Does a diagnosis excuse problem behavior? 

I'm finding myself getting frustrated with the boys behavior. In the case of Elliott, it's a mix of Autism, sensory, Anxiety, ADHD, and being a pre-teen. It's sometimes very difficult to know what's behind the behaviors, mood swings, and other challenging behaviors.  There's at least a portion of behavior that I suspect is very typical for the age group, and yet there is a large portion that does seem to have a driving force behind it, that's outside of his control.  It's not easy to know what is what in situations like this, and that's important for knowing where to draw the accountability line.  I don't want to hold my kids accountable for things outside of their control, but at the same time, I don't want a diagnosis to be…

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Read more about the article Amazing shot of a bumble bee at work (Photography)
Amazing shot of a bumble bee at work (Photography) I spent some time at the Canton Garden Center again today. I didn't have the boys with me, so I was able to take my time. It's tough getting clear shots of hyperactive bees because they are always super busy. After some patience, I was able to get some really nice shots (at least in my amateur opinion) of bees in action, doing what bees do. My goal was to get them on this particular flower because of the contrast. I think it turned out pretty well.

Amazing shot of a bumble bee at work (Photography)

Amazing shot of a bumble bee at work (Photography) I spent some time at the Canton Garden Center again today. I didn't have the boys with me, so I was able to take my time. It's tough getting clear shots of hyperactive bees because they are always super busy. After some patience, I was able to get some really nice shots (at least in my amateur opinion) of bees in action, doing what bees do. My goal was to get them on this particular flower because of the contrast. I think it turned out pretty well.

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Why do they have to wake up so early?  

The boys got up early this morning, and began relentlessly peppering me with questions, most of which I don't remember. It was easier to just get up and consciously deal with them, rather than being awoke from sleep, and having no idea what I was saying yes to.  I'm not gonna lie, I'm tired, but I'm also laser focused on my fitness goals for today.  I want to use the treadmill twice today, each time for fifteen minutes. I can definitely manage this, and it's a good place to start.. 

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Read more about the article From today’s trip to the Canton Garden Center (Photography)
From today's trip to the Canton Garden Center (Photography) I love taking pictures, especially when there is a great deal of contrast. When I saw this flower while my wife and I were exploring the Canton Garden Center, I knew I wanted to remove the background color, so the flower would really pop. I don't use any apps that auto-remove the background, I do it by hand on my tablet. I use Color Splash FX, and manually remove the background color, sometimes pixel by pixel. I get a sense of satisfaction out of creating something like this on my own. This is one of my favorite ways to I have to help me manage stress, and cope with all thays involved in being an Autism parent.

From today’s trip to the Canton Garden Center (Photography)

From today's trip to the Canton Garden Center (Photography) I love taking pictures, especially when there is a great deal of contrast. When I saw this flower while my wife and I were exploring the Canton Garden Center.   I knew I wanted to remove the background color, so the flower would really pop.  I don't use any apps that auto-remove the background, I do it by hand on my tablet. I use Color Splash FX, and manually remove the background color, sometimes pixel by pixel.  I get a sense of satisfaction out of creating something like this on my own. This is one of my favorite ways to I have to help me manage stress, and cope with all thays involved in being an Autism parent.

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Read more about the article This is the coolest bee I’ve ever seen (photography)
This is the coolest bee I've ever seen (photography) The boys and I were out exploring nature the other day. They Pokémon hunt, and explore creek beds. I take pictures of anything that catches my eye. I've mentioned before I have a thing for beds, and I was floored when I stumbled across this one. I have no idea what it's called but it's beautiful. I was able to use the picture to teach my kids how bees help pollinate plants and flowers. I just can't get over how cool this thing looks..

This is the coolest bee I’ve ever seen (photography)

This is the coolest bee I've ever seen (photography) The boys and I were out exploring nature the other day. They Pokémon hunt, and explore creek beds. I take pictures of anything that catches my eye. I've mentioned before I have a thing for beds, and I was floored when I stumbled across this one. I have no idea what it's called but it's beautiful. I was able to use the picture to teach my kids how bees help pollinate plants and flowers. I just can't get over how cool this thing looks..

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Read more about the article I haven’t seen a Japanese beetle in forever (photography)
I haven't seen a Japanese beetle in forever (photography) On our nature trip yesterday, I found this little invasive species. I used to catch Japanese beetles all the time when I was a kid. Until today, Elliott had never seen one before, which kinda blew my mind because they were so common when I was his age. I remember those smelly Japanese beetle traps people used to leave in their yards. Good times.. Anyway, I caught this with my Samsung Galaxy S8+. I really, really wish I had more time to capture images of the things I come across. I love this picture...

I haven’t seen a Japanese beetle in forever (photography)

I haven't seen a Japanese beetle in forever (photography) On our nature trip yesterday, I found this little invasive species. I used to catch Japanese beetles all the time when I was a kid. Until today, Elliott had never seen one before, which kinda blew my mind because they were so common when I was his age. I remember those smelly Japanese beetle traps people used to leave in their yards. Good times.. Anyway, I caught this with my Samsung Galaxy S8+.  I really, really wish I had more time to capture images of the things I come across.  I love this picture...

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