I will occasionally make unsolicited recommendations on this site. Here is the first one since I picked this blogging thing back up like it is 2005.

The book is Autism Out Loud. It is written by three moms (Kate Swenson, Adrian Wood, and Carrie Cariello) who each have a son on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The moms alternate sharing their brilliant insights, the very low lows and extreme highs of having a child on the spectrum. The chapters have a logical order to them, starting with the day that lives in the mind of every parent with a child on the spectrum, diagnosis day. From there, it’s a chapter about each family’s new normal, anxiety, siblings, community, etc. I haven’t even finished the book, but I know it’ll be my top nonfiction read of 2026.

My tears have fallen on some pages, I have laughed out loud, I have double underlined favorite passages, and drawn stars in the margin, my personal mark of a highlight of the book. This book has played a role in my beginning to write again. It has given me courage to share much more about what it is like having a daughter on the spectrum. It has given me ideas, which is good, because I was for a very long time a “writer” who would not sit down at the desk if I did not first have an idea. That approach has not served me well over the years, but I digress, you must read this book if you have a child on the spectrum or if anyone in your family is on the spectrum.

I want to leave you with a few passages from the book that rang especially true for me. It has been quite the task to limit myself to three quotes to share, but for legal reasons I cannot copy and paste the book onto this blog.

“Autism is a family diagnosis. Yes, it’s only Cooper who carries the label, but it’s all of us who feel its effect.” – Swenson

“I began writing to save myself, not relate to other people. I had to confront the feelings that came from accepting an unexpected life.” – Wood

“I still can’t believe the doctor said he has autism. That must be so hard!”

“I mean, no one wants to know something is wrong with their child.”

I glanced down at her perfect little boy sitting calmly in the stroller, and I felt a sense of loneliness descend upon me like a cloud. She meant well. I know she did. It’s just that unless you are in the blizzard yourself, it can be difficult to comprehend the weight of the storm. – Cariello

Been there thousands of times. Amen, sister.