He’s been going through so much and had basically shut down

So I've been dealing with less sleep than usual because Elliott has decided that he wants or needs to hangout when he can't sleep. The last few nights, he knocks on my door and asks if he can hang out. He's been going through a lot and basically shut down for a long time. When he asks to hang out, that's amazing in my world and the last thing I want to do is turn him away. At the same time, it's well after midnight and I just can't keep doing this. I think he just needs the company because we don't really talk about anything in particular. We just sit on my bed and play Xbox for a little while or watch a movie until my eyes can't stay…

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Review of the @Purple Hybrid Premier Mattress

I'm reviewing the Purple Mattress, and I'm doing so in a nontraditional way because I'm a nontraditional person in nontraditional circumstances. Sleep has been a struggle for me since having kids. I'm a single Dad to three kiddos on the autism spectrum, and when they don't sleep, I don't sleep. Frankly, even when they do sleep, I don't always sleep. Being single, I don't even get to sleep in shifts, and it takes a toll on my physical and emotional health. That's not a good thing. It's so important that I get the most out of whatever sleep I manage to obtain. That said, I want to talk to you about the Purple Hybrid Premier with 4 inches of Purple Grid I received a few weeks ago. Disclaimer: I received…

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So this is what my day will look like

The kids don't have school today and that means less distraction for me. At the same time, that means less distraction for them as well. Unfortunately, that also means I'm going to have to run interference because they're likely to get on each other's nerves. I need to accomplish a couple of things today and one of those things is getting today's episode up on time. That means I'll be staring at this screen for the next couple of hours. I really enjoyed this weeks conversation and should have it ready for your ears later today. The other thing I have to do is mulch the goddamn leaves again. It's only like the 4th time this week. I'd say about 90% of the leaves are down and so this should…

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When it comes to remote learning, my youngest is out of shits to give

It's been a frustrating day for me and if there was a circus nearby, I might have just run away and joined it. The day started out rough and it just went downhill from there. Actually, it was a rough night prior because Emmett struggled to sleep and literally glued himself to me and that pretty much killed any hopes of me finding sleep. The boys did great in class today. Good for them, I'm very proud. Emmett is struggling a bit with what amounts to the remote learning version of homework. He keeps falling behind and it's clear that remote learning is a struggle for him. It's frustrating for me because I know this isn't what he normally does and trying to constantly stay on him about it, without…

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You Need To Know These Travel Hacks If You’re A Single Parent

As a single parent, you don’t want to ignore or avoid the traditional things that families do, such as traveling. The problem is, going on a family vacation with two parents is challenging. Doing it by your lonesome is going to be as stressful as it is relaxing. So, you might not view it as something you want to do for a while. Pixabay - CC0 Licence That’s okay because not every family is desperate for a holiday. However, a break is an excellent way to recharge your batteries and have fun and bond as a group. Therefore, if unsure, you should recognize that the pros outweigh the cons. Plus, while there are obstacles, it is possible to enjoy an incredible vacation without the hassle. All you need to do…

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I think this was our last hiking trip for awhile

I took the kids out for a walk today. I figured if we could find a place that was isolated enough, we could safely get out for a bit. We ended up trying several places before settling on the Wellness Trail. There were no cars there and I felt pretty good about our odds. We came across a few people along the way. Only one person was wearing a mask and with as bad as things are getting, this might be our last trip for a little while. Not enough people are taking this seriously and it's getting too dangerous. While we were out, I was able to grab some pictures. It was a gorgeous day and we ended up walking about two miles before making our way back to…

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I think my #autistic son is messing with me but I’m not sure

My oldest Gavin, is driving me crazy today. I know, it must be a Tuesday. This is a new behavior and I'm not sure what the fuck is happening or why. I've shared over the years that Gavin narrates his life. If he thinks it, oftentimes he says it out loud. You can't shut the kid up and he drives everyone nuts. I get that many of you out there might have nonverbal kids and you may be offended by my frustration. Please know that having raised both verbal, and nonverbal kids, I get it. There are also major challenges when our kids are verbal as well. Anyway, Gavin has started whispering instead of talking. Lately, he's talking so quietly that I can't make out what he's saying and yet…

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We pretty much kicked ass today

It's been a pretty amazing day here in The Autism Dad house and I don't say that very often. The first day of Emmett's new schedule went off without much of a hitch. He did pretty good and I'm proud of him. Tomorrow will be the test because normally, he wouldn't have any classes, as it would be an off day. This will be a test. Anyway, the car is back. That's right. It only took 4 or 5 weeks but she's looking good. Big thanks to my Mom for helping me get there. It was the safest approach because while they don't quarantine, they do take this very seriously. Masks on and windows down for a 5 minute drive. Thanks Mom. ☺ ♥ Can't wait until February when I…

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