“He loves puzzles and numbers. He makes up his own elaborate games for himself and does a lot of drawing and writing. He takes great pride and joy in being an older brother. His brother is really the only other child he interacts with regularly, and Eian loves him intensely. He’s obsessed with child development. We had a bunch of baby and toddler development books, and when he stopped meeting the milestones, I grew frustrated and put them on the bookshelves in the basement (they didn’t apply to us). When his brother was born, Eian got out all those books and read them in great detail. He loves watching his younger brother go through the stages listed in the books, and he’s full of parenting advice for us that he’s gleaned from his readings. He’s quick to point out when we are making a top parenting mistake, such as giving in to a tantrum.”
“Being the parent of an autistic child can be isolating, and there just really aren’t words for some of the things I feel when I interact with him. I began this autism photography project as a way to express myself and some of the realities of our situation. It helps me see the beauty and joy in days that are difficult, and it offers a way to communicate our challenges and rewards to others and record them for myself. It’s also distracting for me. When we have a hard day, I can focus on the art I’m making and find joy in that.”
