In honor of National Autism Awareness Month, not only do I want to shed light on autism and how it affects children and families, but I want to acknowledge the many beautiful life lessons I’ve learned as a parent of children with autism.

My wife and I have identical twin boys whom just celebrated their 10th birthday. They began their autism journey born eight weeks premature with a week in the neonatal intensive care unit. In addition to the diagnosis of autism, our kids have a medical history of asthma, attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), epilepsy, and pica. This is our experience; however, not all families of autism have the same narrative.

Click here to read more.

Autism is not a childhood diagnosis; it is a lifetime diagnosis. And it’s not a diagnosis that affects one person. It affects the entire family and beyond.

I know this because I am a father of 7-year-old identical twin boys on the spectrum. I don’t profess to be an expert on autism, but I am an expert on my boys.

As fathers, we are an essential component of this autism phenomenon, and our parenting experience is unique. Here are 13 observations (and some advice) that dads of kids with autism will understand and everyone needs to know.

Click here to read the rest at YourTango.com

No matter what approach you try, do you still say the wrong comments to your wife? Or perhaps you have learned that you can’t communicate without causing a fight, so you’ve decided to keep quiet — only angering her further.

You’re trying to improve your communication and save your marriage, but every little thing you say (or don’t say) seems to be taken the wrong way.

Oftentimes as men, we speak too little in our intimate relationships, which chips away the effectiveness of our communication. Consequently, our wives will negatively interpret our words, or lack thereof, thereby influencing how they feel in the marriage. So what we eventually consider to be “nagging,” “annoying,” or “starting an argument,” is really a reflection of how much and well we communicate.

Click here to read more at Yourtango.com.

For any man who’s a husband, there’s a good chance you’ve upset your wife at some point.

For some of you, it was just this morning. And at some time, you may have heard, “I don’t feel like you love me,” or “We don’t do anything anymore,” or “You need to get your stuff together.”

Being a man does not come with a manual — and neither does being a good husband.

So what does it take to be a good husband, and in turn, have a happy marriage?

If you want to make sure you’re doing a great job as a husband, then there are some things you’ll want to make sure you’re doing — that will result in a happy marriage, too.

To read the full article, click here.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you wonder whether your husband understands his purpose as a husband?
• Is he still trying to live like a single man?
• Do you think he is incapable of loving you the way you need?
• Do you wish he did more for the marriage or to improve himself?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, or you know someone who would answer “yes,” please continue reading.

We have multiple purposes as men. But, one of the hardest—yet most important—is learning to love and honor YOU. We are becoming more aware of our shortcomings in this area and that’s why I want to share this with you.

Please click here to read the rest!

Thanksgiving and Christmas are often considered to be the best times of year. These holidays often come with the expectation of time off from work, quality time with family and friends, vacations, damn good eating and eminent match-ups in football and basketball (or perhaps these are just my expectations). But this time of year is also about compassionate giving of time and resources to those less privileged. There are tons of charities in which you can donate (i.e., Salvation Army, Red Cross, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, etc.). And these well-established charitable organizations have ensured the viability of a range of individuals and families. But as you look around your city and your neighborhoods, there are still some people that may not be connected to a helping professional, supportive family, or charity. Here’s a short list of people (not charities) you can also contribute to.

1. The elderly – Often times there’s an elderly person or couple that may not be as connected to the community or neighborhood. You know this because you rarely see them outside and you only know their name because you occasionally receive their mail. Take a moment and let them know you care by actually sending them a heartfelt message in a card or offering a service you provide (i.e., cooked meal, raking their yard, decorating the home, etc.). And thank them for their decades of contribution to society. At one time, they were contributing to society as much as or more than you.
2. First responders – First responders (i.e., police, firefighters, EMS) are a group that gets very little recognition until you need them. And you don’t really need them unless something bad has happened. That means a thank you is often lost in the adrenaline of helping you or the aftermath of other paperwork they have to complete. Offering a nice “just because” small token of appreciation for their commitment to your community is like holiday food for their soul.
3. Military service members – We always talk about how much we appreciate their service to our country. Of course they receive 10% off discounts in many places they shop, but how do YOU show your appreciation for their service? I’m not talking about standing for the national anthem either. Many service members are often geographically displaced (i.e., deployed to some foreign sea or land), and some are still working as first responders on a military installation. Take a moment to share your appreciation with a service member and/or their loved ones for their continued service during the holidays.
4. The homeless – Ok…here me out on this one. The homeless were not always homeless people. In fact, they are people first that just happen to be homeless for whatever reason (i.e. ostracized for sexual orientation, mental health issues, finances, unemployment, etc.). And, sure, they may be on drugs or abuse alcohol, but let s/he who has not had a drink or smoke or whatever during a tough time cast the first stone. Ok then! Let me also point out that being homeless is still considered to be a tough time, and it’s cold outside. Let’s remember they are people first. And a bottle of water, cup of coffee or hot chocolate, a small bite to eat, or whatever small gift you can give with an encouraging word or prayer is a life-giving moment for them.
5. The victimized – Victimized people come in all ages, races, disabilities, economic statuses, and gender. Sex trafficking (which primarily affects women and children) should be considered a national and international crisis. Children with disabilities are also more often to be victims of abuse and neglect by both adults and peers. Domestic violence, sexual assault, gang violence, police brutality (I know I was just saying be nice to police above, but c’mon not all police are abusive), are just a short list of instances where people are victimized. While you may not know who these people are, you do know local agencies that can help. Support those nonprofits. And if you see something, say something and do something.

This list could go on to include other groups. Please feel free to add to this list with groups you have assisted or would like to bring to people’s attention during this season. Although the focus is on the holiday season, hopefully you will decide to make this a lifetime commitment.