Big Kid
The Family That Clays Together…
It can be sometimes be hard for our family to do “fun” things the way other families do. We threw caution (and cleanliness) to the wind and had a blast.
Big Kid
Helping Your Student Manage Year-End School Stress
As we near the end of my autistic son’s first full-time year back in public school, the stress is wearing him down, but really, he’s doing great.
Big Kid
The Dance Of Disclosure
To disclose or not to disclose: that’s the question when you’re dealing with special needs and increasing independence. My teens are figuring it out.
Big Kid
Letting Go Of Normal
Is normal a real thing? Should I be wishing my special-needs kids were normal? I’m not even sure it’s real, and if it is, well, it’s not for us.
Big Kid
More Than Just A Birthday
Birthdays with teenagers can feel a lot like a timer ticking down, but sometimes they feel like victory, too. For my late bloomer, this birthday feels huge.
Parenting
When Autism Runs in the Family
A woman knows that autism runs in her future husband’s family. She’s thinking about the future already and wants to better understand Asperger’s in children.
Big Kid
(A)synchronicity
Asynchronous development can be worrisome and/or baffling, but it’s simply a difference that brings its own challenges and even joys.
Health & Safety
The Stages of Special Needs Grief
A mom needs help and support for herself as she comes to terms with her son’s varied special needs diagnoses.
Big Kid
Our Day On The River With The Teenagers
I seem to see life themes in everything my kids do these days. Taking them kayaking was an interesting peek into their different approaches to life.
Young Child
Won’t You Be My (ASD) Neighbor?
A mother wants to explain Asperger’s in positive way to her children now that they have a new friend who is on the spectrum.
Big Kid
Finding Awesome
I’m learning that it was never my son’s special needs that made his life more challenging, but his lack of self-esteem. What a difference some self-love makes!
Big Kid
Taking Flight in the Cold
Schools are closed today due to “excessive cold,” and it’s all my fault. Sorry, I’m not sorry—because it hasn’t slowed down my autistic son one bit.
Big Kid
Bye-bye, Homeschooling: Heading Back To Public School
After two and a half years of homeschooling, my autistic teen is embarking on a new adventure. Here’s why, and how we’re hoping to make it work.
Family Fun
New (fur)babies are stressful
In the excitement of adding a second dog to our household, I may have forgotten how hard it can be for everyone involved, even when it’s a good thing.
Education
Dealing With a New Diagnosis
My son has just been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). I haven’t the faintest idea what I’m supposed to do next.
Big Kid
The Unbearable Rightness Of Being
One of the hardest lessons for my teens is that, sometimes, there are some things more important than being right.
Big Kid
Navigating IEPs and 504s With Older Kids
The dance of special education gets a lot more complicated as kids hit the teen years; the challenge is to balance support with increased responsibility.
Big Kid
Special Needs, Yes Indeed: Find Your Family’s Tribe
When you’re parenting kids with special needs, finding another family who gets it is invaluable, for both kids and parents.
Big Kid
A Tale Of Two Teens Headed Back-To-School Two Ways
When back-to-school means different things for different teens in the same family, the name of the game is making sure that everyone gets what they need.
Big Kid
Dysfunction Junction: Improving Executive Function In Challenged Teens
A disorganized teen can make for an unhappy family. A few good coping strategies for improving executive functioning, everyone ends up happier, more productive.