About three years ago, before we’d even begun Milo’s autism evaluation, we decided to try something that felt “normal”: a fall family photoshoot. What followed was 15 minutes of chaos—apple-eating, shirt-lifting, tear-filled chaos—and a gallery of photos that captured much more than we intended.

In this episode, we revisit that afternoon in the field, the pressure Lisa felt to “get it right,” and the grief tucked inside those imperfect images. And we share what it feels like to view those photos now, with three years of growth behind us: a kid who suddenly shouts “Cheese!” for the camera, a family that has learned to redefine normal, and the understanding that it’s okay when things don’t look picture-perfect. They rarely do.

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Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify.

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