Your Stories

Sandra is a single mom who is constantly on the go, trying to balance work, school, and taking care of her 6 year old son, Jack. Jack is on the spectrum of autism and is non-verbal, making communication a constant challenge for both him and Sandra. Despite this, Sandra is determined to give Jack the best life possible and has devoted herself to learning as much as she can about autism and how to support him. One of the biggest challenges Sandra faces is the lack of understanding and support from those around her. Many people do not understand the...

  It's all different. Unexpected. Unfiltered. Uncomfortable. Beautiful. Wild. Free. I watch, breath held, trying to put your shoes on my feet. I hide. You don't. I shouldn't. We circle. I spend another day pretending I'm not made of broken glass. You spend another day believing you're unbreakable.   Credit to Tara Mackin Follow Tara on Instagram @tara.mackin    #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #inclusion   Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @brightbuddies Follow us on TikTok @brightbuddies.io

    You went out quietly one night, so he wouldn't wake up. I heard the door close and waited all night long. Trembling and crying, I prayed. I prayed for strength, as I didn't know if I could face it all alone. How to tell my little boy that daddy wouldn't be coming home any more? He would not be coming back to chase him around the house.Don't worry and most certainly you won't. Don't worry about not being there; I will be there, I am always there, maybe broken but his words spoken thru his eyes will be the...

  The day he hatched, I cried in joy, I said, “Sky’s your name, my little boy. You're the best thing that’s happened to me, And I’m going to be your Mommy.”   Seeing my reflection in his eyes, gave me a bit of a surprise. Because for the first time in life I understood, Feathers and wings like mine were good, But a loving heart was what I wanted to share. Could that also be seen in my child's stare?   I questioned this more as Sky grew, Because whenever I said, “I love you,” All he ever answered...

  I’m sure every single one of you remembers the day that you received that wonderful news that you were going to be parents, hands down the best day of your life, right? As if on autopilot–your thoughts immediately run away with you and already you are looking into the mirror ball and seeing this perfect and blissful journey up ahead, through life with your bundle of joy. But alas. It often is not as black & white as that now, is it? Upon one of your checkups before the baby arrives–your doctor shares the news with you that the...