10/18/2026
JAIDEN CLASS OF 2027 ✨
The most special pictures, my first-born son! The kid that grew up with me, taught me so much about life, love and struggles.
My son graduates this spring and sometimes it's hard to comprehend. Those that have followed me for a while know, my son is on the autism spectrum. When he was younger, and we were in the trenches of just getting through each day there were times in the thick of struggling I didn't know if we'd ever see this day. I didn't know what his future looked like.
He lost his ability to talk around age 2, eventually talking again around age 4 and the fight to get a diagnosis for him followed for 4 years. I was often met with "boys are slower learners" "you're just an overly worried young first-time mom", etc.
And finally at age 6 he was given the diagnosis.
Level 2 Autism and ADHD.
For 6.5 years a grueling onslaught of 4 appointments a week for speech, occupational and physical therapy, and counseling followed. On top of those therapies, he's been shuffled from 1 school to the next, 7 total in his schooling lifetime going where the best resources for him were. He'd just get used to once school, only to be passed onto the next.
Despite his adversities, struggling to fit in environments not meant for him and being shuffled around, he always overcomes what's thrown at him.
He is an incredible artist. He's drawn probably thousands of Dragons (his favorite obsession for years and years). He is extremely empathetic, loves to tell jokes and has quite the witty personality!
His junior year he seemed to really flourish and come out of his shell, and for the first time in his life made friends. He finally found his tribe, and it's been the most incredible thing watching him get to do things that most kids start doing at a much younger age.
Jaiden, I am so profoundly proud of you, today and every day and I love you more than you could ever know! I'm so glad I get to be your mom!