Read more about the article My life has changed in so many ways
My thoughts

My life has changed in so many ways

The boys spent New Years day with their mom and I had plans of my own. We're keeping the circle of people we spend time with very, very small right now as COVID is worse than it's ever been in Ohio. Half of my family either has COVID right now or is getting over it. Everyone is staying away from everyone else right now, just to be safe. My circle is small and comprised of people closest to me. Every one is taking all the necessary precautions, including, limited public exposure, mask wearing and COVID vaccinations. That's just the way it is right now. New Years was great. We spent some time making vision boards on New Years Eve with the kids. They did such a good job and I…

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January 2, 2022
Read more about the article Let’s talk about how tough Christmas can be for autism families
My thoughts

Let’s talk about how tough Christmas can be for autism families

I've had a pretty great week. I've been job hunting, which is exciting, and it feels good. I'm looking to fill in some of the gaps while building my business. I need to gain some lost ground, and this will help. There are some pretty great opportunities that I might qualify for, and they're remote. That's a perfect fit, especially with COVID. This is a big move for me, but it's the right one, at least for right now. I should add that I'm exceptionally grateful for all the love and support I have in my life. I wouldn't have made it this far or had the courage to explore new opportunities if I didn't have that. The boys are ready for Christmas to be over with. I've talked about…

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December 24, 2021
Read more about the article Tips For Fostering An Autistic Child
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Pexels.com
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Tips For Fostering An Autistic Child

Being a foster parent is always going to be challenging. The children you look after will come from a variety of backgrounds and they will have been through different things to have put them in the foster care system. Understanding this and being kind, caring, and compassionate is crucial. However, what would happen if the child you needed to take care of was autistic? How would that change things? Of course, you would still want to care for them in the same way, but this might not be possible; children with autism may need a different kind of care, depending on their individual needs. Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Pexels.com Foster parents who go on to foster autistic children will need specialist training, and ideally, they will need experience of…

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December 14, 2021
Read more about the article An emotionally exhausting level of personal growth this week
My thoughts / Personal Growth

An emotionally exhausting level of personal growth this week

It's been a long, emotional couple of days for me and I'm exhausted but feeling better. Sometimes personal growth can be a bit more challenging and it forces me outside of my comfort zone. While it can be unpleasant in the surrounding moments and take some adjustment on my part, it's ultimately a good thing. This is especially true when learning to navigate new things for the first time. I'm a big fan of personal growth and sometimes it can be uncomfortable but it makes me a better person in the end. I know the people in my life deserve the best I have to offer. I woke up today feeling really good and highly motivated to keep pushing forward with what I know I can do. I have people…

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December 9, 2021
Read more about the article You’re not a bad parent and here’s why
Inspirational Posts / My thoughts

You’re not a bad parent and here’s why

Parenting is hard. There are no two ways about it. Parenting kids with unique challenges like autism, ADHD, anxiety, mental illness, or other physical/emotional disability can be even more complicated. I've been a parent for over two decades now, and I'm still learning. My parenting experience is mainly special needs in nature but believe it or not; there is some overlap with more typical parenting. Also, we should acknowledge that some people are terrible parents. That's just the way it is. That being said, the overwhelming majority of parents out there are so much more amazing then they give themselves credit for. As parents, we have the best of intentions, and while none of us are perfect, we strive to give our kids the best lives we possibly can. Sometimes,…

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December 7, 2021
Read more about the article Oh, that’s definitely broken
My thoughts

Oh, that’s definitely broken

I'm not gonna lie, it was a great weekend. Sunday was spent hiking, hanging out, playing games, and eating delicious food. It ended with a fire in the fire pit and watching our kids get to be kids. It's been such a long time since my kids could just be kids and getting to experience that was pretty amazing. ☺ Gavin is spending less and less time doing things with the rest of us but he's becoming more and more independent. He's happy and that makes me happy. I truly believe that he will be on his own (in a supervised setting) at some point in 2022. He's so focused on that and I will support him in every way I can. I realized that I forgot to mention that…

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December 6, 2021
Read more about the article Perspective: Why I’m so grateful to be stressed out about work and money
My thoughts

Perspective: Why I’m so grateful to be stressed out about work and money

I've not been writing as much as I'd like to lately because it's a bit overwhelming for me right now. That's the only way I can think to describe it. At the same time, this doesn't mean I'm drowning or overwhelmed with life in general, though. I actually feel incredibly fortunate because I have a good life and I get to spend it with the people I love. My stress tends to be work and money related. I suppose those are pretty common things to be stressed out about. Honestly, I feel fortunate here as well because I'm stressed out by something not related to autism, health problems, or behavioral issues. For a large part of my adult life, I was consumed with managing all those things and I felt…

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December 5, 2021
Read more about the article Learning to be patient with myself
My thoughts

Learning to be patient with myself

My brain has been working overtime lately and focusing more on the stressful things I have no control over, rather than all the things going right in my life. I'm working on living in the moment and not getting too caught up in the rest. As with many parts of my life, it's a work in progress, but progress is being made. I'm coming off of a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend and I'm feeling pretty good. The kids went to their moms for the holiday and had a good time. Things are going pretty well for them in the visitation department and that's always a good thing. As an adult, I appreciate seeing my family on the holidays but I also appreciate the quiet, low key, live on the couch for…

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November 29, 2021