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Communication
Dear Addie, I've often said that communication is one of the hardest mountains we've had to climb in our autism journey. We as parents...
Leanne Menzo
May 16, 20241 min read


Motherhood
Dear Addie, The number one thing I hear raising a child with special needs is, "I could never do what you do, I just don't know how you...
Leanne Menzo
May 9, 20244 min read


Change
Dear Addie, This week we had your 13 yr check-up. I know what you're thinking, um Mom, my birthday was in December... um, yeah. Anyway......
Leanne Menzo
May 2, 20242 min read


Max!
Dear Addie, This week with the asking of one simple question we witnessed yet another first for you exactly when my autism mama heart...
Leanne Menzo
Apr 25, 20242 min read


Unrelatable
Dear Addie, It's been said a time or two that people come in and out of our lives for lessons or love. Reading that and then thinking...
Leanne Menzo
Apr 18, 20244 min read


Three Hours
Dear Addie, This week was the much-anticipated solar eclipse, and there we were on hour three, in a waiting room, far from home, watching...
Leanne Menzo
Apr 11, 20243 min read


Welcome To The Circus
Dear Addie, This week, I was reminded of the missing chapter in the infamous first 100 days of autism binder we were handed with your...
Leanne Menzo
Apr 4, 20242 min read


Fill My Cup (again)
Dear Addie, This week, we had the chance to visit one of our favorite places in the Outer Banks. A place that almost four-plus years ago...
Leanne Menzo
Mar 28, 20247 min read


A Village
Dear Addie, You'll find your people. This journey has been a ride for sure. I only really understood the depth of a mother's intuition or...
Leanne Menzo
Mar 21, 20242 min read


Counting Stars
Dear Addie, You got in the car, buckled in, and yelled, "Counting Stars!" yes, Addie, you had a musical request, and I actually knew what...
Leanne Menzo
Mar 14, 20242 min read


The Sweet Taste of Inclusion
Dear Addie, There has been a bazillion (okay, maybe that's stretching it a bit) articles written about research into people's need to...
Leanne Menzo
Mar 7, 20242 min read


Who Let The Pigs Out
Dear Addie, It was 12:39 am when I first heard the riveting rendition of Who Let the Pigs Out, including oinking noises coming from your...
Leanne Menzo
Feb 29, 20242 min read


A Lunchbox
Dear Addie, There I was doing a seemingly ordinary task, washing your hair, and just like that, it hit me. I'm still washing your hair at...
Leanne Menzo
Feb 22, 20243 min read


We Be Jamming
Dear Addie, This week in part-time home school, the great Bob Marley said it best when he said - we be jamming...except there was a...
Leanne Menzo
Feb 15, 20243 min read


The Colors Of Fact Or Fiction
Dear Addie, You've struggled with fact or fiction for as long as I can remember. You tend to see things very black & white and matter of...
Leanne Menzo
Feb 8, 20242 min read


More Than Words
Dear Addie, Over the years, you sometimes sat but usually wandered around the room or spun in circles. We read to you anyway. You only...
Leanne Menzo
Feb 1, 20241 min read


We'll Rise
Dear Addie, Not everyone is on your team—a life lesson we were reminded of this week. But before we get there, let's talk about the good...
Leanne Menzo
Jan 25, 20244 min read


When Did You Know
(Originally posted in 2019 - edited to adjust age, but this is the number one question I get asked the most...and often.) Dear Addie,...
Leanne Menzo
Jan 18, 20245 min read


Like Riding A Bike
Dear Addie, This week, we made a few adjustments to our original plan, and you and I went road-tripping up to Michigan with Nana and...
Leanne Menzo
Jan 12, 20243 min read


The Way You See It
Dear Addie, Every now and again, I'm reminded of your way of thinking and how very matter-of-fact it is. Allow me to explain. If you see...
Leanne Menzo
Jan 4, 20242 min read
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