Blog Posts

Students are starting back to school. This can be the second most stressful time of the year. Children have been on Christmas vacation for two weeks. Now, they have to get back into the routine of getting up for school, studying and completing homework assignments.

Here are some tips I am trying to implement:

1. Get a good routine. Make sure each child has their outfit ready the night before.
2. Have a set time to got through each child’s work and backpacks. Nothing is as frustrating as forgetting to turn in a permission slip or not signing a paper for your child’s teacher. This will lessen the child’s stress during school.
3. Pack as much for their lunch the night before and put it in the fridge.
4. Make a vision board some time this month for your family. Set some family goals. Have the kids even make their own list of goals.
5. There will be days of chaos. We live in a world where that is inevitable. Just chalk up those days as “crazy” and move on to the next day.

Hopefully we can all have a great 2019. Here’s to your children having an awesome 2nd half of the school year!

Adults are not the only ones who can set goals and resolutions. Students can benefit greatly from setting goals.

Here are some tips.

1. Set yearly, quarterly, and monthly goals. From those goals, you can set daily and weekly goals.
2. Make those goals SMART: Specifice, Measurable, Assignable, Relevant and Time based.
3. Review goals often. Sometimes we make goals that are too easy to attain. We then can make bigger goals to achieve.

Top Ten: What to Remember After the Diagnosis

Your child was just diagnosed to be on the autism spectrum. This is scary and confusing diagnosis. No two children with autism are the same. Every child has his or her own “quirks”. As a parent of a child on the spectrum, here is my top ten list for parents.

1. This is not your fault.

I can remember going over memories in my head. I went through every scenario of “what I could have done different”. Studies have not been able to find a cause or a cure. There are too many outside factors. This is not your fault.

2. Ask for help.

Ask your family for support. Find support from doctors, therapists, and educators. If you have a faith-based community, cling to it. Find other families who are dealing with the same issues. There are so many people who want to help. Let them help.

3. Accept help from teachers, educators, and medical professionals.

Gather a tribe of professionals to help you on this journey. There is so much help available now compared to even ten years ago. Take advantage to the expertise of others.

4. If you have other children, remember you have other children.

Siblings of children on the autism spectrum can feel they are unnoticed. Anyone can get caught up in the whirlwind of a diagnosis, IEP’s, and other treatments. Spend intentional time with other children. Make sure their feelings and opinions are valued and heard.

5. Remember your spouse.

Times in life like these can either make or break a marriage. Try to find time for each other. Do not let this diagnosis become the center of your life, even if it feels like it is right now.

6. Create a team and cheering squad.

Gather a team of people to support you, your family and your child. Also, find others who want to help, but may not have all the answers. Some people just want to be there to encourage and love your child. Let them be your cheerleader!

7. Educate yourself.

Research all the reliable information you can find. Ask professionals and fellow ASD parents where they get their information. This journey will involve a lot of trial and error. Be willing to try different methods that might help your child be their best.

8. Create your new “normal”.

Establish a routine for you and your family. Children on the spectrum thrive on routine. Find a routine that can benefit everyone in the family.

9. You can do this.

You can do this. Things may seem helpless now. However, there are so many resources and assistance out there. You may feel alone. Statistics show that more and more children are being diagnosed on the spectrum. Therefore, there are more and more parents like you.

10. Your child is amazing!

Every child is truly unique. No matter what a piece of paper says, your child is wonderful and amazing. Never forget that!

This is a great article that might help parents decide if their child needs a tutor.

https://www.parents.com/kids/education/homework/6-signs-your-child-needs-a-tutor/

Here is a great article about helping your child with a routine for succeeding with their homework.

Top 10 Homework Tips    https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/homework.html

September 11, 2001

This is a day most of us will never forget. However, most of our children were not even born then. However, we have told our children about this terrorist attack. We have explained how the events went through during the day. Our sons have asked where we were and what we actually went through. We did not know anyone who was in the attacks. I did know a few people who lived near the World Trade Center.

Today I had the boys watch a timeline of the events of that day. We also learned more details about what happened with Flight 93. We shared about the passengers and how they saved so many people that day.

Our children ask questions. They want to feel safe and secure. They need to know about events so they can feel confident that you are taking care of them.

I believe that we can play a crucial part in helping to help our children to stress less in times of disaster and terror. We are the “thermostat” in our home. We can help our children “make sense” of the circumstances.

Here are some tips:

1. Share as much as you feel you can with your child. Remember, knowledge is power.

2. Let your child know that you are there to help them be safe.

3. Help them find ways to de-stress during times of conflict.

4. Make your home a place of peace and safety.

5. Limit the time you watch and listen to bad news in your home while your children are in the room. This can be TV, podcasts, radio, internet, etc.

There will always be times of disaster, conflict, war and terror. We, as parents, have the responsibility to help their children live their best life. They cannot do that when they are constantly stressed and fearful.

 

Be your child’s best advocate. Be their best cheerleader. Be the person who is there when the world abandons them.

I have a child who is on the autism spectrum. I have spent hours researching. We have had a lot of trial and error with his education and development. I have also had lots of support and cheerleaders. God has sent some of the most precious, patient people to help my son achieve so much over the years.

I have mentioned the movie “Temple Grandin”. Her mother, Eustacia Cutler, was a champion for all special needs families. I have watching clips of the movie lately to remind me of how far things have come. I am so thankful for pioneers, like Mrs. Cutler, who paved the way for our children to succeed.

Find support when you are fighting for your child. It can make a world of difference.

 

My son was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2 1/2 years old. There was not a lot known at the time about Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome.

The first public figure I knew had autism was Dr. Temple Grandin. I became a huge “research” momma. I found out about Dr. Temple Grandin. Her mother and mentors never gave up on her. I was not going to give up on my son.

We moved to South Korea with my husband’s job soon after our son’s diagnosis. This movie gave me the inspiration I needed to press on and help my son succeed in his own way.

If your child needs extra help, get the help. Do the research. Find every way to help our child reach their fullest potential.

Here are some good tips for middle school students!

https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/study-skills-for-middle-school-and-beyond/