A Parent's Secret Weapon for Better Listening with Less Nagging
How can we make it easier for our kids to cooperate the first time we ask? With this one-minute tool to help them remember the rules - no nagging, no arguing, and no reminders involved. The Million Dollar Question is: How can we make it easier for our children to cooperate the first time we ask and to make it harder for them to forget or to ignore us or to argue back? Wouldn’t it be great if there were a technique that would help our children understand what they need to do,
If the World was Built for Me
If the world was built for me, there would be nothing "wrong" with me. I would be happy and safe and certain and successful. If the world was built for me, when I met people there would be no expectation of physical contact or small talk. We may ignore each other with a socially acceptable nod, or throw ourselves into a deep and meaningful conversation. If the world was built for me, we would all sit next to each other, not opposite. Things would be based on literal words, no
When You and Your Autistic Child Need 'Roadside Assistance'
Imagine your body is a car engine. Sometimes it ticks along quite nicely, cruising down the smooth road with no bumps, potholes or distractions. When your engine is purring like this you can relax and take in the view, enjoying the ride as you go. For my autistic son, this smooth road is his comfort zone. On this road he is at his most independent and communicative. He knows where he is, it’s safe, familiar and predictable. He needs nothing more from me than simply knowing I
When School is an Emotional Prison
I just saw the film Life, Animated. It was spectacular. It captured the reality that one child faced as a result of his autism. He struggled in ways that no one could understand, until, through his passion for Disney animation, his world was revealed. Almost by chance his parents discovered that their child related to sidekicks in Disney animated films. Though he hadn't spoken for years, he began to speak again by mimicking the quirky side characters' dialogue. All the boy's
I Think I Hate my Teenager
Guilt, anger, and grief are natural responses to raising a child with special needs. Take care of yourself -- and protect your relationship with your child -- by managing those feelings appropriately. Parenting is not for the weak of heart. Even before your baby comes home from the hospital, you've already earned a merit badge for getting through pregnancy and labor (or years of waiting, if you've adopted). Early milestones are exciting times, as well. You've probably got pil
When the Responsibilities of Special Needs Parenting Make You Feel Like You Can't 'Just Keep
"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming..." Who have would have thought the Disney character I find myself relating to isn’t a princess trapped in a tower but a blue fish with a memory problem? As a mother to a child on the autism spectrum, believe me when I say we often feel like we’re swimming against the tide. You see, support services don't always come easy for children like my son. It can be a daily struggle getting the right help. Our family life is
