Read more about the article 150 days of #COVID19 lockdown and the #depression is real
COVID19 / Lockdown / My thoughts

150 days of #COVID19 lockdown and the #depression is real

The boys and I have been on lockdown for 150 days today. It's crazy to think it's been this long and it's even crazier to think we could be looking at almost another year before we get access to a vaccine. While we're all safe and healthy, that doesn't mean we're doing great. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for everyone's health, including my own but the isolation is taking a toll. Everyone is impacted differently. Elliott and Emmett are very short tempered anymore and struggle emotionally. Gavin is struggling emotionally, which leads to decompensation in other areas of his life. As for myself, there's no two ways about it, I'm depressed. Depression is definitely kicking my ass right now but I'm still fighting. Some days I fight harder than…

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August 3, 2020
Read more about the article We basically have 2 weeks before school begins
COVID19 / Distance Learning / My thoughts / Planning

We basically have 2 weeks before school begins

School supplies have started to arrive for Emmett. Elliott already received a textbook and laptop a few weeks back. Emmett received books, art supplies, a science kit and his laptop. The math workbook is enormous. We have about 2 weeks left before school is supposed to begin and frankly, I'm nervous. Things are already so challenging and that's without having to try and manage distance learning. At this point, I'm not even sure what's going to happen in Ohio. It's not yet been decided as far as I know. I suspect the school year will at the very least, be delayed. We'll have to see what happens and how it impacts us. For right now however, I'm just hoping that I can pull this off. I told Gavin that we…

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August 1, 2020
Read more about the article To Whom This May Concern: I Am In My Lane
Inspirational Posts / My thoughts

To Whom This May Concern: I Am In My Lane

I shared my recent interview with ABC News on the topic of wearing masks, and there have been some requests from within the autism community that I stay in my lane. It's been suggested that I just focus on autism related things because that's why people follow me. I thought a To Whom This May Concern type response made sense. I want to take a few minutes and explain why I'm doing what I'm doing and the purpose behind it. To Whom This May Concern We are living in a time where taking a stand matters. I'm a single Dad with 3 amazing autistic kids. My son is immunocompromised, and you better believe that I will use my platform to advocate for anything that will help keep him and others…

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July 30, 2020
Read more about the article My current back to school plan is far from perfect but at least it’s safe
COVID19 / My thoughts / Planning / School

My current back to school plan is far from perfect but at least it’s safe

I'm trying to keep things moving forward and I feel like I'm doing a halfway decent job. That's not easy for me to say that either. I tend to focus on my many failings and gloss over my parenting wins. I do feel pretty accomplished to have a basic strategy for the upcoming school year. We haven't left the house in a few days. It's been insanely hot and COVID is worsening in Ohio. There's also a renewal of the general safety concerns where we live. There have been shootings recently and while that's not unheard of its been getting pretty bad. I've mentioned before that gunshots are an almost daily occurance where I live. I don't always know what happened but we hear them all the time. The gunshots…

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July 29, 2020
Read more about the article I spoke on ABC News tonight about the importance of masks
COVID19 / Media / My thoughts / TV Appearances

I spoke on ABC News tonight about the importance of masks

Last night, I was featured in an ABC News segment about the importance of wearing masks during the COVID-19 crisis. There is debate about the validity of people claiming medical exemptions in regards to wearing masks. For my part, I spoke to the challenges facing kiddos with neuro developmental disorders like autism and wearing masks during COVID-19. We discussed how my kids were doing with masks and how I helped them adjust to wearing them. I'm towards towards the end of the segment. I don't mince words when it comes to this because there's no excuse not to wear a mask. If someone has a condition that makes wearing a mask unsafe, and those conditions are few, they probably should be sheltering at home and avoid public spaces during a…

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July 29, 2020
Read more about the article Finalizing plans for this school year
My thoughts / School

Finalizing plans for this school year

I just got off the horn with the boys new school and they begin on August 17. We're still waiting on something for Emmett but they're finishing him up now. For the record, I will not be sending the kids to a brick and mortar school this year, as there is no universe in which that would be safe under the current circumstances. Lizze and I are in full agreement on this. The boys will be doing distance learning which means that it will be conducted online, with the entire curriculum provided. They receive laptops and do school for about 5.5 hours a day, 5 days a week. It's going to be an interesting transition but it is what it is. Their safety and wellbeing have to come first. What…

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July 28, 2020
Read more about the article #COVID19 requires new routines for my #autistic kids
Inspirational Posts / My thoughts

#COVID19 requires new routines for my #autistic kids

I'm making some progress in the creating a new routine department and I'm pretty proud of myself. Actually, I'm proud of my kids as well because they're slowly adjusting. We're on day 143 or 144 of COVID19 lockdown and yes, it's a lockdown. We have been to the park a handful of times and spend time in our yard when it's safe, we are otherwise locked down. I'm following CDC guidelines for people at high risk. It's not a difficult concept folks. That's directed at the trolls who complain about my use of the word lockdown. One of my biggest challenges since schools shutdown has been establishing a routine. That's not an easy thing to do with autistic kiddos. The kids and I were still getting our footing after the…

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July 26, 2020
Read more about the article Everything surrounding #COVID19 is getting to us
My thoughts

Everything surrounding #COVID19 is getting to us

Today has been one of those days where it's crystal clear that everything surrounding COVID-19 is getting to us. Everyone is grouchy and quick to jump down the others throat. The kids are fighting and when they're not, they're hiding in their phones or on the Xbox. Emotionally, I feel like I'm in a decent place but I'm exhausted. The last few nights I haven't been sleeping well because I started working out in the mornings and I'm still in the soreness phase. I hurt but it's a good hurt in my book. Anyway, I'm dropping the parenting ball right now because I'm not staying on top of everything. I'd like to have fun things planned out and I just don't. We're obviously limited in what we can do but…

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July 25, 2020