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Welcome to our newest feature Who’s on Fourth. One member of the yeah write community will interview another yeah writer, and the interview will publish the fourth Monday of each month. Second in the series features Arden R of Arden Ruth Writes interviewing Cynthia K of that cynking feeling. Like some of our favorite readers, it took Cynthia a few tries to make it onto the challenge grid for the first time. She didn’t quit, and she is now one of the most faithful supporters of what we do here.

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yeah write on yeah write: Arden interviews Cynthia

“That sinking feeling”: you know the one I’m talking about, right?

It’s that feeling that makes you want to give up, to believe those negative voices in your head. It’s the feeling that parents get when they are told that their child has autism.

“That cynking feeling”: where I tell stories to remind myself that the glass is half full. It’s the place where I spread the word of autism acceptance. This is where I don’t give up, where I ignore those voices in my head.

“That cynking feeling”: showing my love for my autistic son, one post at a time.

As a child, Cynthia dreamed of becoming a novelist. But as time went on, she eventually realized that non-fiction was probably more her style and abandoned her dreams of becoming the next great American author.

While expanding the publicity of her blog, Cynthia stumbled upon the yeah write community in late 2012. She quickly learned that when yeah write editors say ‘read the rules,’ they mean business. She received her first love letter in October of that year.
But that didn’t mean she stopped writing.

Cynthia launched that cynking feeling on her son’s first birthday. It was a private place for herself; a place where she could document the growth of this wonderful child she was raising.

Life just gets in the way sometimes.

The daily posts soon faded away but new ideas were peeking around the corner. Cynthia began sharing the blog with her family and then even her friends. Her son grew and grew until one day, she was told something that no parent ever wants to hear.

Her son had autism.

The diagnosis had not necessarily been a surprise. She had her suspicions for a while but it was a piece of advice from a friend that helped her to move forward and not remain stagnant with worry. 

A diagnosis is information, and information is power.

That cynking feeling has now become a public warehouse of information. Cynthia proudly publishes about her daily life with her son in an attempt to spread the word of autism acceptance. She craves for people to understand that ‘autism is not the end of the world, just a different world.’

“An autism diagnosis is not a death sentence. Yes, autism is a lifelong disability. Yes, there will be challenges for you and your child. Still, autism is what makes your child your child. It is part of his/her personality and way of seeing the world. Spend your energy changing how the world views autism instead of trying to change your child.”

I  have always applauded Cynthia’s bravery in the face of her son’s diagnosis. She takes every day in stride. She does not have an autistic son. She has an amazing little person full of energy and love (who just happens to be autistic).

While autism is a main theme of that cynking feeling, it is not the only theme. Music is held close to Cynthia’s heart. While growing up, the stereo was constantly playing in her house. Cynthia sang in the church choir and followed her brother into playing trumpet.  Majoring in music, Cynthia taught elementary music and movement for more than seven years. You can learn more about Cynthia’s great appreciation for music through her posts on Jen Kehl’s Twisted MixTape Tuesday.

While expanding the publicity of her blog, Cynthia stumbled upon the yeah write community in late 2012.  She quickly learned that when yeah write editors say read the rules, they mean business.  She received her first love letter in October of that year. Cynthia is nothing if not stubborn, so she kept trying. She made her first published appearance on the yeah write #79 challenge grid.

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