My son is just 5years old.

Last night we were sitting as usual in his playroom with his AAC device. We were talking about his daily activities, school etc. usually it was like me (his mother) asks questions and he responds with pictures or keyboard (typing)

After a while he willingly took the device and typed “You Look tired?” And then go to picture and navigated to some folder and clicked why

So the question is “you look tired? Why?”

One part of My heart healed at that moment and I kissed him and said it’s nothing mom has a cold.

He said “Ok”

I said I love you

He replied “I love you”

Best day of my life

The incidents of my 22 year old son acting out with aggression have been reduced significantly over the last two years, but boy, when he melts down he really goes for it. Im alone with him till Saturday, we have no respite care and any friends that could help are working or on vacation. My best friend who has always been my rock died in May. My folks are near by, but my mom thinks he has autism because I had him vaccinated so I dont ask them for help.

Ill be fine, I just needed to share this with people who will understand and not judge.

I just love him. Some periods of our lives have been so sad and isolating and scary, so I acknowledge those. And I’m fully aware we will have more challenges in the future that may overwhelm me in a way that changes my current outlook BUT… my god I just love my son so much and really, really enjoy this season of our lives.

I’m so grateful for the things in our life that work well for him and allow him to thrive and be himself. Every time I look at him so full of joy and excitement over his interests I just swell with pride and love.

He’s changed my life for the better, taught me so much about the world and what’s important, and I’m so lucky I get to be his parent.

I think about those who are struggling at this time and I want you to know that I don’t take for granted the experience I’m having. I want that for all of us so badly. I’m honoured to be part of this parenting ‘club’ because I know how fiercely we love and fight for our kids. We are amazing and I hope everyone gets to experience many seasons of joy on this journey ♥️

Late last night my son's school friend showed up out of the blue, his parents were arguing and he eloped, thankfully came to ours.

I said to my son (who was doing his bed routine) his friend is downstairs and is a bit sad, and could he look after him?

I got an emphatic no and a door slam, I was a bit disappointed, but he hates his routine being interrupted.

But in the next minute (with no input from me), he came downstairs with his blanket, wrapped his friend up and put on a kids show. They sat there for 30 minutes until one of his parents showed up.

I've never been prouder.

My 6 year old son is autistic and has ADHD. He gets frustrated easily and when he gets worked up, he has a hard time calming down. His meds also wear off right around dinner time, so he’s emotional to begin with.

Today before dinner, he was making a project out of paper and it wasn’t working the way he wanted to. He was getting upset, and got even more upset when I told him it was time for dinner and he had to stop working. Then, he didn’t want to eat what I’d made him (he has a really hard time with food), and got even more upset. Then he tried bringing a blanket to the table to hide under because he gets embarrassed when he has meltdowns and said he didn’t want his dad or grandma to see him. We have a no-blankets-at-the-table rule so I told him we could go to his room to calm down before going to the table, and he just got even more upset.

I finally got him calmed down enough that we could sit at the table, and I’d just taken a bite of my food when something my other son said set my AuDHD son off again. I hugged him and rubbed his back, trying to get him calm while still being able to eat my dinner.

At which point my husband said to me, “why can’t
you just take him in his room til he knocks this off? I’m trying to enjoy my dinner.” So I took my son to his room, sat on the floor with him while he ate his dinner, and didn’t eat mine.

My husband treats all of my son’s behaviors as intentional bad behavior instead of trying to understand what’s happening and why. Yes there’s times he needs tough love but there’s other times he just needs a hug and someone there with him. But my husband just wants to shove him in a room and make him cry by himself, because that’s what his family did to him growing up (my husband is late diagnosed ADHD and probably undiagnosed autism). My other kids (both younger) have a tendency to pick on my son because he’s easy to set off, and they like to mess with him to get a reaction. We’re working on that but it’s hard because my AuDHD son is disabled enough to be different (and sometimes annoying because he’s repetitive and bossy in play), but not disabled enough to put the other two in a caregiver role.

So I’m pissed that I didn’t get to eat dinner because I had to hide my son away because he was too much of an inconvenience to be allowed to eat dinner with our family. I’m also pissed that my husband’s handling of our son’s behavior furthers the ostracizing and otherness of him that I’m already having a hard time with.

Am I overreacting?

I’m son is 3, and has level two autism. I was originally doing data entry for my mils business. However, I kept having to leave work because daycare was constantly calling me to pick him up. (For context, this was when he was one year old, and before we got his diagnosis) so she moved me to working from home part time. I definitely don’t make enough doing what I do and I’d love a career change. I have 2 children so paying for daycare is crazy expensive, then with picking up and dropping him off at ABA, Speech and OT. It just seems so impossible to have a job, but in this economy it’s almost impossible to live off of my husbands paycheck. I’ve always been independent, and have no family of my own, so the thought of my husband and me getting divorced for whatever reason and me falling flat on my face keeps me up at night 😅. Anyways, what do you guys do for work? That actually allows you to be flexible due to your child’s tight schedules. I wouldn’t mind going back to school for it, as long as the degree wouldn’t take tooooo long.

