You Don’t Have to Think Twice When It’s Your Kid

We all say our kids come first. But sometimes life gives you a moment when you find out just how automatic that really is.This week, I talk about telling my daughter Olivia that we'd find a way to make college work no matter what it cost, even as a voice in my own head wondered exactly how I planned to pull that off. Then there's Lucas, my 15-year-old nonverbal son with autism, who needs me in a very different way.When a substitute matron on Lucas's school bus grabbed his arm during a difficult transition, I reacted before I even had time to think about it. For years, I'd wondered how I would respond if someone crossed a line with my son. In that moment, I found out.But this isn't an episode about fighting the world. In fact, raising Lucas has taught me almost the opposite. I once expected judgment, confrontation and strangers who wouldn't understand him. Instead, I've encountered an incredible amount of kindness, including one stranger at a swimming pool whose words during one of Lucas's meltdowns have stayed with me for years.Our kids come first. It's easy to put on a meme or a T-shirt. Living it is something different, and for most of the parents I've met along this journey, it isn't something we even have to think twice about.It's Here! Get the book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation” on audio, digital, or print.Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.