Tag: Mental Health
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Finding the one who gets it.
Why babysitters are hard to find for children with autism. Jeanne rode away from home on her bike. We had hired two babysitters for this very scenario. One babysitter stayed with the younger two of our three kids while the other babysitter tailed Jeanne. The babysitters also called their mom who got in her car…
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Jeanne can fish.
Jeanne “doesn’t know how to play barbies,” with her cousins and she’s not interested in typical toys. Hoo boy, Jeanne can fish. Jeanne lights up. Her full-body smile glows when she’s in the thick of it. Jeanne can stand on the dock or on the banks of Carson and Irvine Park for hours. Direct sun?…
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Hugs are sparse. Hugs are a gift.
Both our girls have autism. Each expresses their love differently. Jeanne does not like a lot of physical touch unless she initiates it. I give Jeanne a lot of high fives, arm pats, backrubs, quick touches. Jeanne will occasionally cuddle in my legs if she is exhausted. She prefers if we sit next to her.…
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When my kids are triggered, I’m triggered. My struggle for calm.
Juggling five family member’s schedules, needs, wants, emotions, food preferences, clothing preferences, therapy schedules, doctor visits, illnesses… it’s too much. I struggle to separate behaviors from my child when I am triggered. The more often and more heavily I am triggered, or stuck in a funk, the faster I am to lose perspective. My goal…
We talk About Autism. 