But autism isn't a phase. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism is a developmental disability that affects 1 in 44 individuals today.

"She's not getting better because she doesn't want go get better," my father insisted regarding my mother's battles with mental illness.

But mental illness isn't a choice. According to the south, there's a 50/50 chance of an individual losing their mind. It's been said that in the southern United States there's no question of if a person has crazy in the family. It's which side of the family the crazy is on. My entire life has been filled with emotional turmoil, financial distress and utter chaos. However, then and now, nothing has been more heart-rending than watching a loved one's declining mental health. We've all been there. Like a deep-rooted tree gripping tightly to the earth, we're just one strong gust away from snapping.

Don't Squeeze the Spaceman's Taco - Lessons Learned from My Son with Autism is a journey into the lives of a family affected by autism and mental illness. It's about embracing our unique differences, finding joy in the simplest of life's pleasures and doing whatever it takes to keep our sanity.

My name is Kelly Jude Melerine and I'm the founder of a non-profit organization devoted to promoting inclusion of individuals with disabilities. My memoir takes place over a period of time when I quit my banking job to be a stay-at-home dad. My son's early teenage years were plagued in episodes of extreme violence. Contrary to doctors' orders, I believed that his medication was the root of the problem. Convinced that a parent could make a difference, I knew that my time was limited. "I have one year to get this right," I told myself. That's about all the time the funds I had saved for retirement would allow. I had one year to determine if my son would to be institutionalized as his doctors recommended or stay at home and be surrounded by the people that loved him most.

Don't Squeeze the Spaceman's Taco - Lessons Learned from My Son with Autism is a story of how late night talks with my mentally ill mother saved my family where top medical professionals failed. It's a story meant to inspire the 1 in 44 individuals living on the spectrum today and the caregivers that never give up.