Helping kids learn to manage their big emotions with Mightier

Hey parents, some days don't you just feel like you're riding an emotional roller coaster? Trust me, I've been there. Navigating the stormy seas of big emotions with your autistic child can feel overwhelming. It's hard seeing your child struggle, and sometimes you might feel lost and alone. But I promise – you're not alone. You're doing an amazing job, and there's help out there. Have you heard of Mightier? I’ve been talking about it for years. This game-changing tool entered my life when I needed it the most. Developed by the brains at Harvard Medical and Boston Children's Hospital, Mightier is not just a collection of super fun video games. It's a lifeline, a guide to teach our kiddos how to better regulate their emotions. I know it might…

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Unveiling the Unique Advantages of Weighted Pillows for Kids with #Autism, #ADHD, and #Sensory Processing Disorders

When it comes to supporting children with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing disorders, the significance of sensory tools cannot be overstated. Weighted pillows are a brand new invention and have emerged as a powerful resource, providing numerous benefits that make them a preferred choice over weighted blankets, especially for children. In this post, we will briefly delve into the advantages of weighted pillows and explore why they excel in meeting the unique needs of kids with autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorders. Use the code “theautismdad” and save 15% Shop Weighted Pillows by Quiet Mind Targeted Deep Pressure Stimulation:Weighted pillows offer the advantage of targeted deep-pressure stimulation. Unlike weighted blankets that cover the entire body, pillows can be strategically placed on specific areas, such as the lap, back, or shoulders.…

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It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress

I’m really excited about today. We’re all going over to my brother’s house for the 4th and it’s gonna be awesome. There will be some new people there and it’s gonna be awesome. The boys are currently helping my parents on a project in the backyard while I’m getting caught up on some work. I’ve got quite a few writing gigs to finish and publish, so I’m spending the day getting that stuff done. Gavin has started his first job and it’s going incredibly well so far. Elliott is back at work during the week and so it’s just Emmett and me during the day. I’m trying to finish up my office to recording studio conversion and I’m hoping to paint next week. The drywall repairs were quite extensive and…

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Some major updates about my kids

It’s been a little while since I’m written here. There have been a great many changes in my life and all of them very positive. I’m obviously still experiencing some writing burnout and I just don’t always have the bandwidth to put my thoughts into words like I used to. That said, I’m really trying to push through that and get back into writing again because it is a healthy outlet for me. For the moment, I’m just glad to be writing this. There have been so many changes over the last few months, some I’ll talk about and others, are going to remain private for now, but all are very positive. Let’s start with Gavin. Gavin has been working with a job coach to secure employment. We’ve been working…

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We arrived at the Converge Autism Summit in Greenville South Carolina

Emmett and I made it safely to South Carolina last night. It took us about 9 hours or so of actual driving and it rained most of the way. Emmett handled the ride really well and if having a great time so far. Emmett didn’t want to stand in the rain Virginia, so I stood alone. lol I’m just finished setting everything up and I’m going to head back out and check out the vendors. Emmett’s working in some school work and our day is off to a pretty good start. :-)

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Heading back to the Converge Autism Conference this May

I’m returning to the Autism Converge Conference put on by Springbrook Autism Behavioral Health in Greenville, South Carolina the week of Mayth. The purpose is to help promote the conference and speakers, along with a couple of the social media influencers. Last year’s conference I went last year and had a really good time. It was my very first conference and I met some amazing people while I was there. I decided that I wanted to do more of these things because it gets me out of my comfort zone, it’s a great experience, and it’s a good for business. Springbrook Autism Behavioral Health invites professionals from across the nation to converge for two days of presentations and breakout discussions covering a wide range of topics related to Autism—from diagnosis,…

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We sign papers for day services today

Today is a big day for Gavin. Today is the day that we sign papers for him to begin day services. This has been such a long time coming and I’m so glad we’re finally here. As I understand it, Gavin and I will be meeting with his SSA and a representative from the day center. We will talk about Gavin’s needs and create a plan that best meets them. My guess is that he will be attending at least a few days a week but it won’t start for about 30 days. Everything has to be processed and transportation arrangements must be made. It may not take a full 30 days but that’s the current estimate and Gavin’s okay with that because it gives him some time to emotionally…

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