K.M. Jader: The Answer to What Scares Her

Children’s author Kristine Abigael Jader, or K.M., shares how her son’s condition inspired her to write two books on the topic of autism

Children’s author Kristine Abigael Jader, known by her pen name K.M., knows what it’s like for any parent discovering that their child might have signs of autism.

“The first time we learned about my son’s condition, we were in disbelief. However, I must admit that I had already noticed some hints before the official diagnosis,” she told Modern Parenting. “I also observed unusual behavior when he watched his favorite cartoon show. He would spin around tirelessly and then walk normally without feeling dizzy.”

Her son Hans’ condition would inspire her to write two books: What’s Scary and Bahrain Later, Later Bahrain.

Life Away From Home

Born and raised in Quezon, Philippines, K.M. attended a Catholic school and earned her AB in Communication Arts. She’s been in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, with her family for two decades.

“Life, in general, has been good since relocating here,” she said. “I previously worked as a hospital assistant in one of the kingdom’s most prestigious hospitals before meeting my husband, who has worked as a Senior Systems Engineer for 27 years. We started our family here in Al Khobar.”

K.M. said they were fortunate to have generous benefits, such as accommodations, medical insurance, and airfare tickets. Although based abroad, her family still travels back to the Philippines for vacations — barbeque, mangoes, and pancit hab hab are among their go-to meals when visiting.

She and her husband are considering relocating back to the Philippines permanently soon. When they do, they plan to enroll Hans in a school where he can pursue a vocational path.

Diagnosis and Distance

When K.M. began noticing signs that Hans may be on the autism spectrum, she did research and eventually convinced her husband to consult with a specialist. They flew to the Philippines for Hans to be evaluated by a developmental pediatrician.

K.M. recalled filling out forms, attending interviews, and undergoing several diagnostic tests. “The doctor then administered a series of assessments, leading to Hans’s diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD),” she shared. “She discussed his developmental age compared to his chronological age and emphasized the importance of family support for his progress.”

The specialist recommended further testing, as well as occupational and speech therapy. But there were immediate challenges.

“We faced a dilemma since we were based abroad, and developmental pediatricians were scarce in our area. Although occupational and speech therapists were available, the rates were prohibitively high, and the language barrier added to the challenge.”

Eventually, they enrolled Hans in a SPED school in the Philippines, where he made tremendous progress. Before returning to Saudi Arabia, K.M. requested a home therapy program she could manage herself.

“Fortunately, we found both a speech and occupational therapist, as well as a school for Hans here. His assessments were going well — until the pandemic hit,” she said.

Like many families, they shifted to homeschooling and virtual therapy sessions during lockdown.

Then came another blow — K.M.’s husband suffered a heart attack and underwent a procedure.

“After my husband returned home from his procedure, I had to care for him, my son, and manage our household — all without assistance. This is the harsh reality of living abroad: survival often falls solely on you. I struggled to balance everything and, sadly, began neglecting my son’s needs. That time led to depression and anxiety.”

They encountered more hurdles, including behavioral episodes from Hans and even a terrifying incident where he got lost in a mall. Eventually, they sought the help of a psychiatrist.

“Fortunately, after starting appropriate medication, his mood stabilized, and he is now attending Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy,” she said.

Pouring Her Heart Into Writing

K.M.’s experience as a mom to a neurodivergent child became the driving force behind her writing. From that, What’s Scary and Bahrain Later, Later Bahrain were born.

What’s Scary was sparked by a question Hans would often ask her.

“He frequently asked me, ‘What’s scary?’ I would repeat the question back, and he’d share his thoughts,” she said. “Once, he said the lion on our room’s carpet scared him. At a restaurant, he pointed at a logo and said it was the rooster on the paper bag that frightened him.”

“One day, while I was in the bathroom, the idea for What’s Scary popped into my head. I quickly jotted it down in my phone notes. I wrote the draft in less than fifteen minutes.”

Illustrator Tin Javier brought the book to life. It was later showcased at the Philippine Book Festival last March, where K.M. had the chance to sign copies for readers.

Her second book, Bahrain Later, Later Bahrain, is also rooted in Hans’ behavior.

“He’s the kind of kid who will ask for something every hour until it happens,” K.M. laughed. “When he kept asking when we were going to Bahrain, I told him, ‘Bahrain later, later Bahrain.’ Eventually, I marked the days on a calendar so he could count down until the trip.”

In addition to her children’s books, K.M. has written A Housewife’s Love Story, a romance about an unconventional housewife, and Simah—The Pearl Warrior, a fantasy epic about a native girl’s underwater quest for a long-lost pearl. Both are available on Wattpad, and she hopes to publish them soon.

“Writing has been my therapy,” she said. “I started with feature articles in college. Now, it’s become a lifeline. I feel relaxed and accomplished every time I finish and publish a book.”

Despite the challenges that come with creative work, she sees it as deeply fulfilling.

“This passion makes any difficulty worthwhile — and it’s through this dedication that I’ve grown as a writer.”

Autism Awareness Continues

While public understanding of autism has improved over the years, K.M. believes there’s still a long way to go. And she plans to keep writing to help close that gap.

“I want to publish more books that educate readers about autism,” she said. “Aside from books, people can learn from TV series and movies that portray autism authentically. Social media is also powerful — I’ve noticed more influencers whose children are on the spectrum, and that’s encouraging.”

More than anything, she hopes for greater empathy.

“I want people to understand that autism is not a disease — so there’s no need to ‘cure’ it. It’s a lifelong condition. We special needs parents learn to accept and support it. What others can do is be patient and avoid judgment, especially when our children behave differently in public.”

“As they say, it takes a village to raise a child. So please, support us. I hope society continues to evolve and create more inclusive spaces — especially in schools and workplaces.”

Through her stories, K.M. is opening windows into a world not everyone sees — the world of a child like Hans. And with love, encouragement, and a mother’s unwavering strength, she will keep answering every question he asks about the world — even the one that started it all: What’s scary?

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Dear Ausome Parents, You’re Not Alone: A Doctor’s Perspective When Diagnosing Autism in Kids
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