1. Sarah
    January 4, 2016 @ 2:34 pm

    Beautifully said and that’s the truth!


  2. Jennifer McConnell
    January 4, 2016 @ 3:24 pm

    I was bothered by Mr Trump’s mocking of the reporter, and his response. But I was more bothered by my lack of knowing how to respond. Thank you for this blog. Just today our daughter is talking of being “bothered” by another student. It is easier to address in certain arenas. But how can a man like Trump get away with being such a bully and no one can stop him, take away his power or protect those that don’t know how to protect themselves? Not a week goes by that I don’t stop what I’m doing, read your words and ponder…differently. Thank you again.


  3. Sharon
    January 4, 2016 @ 7:50 pm

    I have read this three times and shared with my family! Very well said. Not only do I agree, but somehow in expressing what is in Jack’s head, you also helped explain what is in Sofia’s head, which is why I shared with my family!! 🙂


  4. Denise
    January 5, 2016 @ 12:58 am

    I have enjoyed all your heartfelt posts but this one is misleading. If you want to teach your children not to imitate and make fun of people that’s great. I agree. But you should also mention other people like Hillary Clinton who has been repeatedly caught in lies and talks her wayoutofit and deflects answers. Lying and having a hand in four innocent people being murdered is way worse to me than what Trump has done. Do we not teach our kids not to lie as well as be kind and have empathy.


    • Janet
      January 5, 2016 @ 7:35 pm

      Denise I do not believe Carrie’s blog is the place to make a political point. Trying so hard to explain how Jack sees life in his mind while trying to process it is, her main heartfelt post. We share to stay positive under some very difficult situations in all our lives. Let us continue to thank Carrie for letting us into her life.


  5. Sheri
    January 5, 2016 @ 5:32 am

    Compassion, (or lack of), for those with difficulties shows the true character of a person.


  6. lee
    January 6, 2016 @ 2:18 pm

    Carrie, thank you for this piece on the importance of compassion. So many people are so quick to judge our “babies” without taking the time to see how awesomely unique and amazing they are. It makes me sad to think about it, so I try to focus on their incredible teachers, therapists and even bus matrons/drivers who give them so much love and encuragement on a daily basis. Hang in there everyone.


  7. Kimybeee
    January 12, 2016 @ 12:44 am

    So I get the image of Jack’s autism being like Voldemort now. You are a very frustrated Harry trying to tame it. Jack’s siblings are hermione and Ron and Harry’s other protectors and friends. Jack’s doctors and teachers are like dumbledore trying to guide you without giving you enough information to take an easier road. All of Jack’s issues are tribulations he has to encounter on his journey. That is an amazing perspective to me. And I know you didn’t infer that was the meaning of your point, but it makes sense to me.

    As somebody with anxiety, I can relate to some of Jack’s common issues. Change in routine, places you aren’t familiar with, loud public places, stuff that doesn’t use common sense, crowds, traveling. Those are some of the things that trigger my anxiety. I have taken many medications for quite some time. My anxiety is never “managed”. How can a pill make me forget that I don’t like large crowds. How can a pill make me forget I don’t like things out of my comfort zone. The meds don’t make me forget, but they do make it much more bearable. Anxiety feels like your entire insides are being jolted with thousands of volts of electricity while the outside looks normal.

    When my anxiety attacks first started, I had one on the way to the beach almost nine years ago. I was driving 70 mph on a huge interstate headed south with my husband in the passenger seat and our daughter and her best friend in the backseat. I had been fine all day until my parents and sister wanted to stop at a motel for the night instead of driving the extra couple hours to the beach. We couldn’t get into the house until the next day, but the plan had changed. I calmly stated to my husband I was having an anxiety attack. He started digging for my emergency med. I had no way to pull over or to stop what was happening in my body or brain. I started crying and cried all the way to the hotel. I cried myself to sleep and I was still a wreck when I woke up the next morning. We headed in to the beach house and once we arrived I was fine.

    Why do I bother telling you all of this? Because Carrie I know what severe anxiety is like. I can tell you what Jack may be feeling when his plans get changed. I don’t know Jack and I don’t know autism on the level you do, but I know anxiety on a very personal level. I know it is miserable being the party pooper and not being able to go to my kids events that were out of town or in huge venues. My kids high school graduations were torture for me. My daughter will graduate college in December and I dread her commencement. I like to stay home and have quiet and turn the tv off or work jigsaw puzzles on the iPad. I prefer Netflix or recorded tv so I can bypass the commercials that drive me batty with their constant stupid commercials and news breaks. I love pandora and my music so I don’t have to hear anything but the music and whichever genre my mood picks that day. I don’t watch the news because it makes me sad and angry. I read the newspaper or get my news on the iPad so I don’t have to hear or read the horrible things going on in the world.

    So I can tell you what it may “feel” like for Jack to have anxiety crush his world. That is not something that is limited to autism. I am not a sad person, I am a glass half full, the sun is shining and unicorns are dancing on the rainbows kind of gal. I haven’t locked myself away and avoided the world to give my anxiety a pause. I do have personal limits. I have worked so hard not to let my anxiety cripple my kids even though as young adults they both have some anxiety (genetics can’t be fooled).

    You sound like you feel guilty for giving Jack that little pill, like it may change him into somebody he is not. I can tell you with great certainty to give him that pill and maybe an extra one. The anxiety hides who you are, it takes away the bravery you want to feel and replaces it with caution and frustration. It won’t stifle who Jack is, it will help him break free from Voldemort for at least a little while. He will be able to fight the dragon without fear of failure. It will make his blue as bright as the afternoon sky instead of as dark as the dusk.



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