That video is my son, Nikolai. He is my oldest. He is 10. So is his twin, Theo. His next brother, Raylan, has nonverbal autism. The three youngest are triplets, Bella, Ronan and Sebastian. They are only 3. The kids have diagnosis from autism to ADHD to bipolar.
Maybe, you can imagine how already, we are no ones ideal Tennant. To add to that, I lost my teaching job and have been trying to build a nonprofit because, frankly, with all my obligations for education and medical appointments and school transport - it is pretty hard to work a normal 9-5. But all I have is a meager unemployment. My first husband never paid child support. He once told me up and beat me, choked me with a belt until I passed out from lack of oxygen and forced his way into a bathroom where I was trying to hide from him. I considered us lucky to have escaped with our lives, and never pushed the matter.
My son Raylan was unplanned. I found out I was pregnant the same month I was ending the relationship. Many encouraged me to get an abortion, but I don't regret giving my son life. His having nonverbal autism does not change that at all, though it complicates our life in an often cold and unfeeling world.
My last husband I had to separate from a year ago when I found out he was stealing cash from us he said was going to pay the rent, not paying the rent, and lying to me. He has since paid his child support with a hot check, not paid etc. And we in the meantime have struggled for months to get food stamps. The reason? They care more about enforcing child support than if we actually have food.
Despite all of this, my mother and I have pushed on and located a house in NYC limits (we are required to live within NYC limits legally) within our small pre-approved budget range, pay the first half of the down payment, get the home inspected and appraised. This has been against immensely heavy odds.
But we have reached the end of what we accomplish alone. In order to make sure we have adequate food and resources and the closing costs, we simply need help. I am a person who has always accepted the struggles life shouldered me with, even if others should have helped and weren't, even if things weren't "fair.". I have pushed on to utter exhaustion to make sure my kids don't suffer because of the many unexpected events we faced.
I am including a bit about the nonprofit I am starting with two friends on the autism spectrum. Any funds we earn above what we need will go there to house another family. I am also including a link to a podcast that will tell you more about me.
But please, if you can, do help. I believe we are all truly one, and when we help one family in need, we start building a world where we help all in need.
Erin
