Read more about the article Distance learning for the first time is pretty f*cking scary
COVID19 / Distance Learning / My thoughts / Planning / School

Distance learning for the first time is pretty f*cking scary

School is getting closer and closer and I'm getting nervous. We will be distance learning for the first time because there isn't a snowballs chance in hell that I would put my kids in a classroom right now. I know it's the right thing to do but I'm questioning whether I'm the right person for the job. Unfortunately, I'm the only person for the job, so I don't really have a choice. Everyone is stressed out and lockdown is continuing to take its toll. The house setup is not really conducive to distance learning and I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. Using the dining room table is probably the easiest solution but the boys may end up distracting each other if I don't separate them. Ideally, they'd…

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August 5, 2020
Read more about the article Navigating The In-Between
Inspirational Posts / My thoughts / Navigating Divorce

Navigating The In-Between

So last night was pretty rough. We're coming up on the one year mark since Lizze moved out and while I feel like the kids are doing better, there's still a tremendous amount of pain. Each of the kids deal with everything in different ways. Gavin simply accepts whatever he's told, never questioning anything. Emmett doesn't want to make waves, so he largely avoids any type of conflict but is angry. Elliott accepts nothing and keeps everything bottled up until he explodes. It was like an emotional nuclear bomb exploded in my living room last night. Elliott unloaded a great deal of what he's been keeping inside and all I could really do was listen. I don't agree with everything he said but I won't take away how he feels.…

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August 5, 2020
Read more about the article 150 days of #COVID19 lockdown and the #depression is real
COVID19 / Lockdown / My thoughts

150 days of #COVID19 lockdown and the #depression is real

The boys and I have been on lockdown for 150 days today. It's crazy to think it's been this long and it's even crazier to think we could be looking at almost another year before we get access to a vaccine. While we're all safe and healthy, that doesn't mean we're doing great. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for everyone's health, including my own but the isolation is taking a toll. Everyone is impacted differently. Elliott and Emmett are very short tempered anymore and struggle emotionally. Gavin is struggling emotionally, which leads to decompensation in other areas of his life. As for myself, there's no two ways about it, I'm depressed. Depression is definitely kicking my ass right now but I'm still fighting. Some days I fight harder than…

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August 3, 2020
Read more about the article How to Maintain a Stunning Garden as a Busy Parent
Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com
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How to Maintain a Stunning Garden as a Busy Parent

As a busy parent, it’s a win if you can keep the kitchen clean for more than five seconds. Other areas of the home, like the garden, just seem to take a back seat more often than not. That is such a big mistake. Not because it’s a chore, you need to check off on your list, but because your garden is an oasis of wellness. Getting out there and yes, even working to maintain it does wonders towards your wellbeing and mental health. Make it your downtime hobby, and get your family involved. With this excellent guide, you’ll be able to do it all, no matter how busy you are as a working parent or full-time caretaker. Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com Get Your Children Involved If you…

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August 2, 2020
Read more about the article We basically have 2 weeks before school begins
COVID19 / Distance Learning / My thoughts / Planning

We basically have 2 weeks before school begins

School supplies have started to arrive for Emmett. Elliott already received a textbook and laptop a few weeks back. Emmett received books, art supplies, a science kit and his laptop. The math workbook is enormous. We have about 2 weeks left before school is supposed to begin and frankly, I'm nervous. Things are already so challenging and that's without having to try and manage distance learning. At this point, I'm not even sure what's going to happen in Ohio. It's not yet been decided as far as I know. I suspect the school year will at the very least, be delayed. We'll have to see what happens and how it impacts us. For right now however, I'm just hoping that I can pull this off. I told Gavin that we…

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August 1, 2020
Read more about the article I let people get to me today
My thoughts

I let people get to me today

Generally speaking, I have pretty thick skin and I don't take to heart some of the unkind things that are said to me. I figure it's not worth getting upset over and more often than not, I simply don't care. I get my share of hate mail but I don't often talk about it because I just don't. Today was a particularly brutal day and it came from several different sources. I vented a bit eariler and you can read that here. I will never understand what drives a person to feel their opinion is so important that they are just compelled to dump it on me. I really don't need to know that you think I'm a terrible person or a failure as a father. For whatever reason, I…

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July 31, 2020
Read more about the article To Whom This May Concern: I Am In My Lane
Inspirational Posts / My thoughts

To Whom This May Concern: I Am In My Lane

I shared my recent interview with ABC News on the topic of wearing masks, and there have been some requests from within the autism community that I stay in my lane. It's been suggested that I just focus on autism related things because that's why people follow me. I thought a To Whom This May Concern type response made sense. I want to take a few minutes and explain why I'm doing what I'm doing and the purpose behind it. To Whom This May Concern We are living in a time where taking a stand matters. I'm a single Dad with 3 amazing autistic kids. My son is immunocompromised, and you better believe that I will use my platform to advocate for anything that will help keep him and others…

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July 30, 2020