treasured part of my life. Nothing better!!
***************
Miggy: Can you take me back to the day Cali was
diagnosed autism? Do you remember how you felt? Can you
compare those first thoughts and feelings with how you feel now?
diagnosed autism? Do you remember how you felt? Can you
compare those first thoughts and feelings with how you feel now?
Chelsea: The day was Feburary 28,
2010. After a LONG four months of back-and-forth questioning of whether or not
Cali was even a candidate for an evaluation, we finally scheduled the
appointment. The back-and-forth was due, quite frankly, to this hope we
(my husband and I) were holding on to. A hope that our child would not have
autism. The evaluation was a three part process, ending with the psychologist
who is the one authorized to give the official diagnosis. She took us through
Cali’s test scores, drew a line to imitate the spectrum, and placed Cali’s
score somewhere near the middle of the line. I could see the dot on the line,
but still nothing seemed to pull at my heart, stop my breathe, and crush me,
until I heard the words “This is where your daughter sits on the autism
spectrum.” Me: “So she has autism?” Psychologist,
“Yes.” My whole world changed in an instant, but what absolutely
never changed and continues to be the same, is my total and complete love for
Cali. I can remember back then feeling lost, overwhelmed, confused, frustrated,
but also relieved to have an answer. Today, two years in, I feel confident,
assured, positive, and hopeful Cali will become the beautiful girl we always
dreamed her to be!!
2010. After a LONG four months of back-and-forth questioning of whether or not
Cali was even a candidate for an evaluation, we finally scheduled the
appointment. The back-and-forth was due, quite frankly, to this hope we
(my husband and I) were holding on to. A hope that our child would not have
autism. The evaluation was a three part process, ending with the psychologist
who is the one authorized to give the official diagnosis. She took us through
Cali’s test scores, drew a line to imitate the spectrum, and placed Cali’s
score somewhere near the middle of the line. I could see the dot on the line,
but still nothing seemed to pull at my heart, stop my breathe, and crush me,
until I heard the words “This is where your daughter sits on the autism
spectrum.” Me: “So she has autism?” Psychologist,
“Yes.” My whole world changed in an instant, but what absolutely
never changed and continues to be the same, is my total and complete love for
Cali. I can remember back then feeling lost, overwhelmed, confused, frustrated,
but also relieved to have an answer. Today, two years in, I feel confident,
assured, positive, and hopeful Cali will become the beautiful girl we always
dreamed her to be!!
Miggy: Explain how Cali’s autism affects your
day-to-day life?
day-to-day life?
Chelsea: Day-to-day life is ALL
about therapy with Cali, while our cute little Ava (two years old) tags along
and happens to be benefitting very much! We do therapy during breakfast,
brushing teeth, movie watching, lunch, car rides, story time, bedtime, you name
it. Therapy NEVER stops! Fortunately Cali has professional therapists through
Autism Journeys come to the home seven to eight hours a week to help us learn
techniques to use during our day-to-day. If you were a fly on the wall you
would, along with the therapy see this…two sisters loving and hating each
other, a mom loving her job while at times pulling her hair out, watching Doc
McStuffins every morning at 7:30 with their dad, me neurotically sweeping up
the kitchen about a million times a day (clean freak or just life with two
toddlers!), the girls running to the door when they hear their dad walk in, and
much more good and not so good depending on the day. Autism affects our family
each and every day, but we take it and love it because without it, we would
have no Cali.
about therapy with Cali, while our cute little Ava (two years old) tags along
and happens to be benefitting very much! We do therapy during breakfast,
brushing teeth, movie watching, lunch, car rides, story time, bedtime, you name
it. Therapy NEVER stops! Fortunately Cali has professional therapists through
Autism Journeys come to the home seven to eight hours a week to help us learn
techniques to use during our day-to-day. If you were a fly on the wall you
would, along with the therapy see this…two sisters loving and hating each
other, a mom loving her job while at times pulling her hair out, watching Doc
McStuffins every morning at 7:30 with their dad, me neurotically sweeping up
the kitchen about a million times a day (clean freak or just life with two
toddlers!), the girls running to the door when they hear their dad walk in, and
much more good and not so good depending on the day. Autism affects our family
each and every day, but we take it and love it because without it, we would
have no Cali.
Miggy: What are the biggest worries you face for
Cali?
Cali?
