I Called Myself "A Writer"!

So I have had this blog for a while now, and I have loved writing so much.  It's been such a great way for me to express myself, some times more eloquently than others.  

Duh.

But it has only been just over a year now that I have even slightly considered myself "a writer".

I actually said it out loud!  Yesterday I was in the ER - I have diverticulitis again, side note - and my doc asked if I was in the medical field.  

(Thank you, dear doctors sister and brother-in-law, for such faboo medical coaching that apparently I sound like I know what I'm talking about.  To a doctor!)

Anyway, he asked if I was in the medical field, and I said, "No, actually, I'm a freelance writer."

Now, please understand that it's hard for me to say that and not laugh at myself.   I mean, I love writing this blog, but for me, writing a blog does not make me a real writer.  It never did, in my mind.

But then my dear friend Michelle, a real writer for the Washington Post, passed on one of my blog posts about autism to the On Parenting editor a year ago.  And she actually published it.  

What?!?!  I know!!!  And to say it's an honor is a huge understatement!!!

And since then, she has published 11 more of my pieces in the Post's On Parenting section. 12 pieces!!!  In the Washington Post!  Me!!!  How unbelievable and amazing is that?!?!

Have I told this story before?  Forgive me if I have...

And then last year, soon after I was published in the Post, I was contacted by themighty.com - a site that celebrates the "strength, joy and beauty in disability and disease".  They published one of my pieces about autism too.  Then another.  And another.  Suddenly it's a year later and I am one of their regular contributors too.

Me!  I just can't believe it.

Since then I have written for a few other sites as well (including the Organization for Autism Research!).  I have met some incredible, inspirational people, and have been lucky enough to call some of them real friends.

There is a part of me that still feels like I am fooling everyone.  I'm not a writer!  I'm just TJ and Peter's mom.

But I guess I am a writer.  

After all, I said it out loud.

And here are my latest pieces!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2015/08/31/back-to-school-and-changing-my-job-description/

http://themighty.com/2015/09/how-we-guide-our-son-with-autism-through-his-teenage-years/