We're unsure what food to give my two nieces with autism. 5 years old. One girl doesn't talk much while the other can do short sentences.

We know they have several home-cooked 'safe food' but when we've tried those, it's been rejected. (Most likely different than their home version). 

My mom noticed they haven't rejected sweets, so has already filled them with cakes, cookies, ice cream, etc. I don't think they have a dietary restrictions, but I don't feel this is the way to go.

My sister (their mom) suddenly caught a bad sickness a couple days ago and dropped my nieces off with my parents and me. She's been sleeping mostly since. Since her family has had a rough past couple months, we don't want to bother her. I also don't see her recovering very soon, so any suggestions from this community is appreciated

EDIT ADD ON: thanks for the suggestions everyone. I think once the initial shock of 'ack this was unexpected' wore off, we realized we had more at our disposal than just desserts. Mangoes, applesauce, smooth peanut butter... We're going to be okay, and my sister is doing better too.

My son is level 1 with ADHD and ARFID. In January he started ABA therapy for the ARFID after 6 months of food therapy through speech with no progress at all. He goes once a week for 1.5 hours with a 30 minute “parent training” once a week. We have done the parent training maybe 5 times due to his BCBA canceling frequently. He has Florida Blue insurance as well as CHAMPVA as a secondary. We have had nothing but issues from the billing department due to a refusal to bill CHAMPVA and them waiting 3 months to bill us at all. Then they sent me a bill for over $900. After going back and forth with the clinic for weeks they finally agreed to bill CHAMPVA and I’ve heard nothing since April from them. Then I get this email today stating we have hit the 200 hour maximum that his insurance allows and need to stop services immediately unless we switch to self pay. When I add it up in my head there is no possible way he has received 200 hours of services with how little he goes. Then I looked at his EOB from Florida Blue and they’re stating he has only hit 41 hours. I’ve already emailed the clinic back but what would you guys do? This seems like insurance fraud to me and I can’t help but think what nonsense they pulling on families who receive way more services than we do.

So, the typical reason that you don't cuss in front of your kids is because you don't want them to repeat them. My son is nonverbal, and my mother keeps giving me a hard time for cussing in front of him. I do not want my kid to cuss, i don't think it's appropriate, however, if my kid did repeat me and say a cuss word I would be ecstatic because it shows he's capable of speech. I don't know, it just feels weird and I would love to hear what you guys think, or what other logic you have for not cussing in front of your nonverbal children lol

Edit: guys, i wanted insight from parents that are anti-cussing...... almost everyone that comments says "i cuss and praise when my kids do!" or "I'm not anti cussing......"

I’m looking for some guidance and help please. For background I have Audhd (diagnosed) and my son who is 14 was diagnosed with ASD/C around 12 months ago and also has a lot of anxiety. He has some friends at school and a girlfriend but he struggles to fit into social norms and can be very quiet. When you get to know him he is very funny and he’s so caring and kind.

Over the last year I have noticed that my dresses in my wardrobe have been moved or inside out and my makeup items left in different places. I suspected my son has been experimenting so haven’t mentioned anything but also tell him that he can talk to me about anything, I am non judgmental and only want him to be happy. I reaffirm regularly that our relationship is a safe space to be who he wants to be. A few weeks ago he opened up that he tries on my dresses, I reassured that it’s ok. I asked a few questions like do you feel like you want to be a girl and he said i don’t know I juts like how they feel. I said to him that he is so young he doesn’t have to have the answers now and he can continue to be curious and explore his identity and if he needed to talk I am always here.

Now he will put a particular dress of mine on in front of me but he’s very shy about it, I act completely normal with him because I truly do just want him to be himself.

But I am conscious of his vulnerability being autistic and I suspect OCD too (I also have this) so don’t want to lead him in any direction. However I have noticed he has become more withdrawn lately and I know it’s coupled with hormones too but I am worried about him.

He had some counselling with the WHAT centre but he didn’t open up at all and kept it superficial so I know therapy alone won’t help.

Really need some advice on what to do.

A few days ago, my non-verbal (has only a few single words, with receptive and expressive language delay) 5 year old took the vacuum cleaner by the handle, and “drove” it around the room. I think he made noises too. It was the first real example of function-related play, and the vacuum has become his favorite toy now. He’d usually just hold on to a car and inspect it rather than drive it around or make vroom noises, or hold a stuffed toy/put any loose parts in his mouth.

Yesterday we started potty training attempts again and he peed in the toilet for the first time.

Today he said “I want water” and “I want cereal” with prompts, after he first asked for “water” and “cereal”. He’d usually just make it to two-word phrases with heavy prompts.