Chelsea: Current worries are
wasting time and failing to give Cali the therapy she needs. I am fully
convinced that early intervention is the KEY to teaching kids with autism how
to compensate for their tendencies and function with a typical and full life. Future worries…probably the typical concerns parents have for any child
whether on the autism spectrum, those living with any other special need,
or just typical. I worry Cali will have moments of not being accepted, having
teachers who don’t give her the time and attention she needs, having friends or
parents not understand some of her “quirks,” people placing judgments
on her, and many more that will arise as certain circumstances arise.
wasting time and failing to give Cali the therapy she needs. I am fully
convinced that early intervention is the KEY to teaching kids with autism how
to compensate for their tendencies and function with a typical and full life. Future worries…probably the typical concerns parents have for any child
whether on the autism spectrum, those living with any other special need,
or just typical. I worry Cali will have moments of not being accepted, having
teachers who don’t give her the time and attention she needs, having friends or
parents not understand some of her “quirks,” people placing judgments
on her, and many more that will arise as certain circumstances arise.
Miggy: Now for a lighter question, have you ever had
any funny conversations/moments you never imagined due to your special needs
situations?
any funny conversations/moments you never imagined due to your special needs
situations?
Chelsea: Yes!! As of two weeks
ago, Cali’s therapist wrote a social story on hugging. The idea of a social
story is to pick a specific topic or concept a child needs help understanding,
and write a story all about that topic or concept. Cali has no filter when it
comes to strangers. She also finds comfort in hugging any and ALL people,
whether her own grandma or the cashier at a local grocery store. In her hugging
story, one of the pages says: I don’t hug people I do not know. Then the page
goes on to list those of whom she may not know, which includes people at church
(this is a HUGE issue for Cali. In her mind it’s hugs for everyone at
church!!). Well, after a week long of reading this story, we knew she had it
down pretty good when she said this to the cute old man sitting next to us on our
row: said in a very matter of fact, stern, somber tone, with her pointer finger
leading the way, “We do not give hugs at church.” She then turns and
walks away. Good thing she is only four and so darn cute. The grandpa couldn’t
help but smile. 🙂 I guess we can figure social stories are a pretty good
technique to use with this girl!!
ago, Cali’s therapist wrote a social story on hugging. The idea of a social
story is to pick a specific topic or concept a child needs help understanding,
and write a story all about that topic or concept. Cali has no filter when it
comes to strangers. She also finds comfort in hugging any and ALL people,
whether her own grandma or the cashier at a local grocery store. In her hugging
story, one of the pages says: I don’t hug people I do not know. Then the page
goes on to list those of whom she may not know, which includes people at church
(this is a HUGE issue for Cali. In her mind it’s hugs for everyone at
church!!). Well, after a week long of reading this story, we knew she had it
down pretty good when she said this to the cute old man sitting next to us on our
row: said in a very matter of fact, stern, somber tone, with her pointer finger
leading the way, “We do not give hugs at church.” She then turns and
walks away. Good thing she is only four and so darn cute. The grandpa couldn’t
help but smile. 🙂 I guess we can figure social stories are a pretty good
technique to use with this girl!!
Miggy: How can people best approach or respond to Cali? Is there something you wish other people knew so as to avoid awkward
or hurtful situations?
or hurtful situations?
Chelsea: First, love her and if
time presents itself, be open and ask me questions. Asks the questions that
will help them to come to know Cali, and more importantly know how to help
Cali. The more people we have on board the better!
time presents itself, be open and ask me questions. Asks the questions that
will help them to come to know Cali, and more importantly know how to help
Cali. The more people we have on board the better!
Miggy: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned
since becoming Cali’s mom?
since becoming Cali’s mom?
Chelsea: Biggest lesson?? That
becoming a mom is undoubtedly the most rewarding, full-time job on the planet. Cliche? Yes, but I say it because it’s true. A mom never stops, a mom
truly has the opportunity to live a life full of service each and every day. For me it is life serving two beautiful girls who have the greatest potential
to become something great. Cali has autism, Ava does not, regardless I see it
as my sole responsibility to help them find their way and live their lives
striving to put their best foot forward. Helping them to see their life as
something special, something worth living for. I sometimes fast forward to
the future and think about what my girls may say of me as a mom. My hope is
that they will say, if nothing else, I showed them unconditional love. Unfortunately I have many days of doing it the wrong way. Hopefully the love
will compensate for my “monster mom” days!!
