When you fall off the wagon, you have two choices: you can sit on the ground and look around, bewildered, wondering what went wrong. That can take a long time. For some people, it can take the rest of their lives. Or, you can get back up and resume the journey.

Knowing that your son does not think in quite the same way as other boys, but not being able to pinpoint the difference can be very frustrating, but there are diagnostic tests that, when administered by qualified professionals, can help you figure out his individual needs.

You might ask why you need any of those dusty old games when your phone and iPad have all of the apps you need for teaching and playing with your son, but if you think back to your own childhood, you'll remember that nothing can take the place of a board game with good, solid pieces.

Hearing unexpected news from the doctor can be scary, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is something seriously wrong with your son. Staying calm will help you understand what the doctor tells you and, therefore, better advocate for your son.

Parents can talk until the cows come home but too often the words go in one ear and out the other. Stories, however, stay with teens. A book like Send will stay with your son and, maybe, will come back to him at a propitious time.

It is sometimes tempting for parents to expect their sons to know where they are coming from. Try meeting your son where he is just once this week and see what kind of a difference it makes in your home.