tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post8957353338708524741..comments2023-06-13T08:38:00.745-04:00Comments on The Sensual World of Stephani Hecht: Autism Awareness MonthStephani Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410308590863597919noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-25130648685757993092012-05-03T18:29:57.207-04:002012-05-03T18:29:57.207-04:00Thank you so, so, so, so much for all your wonderf...Thank you so, so, so, so much for all your wonderful comments. We had Joie's yearly IEP meeting with her school. She is still behind in reading, but she is improving more quickly. She loves books and writing, so once she gets the hang of it, I think there will be no stopping her.Stephani Hechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08410308590863597919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-23253400328279555632012-05-01T15:02:28.302-04:002012-05-01T15:02:28.302-04:00Thanks so much for sharing Joie's story with u...Thanks so much for sharing Joie's story with us. I totally agree with you. No matter what the name of the disorder is, just having a name is a load off your mind. With a name, you are not just stubmling around in the dark trying to find somethins, anything that might work. Once you have a name for the problem, you can address it properly and deal with it. A name allows you to cope (and to finally have realistic hope). I struggled with my child for years until he was finally diagnosed as on the spectrum (at age 12) and know the heartbreak that not knowing and wondering what is wrong can take on a family. Blessings to you and your family.Wendy H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15146950995967512776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-2964202293199731792012-05-01T02:53:43.898-04:002012-05-01T02:53:43.898-04:00Wow im glad you found out what it was & you do...Wow im glad you found out what it was & you dont have to worry about it as much anymore.<br />:)Deb :o)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02205968293966212288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-71452387308622936962012-04-30T21:59:09.661-04:002012-04-30T21:59:09.661-04:00Very emotional post. I am stunned that so many of...Very emotional post. I am stunned that so many of my favorite authors are dealing with these issues. Keep the faith!nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09749464415907980121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-74971881785231268572012-04-30T21:37:32.959-04:002012-04-30T21:37:32.959-04:00She is beautiful and you are a fantastic mom to lo...She is beautiful and you are a fantastic mom to love her "just the way she is"! It can be so hard to take that step back from your own expectations and emotions and give that unconditional love to your children - well done!Sunfloweryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03710091443144601954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-90380766989823839672012-04-30T14:41:41.570-04:002012-04-30T14:41:41.570-04:00A friend and I had a conversation last night about...A friend and I had a conversation last night about what a "normal" childhood entails in today's world. He has three absolutely amazing children and I told him that I thought it was wonderful that they were able to grow up sheltered, happy, and secure.<br /><br /> Of course, his reaction was that his children had a normal childhood, unlike he and I. My response was, his children had the childhood that we would all like to think is "normal", but truly isn't in this day and age.<br /><br /> I am always impressed to hear these stories where parents are working so hard to give their extraordinary children childhoods as close to "normal" as is humanly possible. You will be rewarded with amazing children that grow into brilliant adults.Eliwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03413036677042656109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-8923751835051138482012-04-30T13:20:40.507-04:002012-04-30T13:20:40.507-04:00Thank you for sharing your story. I dont have any...Thank you for sharing your story. I dont have any kids, but it made me cry a bit anyways. It always makes me so happy to see parents who love and support their children no matter what. I wish you and your beautiful daughter, Joie, all the best.devonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14909676864287350525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-60056167544496605092012-04-30T13:04:31.697-04:002012-04-30T13:04:31.697-04:00As a parent of two beautiful girls, age 6 and 11, ...As a parent of two beautiful girls, age 6 and 11, I have to say I have days where I want to just reboot and start over. My girls are 100% healthy and I feel very lucky for that. You Ms. Stephani and all the loving mothers of challenged children with Autism or any other special needs issues are my heroes. I will spend the day crying about how my girls didn't clean their room, or how they talked back or got an attitude and then I read a post like this and realize I need to pull up my big girl panties and get over it. I read your posts and Amber Kell's posts and realize how very lucky I am. You are also lucky to have a beautiful girl who like you said, can appreciate the small stuff that all we grown-ups are just way too busy to notice anymore. I am glad you have a diagnosis and I hope that helps your girl in the long run. How intelligent she is to make up her own sign language, I wonder if any of us would have the drive to do that??? I wish you and your daughter all the best in the future. She seems like an amazing young