Episode 11: Autism Dads

Erin’s off this week, so Terry brought in his friend and fellow musician Jake Suleman, and it turned into one of the most honest conversations of the series. Both of them are autism dads. Terry to Harry, Jake to his 8-year-old daughter Esme. Two totally different kids of the same age. Despite the differences, Terry and Jake share the same lifestyle and same highs, lows, and hard days.

Terry shares the moment from a few days before recording that stopped him in his tracks. Harry saying his first word with real purpose. Jake talks about how Esme sees the world: no concept of violence, unable to spot a bully because she assumes everyone talking to her is a friend. They get into how differently Esme hears the world; super-sensitive to sound, picking up songs she can’t stand even when they’re barely audible. And they land on the thing neither of them takes for granted: that their careers in music simply wouldn’t exist without help from their families and their wives holding everything together at home.

Two dads, two guitars, and the kind of conversation that doesn’t happen often enough.

Tell us in the comments: if you’re raising an autistic child, what’s the moment that hit you harder than you ever expected?

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