My son’s school is shutdown today and you’ll never guess why

Elliott got off to school without a hitch. Emmett is still sleeping because his school is closed because there's not enough people to staff the building, as everyone is out with COVID. I have so many feelings about this. One of the more overwhelming feelings has to do with teachers not being vaccinated. I just don't understand how we are allowing that to happen. It puts everyone at risk and we're barely able to keep the schools open right now as it is. I would have to guess that Emmett most likely won't have school tomorrow either. Elliott doesn't have school on Friday for some reason and all this educational inconsistency is destabilizing, especially for kids in the spectrum. I wish I had a bit more energy this morning but…

3 Comments

When are we going to learn?

It's been a difficult couple of days for me and that's okay. Life isn't supposed to be easy, right? I'm really tired but having a terrible time falling asleep at night. There are things in my life that I'm worried about and again, that's okay. I feel like despite some of these challenges, I'm still incredibly lucky to be where I am, and I don't want to lose sight of that. The boys didn't go see their mom this weekend and that meant no break for me. Everyone is being extra cautious as a result of COVID, and if someone in either household isn't feeling right, we tend to pull the plug. Their mom was under the weather so the visit was canceled. The kids were bummed out but they'd…

1 Comment

I’ve learned to never underestimate my kids ability to overcome

Today began the transition back to school after the holidays. This used to stress me out because more often than not, it was a nightmare scenario. Kids on the spectrum do not like change. Many years were spent trying to navigate transitions like this and it wasn't fun for anyone. Thankfully, it's gotten much better. My kids are so much more resilient than they used to be. While there are some anxiety related hiccups, such as Emmett not sleeping last night, the transitions have become little bumps in the road than a ten car pile-up. I'm so grateful for that. If you're reading this and still dealing with some of these issues, please know that it does get better. I won't promise that it will be a cake walk and…

0 Comments

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…

1 Comment

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…

1 Comment

How do you know if your depression is adequately managed?

I've been paying a great deal more attention to my depression lately because I can feel it creeping in as the holiday approaches. Admittedly, I've not been working out as I should be, and part of that is probably depression-related as well. At the same time, I could be forcing myself to go, but I'm not. I feel run down and lack the energy necessary to expend during a workout. I'm also fully aware that I would feel so much better if I pushed through it and hit the gym, even if it wasn't for the full 90 minutes. The truth is, sometimes I get in my own way. Anyway, I've been looking at different ways to control my depression better, and I thought I would share some of the…

2 Comments

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,…

3 Comments

Consider me a believer

I woke up this morning and was feeling stressed out and overwhelmed. Work can be stressful sometimes, for a number of reasons. I'm rebuilding and growing, all at the same time. I'm one person doing the job of multiple people and that can be difficult. Something new I've gotten into recently is positive affirmations. This morning, I really had to push myself to do this but I'll be damned if it didn't work. I picked up several new clients and had a fantastic business day. I recorded two great interviews today as well. I'm super stoked because the good news didn't end there. I mentioned that I moved my podcast to a new server. It's not something my audience will notice but it's making a big difference. I've been waiting…

0 Comments