becoming a mom is undoubtedly the most rewarding, full-time job on the planet. Cliche? Yes, but I say it because it’s true. A mom never stops, a mom
truly has the opportunity to live a life full of service each and every day. For me it is life serving two beautiful girls who have the greatest potential
to become something great. Cali has autism, Ava does not, regardless I see it
as my sole responsibility to help them find their way and live their lives
striving to put their best foot forward. Helping them to see their life as
something special, something worth living for. I sometimes fast forward to
the future and think about what my girls may say of me as a mom. My hope is
that they will say, if nothing else, I showed them unconditional love. Unfortunately I have many days of doing it the wrong way. Hopefully the love
will compensate for my “monster mom” days!!
Miggy: If you could say something to the mom who
just starting on the Autism journey (and there is a mom out there somewhere), what would you
say? What would you say to yourself if you could go back in
time?
just starting on the Autism journey (and there is a mom out there somewhere), what would you
say? What would you say to yourself if you could go back in
time?
Chelsea: I actually just recently
wrote a blog post on this (read here),
but in short this is what I would say. If nothing else, just an hour a day! An
hour a day of interaction that promotes improvement with your child. When we
first received the diagnoses I was sooooo overwhelmed, especially trying to
research out any and all information. WAY too much to take in!!! If someone
would have told me, just an hour a day, I think I would have been able to climb
out of my hole because of the light creeping in. Children on the spectrum
seem to be locked in their own world, almost trapped, but if their loved ones
could try each and every day to search for those keys to unlock those doors,
they can walk out and become a part of yours. Cali’s doors sometimes close back
up, but in those moments it’s ok. It’s ok because I have the keys. Once you
have those keys, they will, with your help, always stay a part of your world.
wrote a blog post on this (read here),
but in short this is what I would say. If nothing else, just an hour a day! An
hour a day of interaction that promotes improvement with your child. When we
first received the diagnoses I was sooooo overwhelmed, especially trying to
research out any and all information. WAY too much to take in!!! If someone
would have told me, just an hour a day, I think I would have been able to climb
out of my hole because of the light creeping in. Children on the spectrum
seem to be locked in their own world, almost trapped, but if their loved ones
could try each and every day to search for those keys to unlock those doors,
they can walk out and become a part of yours. Cali’s doors sometimes close back
up, but in those moments it’s ok. It’s ok because I have the keys. Once you
have those keys, they will, with your help, always stay a part of your world.
***************
I want to thank Chelsea for her great spotlight and her wonderful insights on life with Cali and autism. I loved her advice for families who are just starting on the Autism journey–If nothing else, just start with an hour a day! Great advice. Thanks again Chelsea. Please check out Chelsea’s blog, Where Did The Bird Go?, that is written for the express purpose of helping those who have a child with Autism.
Thanks again and as always if you or someone you know would like to participate in the Special Needs Spotlight Series please email me at thislittlemiggy at gmail dot com. And for those of you who have already emailed you, I don’t need to tell you that I’m slow at getting back to you! Hang in there!
Have a great weekend!
What a darling little girl! I looked at the blog and what great helps Chelsea has for other parents. I don't have any autistic children but will still use some of her ideas. Best of luck to Cali. She has a lot going for her already with such a wonderful family! Chlesea, what part of Utah are you in? I live in Cache Valley!
Hi Amanda! We live down in Utah county. My husband is from cache valley though. And thank you for the comment. Means a lot!
Beautiful little girl, and a great spotlight 🙂
LOVED the story about not giving hugs in church. My husband and I were sitting on the couch laughing so hard!
Thanks so much for this. A lot of people misunderstand Autism, and this is a nice reminder that they're just people like the rest of us with a few extra challenges. Having an autistic brother of my own, it's nice for people to realize what sweet little angels they can be!
I've been reading a ton of Miggy's posts lately (your blog is so wonderful) and none of the posts have pulled on my heartstrings quite like this one. I was diagnosed Autistic years ago, and I understand a lot of what Cali's experiencing. I understand the frustration of not understanding things everybody else seems to know instinctively, the feeling that you're just not the same as everybody else. It's scary sometimes, but having parents who love and support and try to understand is so wonderful and helpful. And through therapy I've grown so much socially to the point that I feel so much more comfortable now than I did even a year ago and I continue to grow. And seeing Cali takes me right back to that little girl I was and makes me proud of her and happy for her. So thank you Chelsea and thank you Miggy.