As a first-time mom, I paid close attention to early developmental milestones such as eye contact, smiling, babbling, and response. Jaylen did all of these things as a baby and continues to grow and develop in his own unique way. I stayed mindful of his development while asking questions during doctor’s visits and tracking milestones appropriate for his age.
Around the 15-month mark, we began to notice some developmental differences, including limited words and gestures, repetitive behaviors, and certain vocal sounds he would make. Once we shared our observations with our pediatrician, we began the early developmental evaluation process through Kaiser. His evaluation took place on December 30, 2025, in San Francisco, and we received his diagnosis that same day.
Since then, our focus has been learning, growing, and supporting him in ways that help him continue to thrive. If you’re a mom, you can probably relate to the concerns we face during pregnancy—wondering if your baby will pass all of the prescreening tests and praying for a healthy journey. I remember anxiously waiting for those results and feeling relieved to learn that my baby was growing perfectly. Autism is not something that can be detected during pregnancy; in fact, children are typically evaluated between 18–24 months.
I didn’t leave the appointment in shock because I had already begun learning and preparing emotionally after speaking with my sister-in-law, who is a behavior analyst and has experience working with children on the spectrum. She has been a supportive presence as I processed everything. We spent time talking, walking, and reflecting together, which gave me space to be open about my emotions as a first-time mom navigating something new and unfamiliar.
In that moment, I realized how important it is to stay grounded, informed, and open. While there were many emotions to process, I also felt a strong sense of clarity and commitment to supporting my son in the best way possible. Since his diagnosis, we have connected with early intervention services and support systems that are designed to help children grow and develop at their own pace. We’ve completed evaluations across different developmental areas and continue working with his care team to guide next steps.
We’ve also started early support services focused on play-based learning, which Jaylen enjoys and engages with naturally. It has been meaningful to have support come into our home and involve our family in his development journey. We will continue exploring additional support options as we move forward and make decisions that best support his growth.
In the meantime, we continue to support Jaylen with everything we are learning along the way. Even though he is speech delayed, we are already seeing how much he is learning each day. My stepdaughter recently said at dinner, “He learns so much while I’m at my mom’s house.” It was a reminder of how quickly children grow and develop in their own timing.
This experience has taught me so much about parenting, patience, and unconditional love. I am grateful for the resources and support available for children with different developmental needs. Autism is a spectrum, and every child’s journey looks different. As a parent, I am learning to embrace each experience as an opportunity for growth, awareness, and connection.
If you are a mom of a child on the spectrum and would like to connect, please feel free to reach out. I would love to connect and share space with you. Our family is also looking forward to celebrating Jaylen’s second birthday next week—a reminder of how much joy, growth, and love this season continues to bring into our lives.
This upcoming Saturday, 5/2, there will be a Mother’s Day Out event in Vallejo, CA from 12pm–4pm. This wine tasting event, hosted by Autism with DJ, is designed for mothers of autistic children. It offers a supportive space for mothers to relax, connect, and access helpful resources and information.
As part of my Bride To Be By Tanya series, which reflects different seasons of love, growth, and life, I’m sharing a personal journal on motherhood, awareness, and our family journey. Did you know that April is Autism Awareness Month? Prior to my baby boy, Jaylen, I was unaware of this. For this month’s journal, I wanted to share a personal part of our family journey as a mom. In December 2025, our baby boy Jaylen was diagnosed with autism.
Bride To Be Series: Autism Awareness
& Our Family Journey
“Autism is a spectrum, and every child’s journey looks different.”
If you’re interested in attending this event, click here.
