Read more about the article Why #Autism Parenting blogs are SO important
Inspirational Posts / My thoughts

Why #Autism Parenting blogs are SO important

There are always those people who don't understand or misunderstand the purpose of this site or my writing style. I wanted to provide some insight into the how's and why's because I've received a large influx of new readers and I'd like everyone to understand why I do this. I'm connecting with quite a few families that are just beginning their Autism journey. They're looking for a path, and I'm able to help provide them with a place to start and sanity as they move forward. When people are just beginning this journey, they feel very much alone. There are feelings of isolation and that no one understands. While some may not understand this, Special Needs parents find comfort in knowing they aren't the only ones depressed, frustrated, overwhelmed, imperfect,…

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February 22, 2017
Read more about the article I’m in a relationship with depression and it f@cking sucks
Depression / Inspirational Posts / Mental Health / My thoughts

I’m in a relationship with depression and it f@cking sucks

If you're new to the neighborhood, you might be interested to know that I like to speak very openly about mental health. I'm a firm believer in the there's nothing to be ashamed of approach.  Over the years I've spoken very candidly about our Autism journey and every other thing that we've found in our life path.  When it comes to myself, I'm no exception. I've been warring with depression since my early teens and I'm not ashamed to speak to my experience.  Now that we've been introduced, let's get down to business.  Depression is kicking my ass right now. I'm taking my meds, speaking to a psychologist and I'm generally a positive person but right now it just doesn't matter.  My relationship with depression, and it is a relationship,…

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February 14, 2017
Read more about the article Can anyone relate to this? 
Inspirational Posts / My thoughts / Quote of the Day

Can anyone relate to this? 

People ask me all the time to describe what it's like to be an Autism parent. That's a tough question and I often struggle to come up with the words to help people better understand.  It occurred to me yesterday that being an Autism parent is very my like trying to catch water in a sieve. In my experience, I'm raising kids who's needs are like constantly moving targets.  What works now, likely won't work later and there's absolutely no catch all that would cover my three kids with Autism at the same time..  Trying to meet their, unique and ever changing needs is like trying to catch water in sieve. It's a seemingly impossible task, even on the best of days. No matter how devoted I am as a…

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February 6, 2017
Read more about the article #Autism Parenting Exhaustion 
Inspirational Posts / My thoughts

#Autism Parenting Exhaustion 

I've been dragging a little bit lately. Honestly, I feel completely spent, like all the life has been drained from my body. My diet and exercise journey has suffered as a result. The problem is probably more complicated than this, but I'm very sleep deprived. Even when the boys are gone for the night, my sleep patterns are still messed up. Almost every single night, one or both of the boys have a problem in the sleep department that requires me to either wake up or not go to sleep yet. Some may read this post and hear only excuses for my lack of discipline. Others who live a life similar to mine will better understand where I'm coming from. It's difficult to function when you didn't sleep well the…

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January 14, 2017
Read more about the article Are #Autism Parents Overprotective? 
Inspirational Posts / My thoughts

Are #Autism Parents Overprotective? 

Being a parent period, is a difficult but rewarding task. When you're an Autism or Special Needs parent, that difficulty level is increased to the nth degree as is the reward factor. Raising a child with a developmental disorder like Autism, is extremely difficult because of the very nature of the disorder. Autism is a very dynamic condition and often presents in a very fluid manner. This means that everything involving the parenting of a child with Autism can more often than not be a moving target. In my personal experience with my three boys on the Autism Spectrum, something that works today, may never work again. Likewise, something that's never worked before, could actually work today. Every single day that I wake up, I honestly have no idea what…

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January 12, 2017
Read more about the article Fixing what’s broken within the #Autism community
Inspirational Posts / My thoughts

Fixing what’s broken within the #Autism community

One of the things that I've seen as an obstacle within the Autism community, is our ability to work together regardless of our differing beliefs. I've spoken about the major rifts that have formed and how those rifts are preventing unity.  If you've been blessed enough to not run into one of these rifts, count yourself lucky because it's not always a pleasant experience, especially for the newly initiated parents within the community who have no idea what they're walking into.  Likewise, if you haven't experienced this first hand, don't discount the validity of these words because many others have experienced these things.   These rifts have led to factions or individual groups that sorta break off and do their own thing. What leads to these secessions is often a…

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January 11, 2017
Read more about the article #Autism: The Unpleasant Truth
Inspirational Posts / My thoughts

#Autism: The Unpleasant Truth

I've been connecting with so many new Autism or Special Needs parents lately. While this is such a cool thing for me because connecting with others in a similar circumstance is a positive thing. At the same time, it's heartbreaking because there are so many people out there who are isolated, scared, overwhelmed and feeling hopeless. What's become clear is that, based on my personal experience, as well as interactions with parents from all over the globe, there isn't enough support, services, understanding or even compassion. Frankly, it's not even almost enough. Somethings wrong when the fastest growing childhood developmental disability in the world doesn't have some national/international infrastructure that directly helps families seek out and obtain early intervention services. There's something wrong when parents burn out because raising a…

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January 11, 2017