lady.Jackie mcKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01345721045642223157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-37683850469315116572012-04-30T10:38:08.306-04:002012-04-30T10:38:08.306-04:00Stephani Thank you for your post and for the love ...Stephani Thank you for your post and for the love you have for your kids. I have ran across people in my life, who have said things about my children or even what caused their diagnose. and I sometimes wonder WTH!!! I would also say if someone even a doctor says something you do not agree with get a second opion, I know that you kmow that, but most people think there doctors they know what they are talking about, but always follow your gut instinct. I hope you have an Awesome day!!!cathy hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13528912381847697007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-4451598713443574562012-04-30T10:19:25.821-04:002012-04-30T10:19:25.821-04:00Thank you Stephani, for your touching story... I a...Thank you Stephani, for your touching story... I am not ashamed to say you made me cry. Not a day goes by where I don't worry about my three yr old being so much behind in het speech. We just now got into the specialists office (finally), and we hope this will start to give us some answers. <br />Reading Joie's story reminds me how special all those little boys and girls are. Thank you so much!Carla V.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00517009051028561970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-58084981609956412652012-04-30T10:12:59.089-04:002012-04-30T10:12:59.089-04:00Oh, bless. Thanks for sharing Ms. Stephani and th...Oh, bless. Thanks for sharing Ms. Stephani and thank you for being so delightfully fierce when you share about your childrenMadisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09112907422447787103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-32547582475127959392012-04-30T09:44:10.422-04:002012-04-30T09:44:10.422-04:00*hugs* Steph. I completely know how you feel. I fe...*hugs* Steph. I completely know how you feel. I felt such a relief over my youngest finally being diagnosed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-11988094696971799662012-04-30T02:51:38.371-04:002012-04-30T02:51:38.371-04:00You have an amazing daughter. Reading this post br...You have an amazing daughter. Reading this post brought tears to my eyes. I wish all children (Special needs or not) had parents like you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-84429355501004061922012-04-30T02:34:13.351-04:002012-04-30T02:34:13.351-04:00Oh god S...we have so much in common... i owe you ...Oh god S...we have so much in common... i owe you the biggest hug in September...<br /><br />HUGS XXXXRJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12451151020470211560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-64644668414674150062012-04-29T22:17:10.611-04:002012-04-29T22:17:10.611-04:00*hugz* You're right, Joie is perfect just the ...*hugz* You're right, Joie is perfect just the way she is. Thank you for sharing this story. I've noticed that kids who are not at the same "level" as their peers emotionally or socially or mentally usually make up for that difference by being prodigies or as you stated being "magical" in other areas. I'm glad that you're no longer fighting a ghost, but more than that I'm glad that Joie is surrounded by a family who loves and supports her and parents who support her and think that she's "perfect" and wouldn't change one thing about her. That is beyond special and makes her a very blessed child indeed.Vicktor Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01335249239525296297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-86877482421072508652012-04-29T21:03:14.698-04:002012-04-29T21:03:14.698-04:00Your kids were lucky enough to get the best mom po...Your kids were lucky enough to get the best mom possible for them. Mothers should always put their kids above all and love them no matter what. I have the most respect for women (and men/fathers) who understand that their children are relying on them to be their defender and advocate. God bless you for being one of them that truly understand this - not all of us out there get it. Most of us, but not all.<br /><br />Laura Aleman Striplinshavedwolvyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07571155861923520005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-73657434904078584382012-04-29T20:43:36.587-04:002012-04-29T20:43:36.587-04:00Thank you for sharing your story, Stephani. Joie i...Thank you for sharing your story, Stephani. Joie is a beautiful, wonderful, amazing little girl. She is truly a blessing.<br /><br /><br />Hugs,<br />SharonSharon Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468525668280278056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-80942667002208883862012-04-29T20:34:12.098-04:002012-04-29T20:34:12.098-04:00Beautiful! I don't personally know your daught...Beautiful! I don't personally know your daughter, but from your posts her and on facebook, i can see she is a wonderful child with a family that loves her immensely. Hugs to you all!Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09719838081040523689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263621021401280921.post-64774685481373196072012-04-29T20:31:42.195-04:002012-04-29T20:31:42.195-04:00Thanks for sharing your family's story, Steph....Thanks for sharing your family's story, Steph. Having a name for something is a powerful thing.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959009113795804133noreply@blogger.com