Ten years ago, I started writing about my son Lucas. What I didn’t realize back then was how much I would change along the way.

When your child is nonverbal, it’s easy to get stuck waiting. Waiting for words. Waiting for progress. Waiting for a moment that may never come.

But what I’ve learned is this: communication was always there. It just didn’t look the way I expected.

In this episode, I talk about what finally shifted my perspective from focusing on speech to recognizing understanding, intent, and connection through actions, routines, and trust.

Because trust changes everything.

When Lucas trusts me, he waits. He stays regulated. He doesn’t grab food, melt down, or panic in the same ways he once did. Not because he suddenly “learned behavior”, but because he knows I understand him and I’ve got his back.

I share real moments, from food struggles to transitions to a birthday party that showed me just how far we’ve come.

If you’re raising a child who communicates differently, this episode is about seeing what’s already there and building from it.

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.

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Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

I used to feel like I was waiting for something that would finally make everything make sense - my son’s verbal language. When you’re raising a young child with nonverbal autism, the hardest part isn’t always the day-to-day. It’s the uncertainty, the questions, and not having answers for any of it.

In this episode, I talk about those early years, the pressure from other people, and the reactions that come when your child doesn’t fit expectations. From denial disguised as reassurance to “cures” that miss the point entirely, it’s a reality a lot of parents quietly deal with.

The shift came when I stopped waiting. Not because everything got easier, but because I started seeing my son for who he is right now—not someone I’m still waiting to meet. That’s where autism appreciation began for me, and it changed everything about how I see him, our life, and what actually matters.

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.

I didn’t have answers when people asked why my nonverbal son was clapping, making sounds, or doing things they didn’t understand.

And that wasn’t because I was embarrassed.

It was because I genuinely didn’t know.

Over time, that changed. Not because someone explained it to me, but because I started paying attention. What looked random wasn’t random. What looked confusing actually had a purpose.

And once I understood that, something else clicked.

This isn’t just something my son does.

We all do it.

We just don’t do it out loud. We don’t do it in public. We don’t let ourselves.

This episode is about stimming, what it really is, and why the difference between my son and the rest of us might not be what you think.

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.