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Author Archives: Cynthia J. Patton
Just When I Thought It Couldn’t Get Worse, Part 5
The female investigator from Child Protective Services (CPS) surveyed the broken items around us and asked whether my daughter received behavioral support. “I had a great in-home team who had been with us for years, but I lost them in … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Behavioral Issues, Child Protective Services, CPS, MediCal, Parenting, Regional Center, Single Parent, Special Education, Unplanned Life
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Just When I Thought It Couldn’t Get Worse, Part 4
I didn’t have long to wait. The investigator from Child Protective Services (CPS) arrived the next morning. She refused to enter until I put the dog outside, then paused at the door while she took in my new decor. The … Continue reading
Just When I Thought It Couldn’t Get Worse, Part 3
Without Caroline, there could be no “school.” We’d been given an afternoon off. It was unexpected, but I wasn’t about to complain. Neither was Katie. Free of the usual afternoon chaos, I went to my office and jumped on a … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Behavioral Issues, Child Protective Services, Parenting, Shame, Single Parent, Special Education, Unplanned Life
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Just When I Thought It Couldn’t Get Worse, Part 2
After Katie broke the wooden office supply organizer, she pretty much lost it, throwing pieces of wood and handfuls of office supplies. Caroline handed Katie a garbage bag and instructed her to clean up the mess. I could tell that … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Anger, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Hand Over Hand, Special Education, Unplanned Life
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Just When I Thought It Couldn’t Get Worse, Part 1
My daughter Katie’s truce with Caroline was short-lived. Just a few days after spring break, we began having tantrums and random acts of property destruction that quickly escalated. Then came the fateful day that, for me (and I suspect Caroline), … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Anger, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Ignoring the Behavior, Instructional Control, Special Education, Unplanned Life
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Petaluma Reader’s Theatre to Revive Production of Fatherhood
I’m super excited to announce that the Petaluma Reader’s Theatre (PRT) will be reviving their show, Dear Ole Dad: A Tribute to Fatherhood, which includes my story, There’s No Daddy Here. The show is on Saturday, June 18th at 7:30 … Continue reading
Posted in My Life, News, Other Writers
Tagged Acceptance, Autism, Dating, Divorce, Memoir, Petaluma Readers Theatre, Prince Gallery, Single Parent, There's No Daddy Here, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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Struggles With Anxiety
I recently read somewhere that the average person living with autism spectrum disorder suffers levels of anxiety that would cripple any of us neuro-typicals. On any given day, they experience exceedingly high levels of anxiety. Every day, all day, tremendous … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Anxiety, Autism, Motivation, Punishment, Rewards, Unplanned Life
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TWO DAYS LEFT to Pre-Order My New Book
Finishing Line Press will publish my debut poetry collection, Across An Aqueous Moon: Travels in Autism, this summer. The pre-sales period for the chapbook is currently underway. Sales made during this period determine the size of the print run. Therefore, … Continue reading
A Question of Power, Part 2
After the ceremony concluded, I spoke privately with the shaman who repeated Spirit’s words and added, “Your power is housed in your core. It can’t be taken from you, but you can lose or give it away. Your task is … Continue reading
A Question of Power, Part 1
Recently I attended a ceremony held by a local shaman and healer who happens to be a friend. (And no, you’d never know she was a shaman if you met her on the street.) Because of what happened later, I’ve … Continue reading