I’m so glad.

I once had this amazing coffee while in Mexico that was made locally, and I often think about it…. But I don’t even think that could do the job right now.

The summer has me so extremely exhausted, with early mornings, no naps, and long ass days. It’s like a core exhaustion that I can’t even describe.

My brother has two sons, one 7 year old (neurotypical) and one 4 year old who I just found out has level 3 autism or at least that's the diagnosis so far. Apparently he and his wife have known for a couple of years now but were in denial. I emigrated almost 10 years ago and can't travel back often so I haven't seen them in two years. Anyway...

Now that I have this information I want to educate myself, particularly on how to interact with him, how to be helpful to my brother, how to help the other little one understand, how to help my dad who is having a really hard time trying to be the best grandpa he can be but doesn't understand well how to interact with neurodivergent children.

What books, youtube channels, content creators, whatever, would you recommend to this auntie? And any advice, really.

Thank you <3

My son 3 going to be 4 soon, was recently diagnosed with level 3 autism. He has been doing this thing where he tucks his penis and testicles between his legs and will repeatedly jump or kneel. It seems to take over everything he does. He cannot go without some way touching his private area or tucking.
We have tried overalls, which he strongly dislikes, a sports cup which worked for a little, and sports compression shorts but I am wondering if there is anything else I may not be looking at. We have gotten him checked out by his PCP and they said it’s a phase and he will grow out of it but he’s done it since he was about a year old.
He first started by laying down on his back and crossing his legs and tucking. I first thought it was a constipation thing but it has evolved through time to the kneeling and standing tucking.
He also does this thing where he will lay a blanket over himself and just be on his side and tuck and then just lays there for a long time just stimming.

I’m lost. Please help out this overwhelmed father.

My toddler thinks that care bears are the cutest things ever. She takes one everywhere she goes, and if we see them at a thrift shop she asks if she can put them with the rest of her care bear family.

I just wish it was easier to find specific bears lol. But I love how much comfort and joy they bring my special little princess.

Recently I noticed when my daughter becomes disregulated or unfocused and we try to refocus her, the default response is to automatically apologize. I will give two recent examples and I am not sure how to teach her the tools. I feel like she suffering already from low confidence ( I also did the same thing as a child and I suffer from low self esteem).

1. The other day we had swimming class, due to a mix up the teacher was not there and she couldn’t swim. I explained to her that we could not swim that day and she was upset (understandably). She continued to apologize hoping that it would allow her to get access to swim; I apologized to my daughter multiple times and let her know she has nothing to apologize about and she did nothing wrong.

2. We are still potty training and it has been a massive uphill battle. She will say she has to go to the bathroom get distracted by something random, I will say let’s go to the bathroom to refocus her. She will get upset and start apologizing to me instead of refocusing to go to the bathroom.

I am bringing this up for various reasons but her over eagerness to apologize makes me worried that she will be seen as easily taken advantage of (it happened to me). I want her to guide her to understand that things that do not always go our way are not our fault. This scares me because we are starting kindergarten next month and she will be in a class with both neurotypical and neurodivergent kids.

What has worked with your kids?

My 5 yo son is doing summer school. He rides the bus with other mix aged special ed students. Today a boy who looks like he’s in middle school loudly screamed before we came on the bus. I didn’t think anything of it as I walked on the bus with my son. All of a sudden this kid lunges out of his seat & hits my son. I loudly tell him not to do that again. The bus driver immediately comes to the back to deal with the situation. She tells the boy to sit in his seat & not hit. The kid is completely disregulated & starts yelling and hitting himself and the seat behind him super hard. The bus driver tries to calm him down & semi succeeds. She is flustered by the situation and immediately drives away, not even waiting for the other kid who waits at the bus stop with us.

Tomorrow is the last day of summer school. My husband is on a work trip, & so it’s just me at home with 4 kids. I’m scared to put my son on the bus tomorrow but it’s also difficult to get everyone awake & ready to drive him to school

I’m drowning. No one knows what to do to help me. There is a glimpse of a village but I guess I’m the mayor and have to run it?!

I know I am lucky to have people who want to help. They say “tell me what to do.” But that makes me crazy, I don’t know… look around!

Help me, help myself. How does your village help you?

Besides childcare, how do you have others help? Laundry, groceries, dinners, yard work, what mental load items can I hand off?!

He (5 yr old, level 2 autistic) had it in the morning and by 3pm, I noticed it was gone. Like what? Lol

When I asked about it, he just nonchalantly says "yeah its gone". I asked why he didnt tell me, he says "I dont want too, momma".

Ok? 🤣 his first tooth and he didn't even care. For all i know, he swallowed it because its gone. 🤷‍♀️.

My kid has been seeing the same speech therapist over 3 years and still nonverbal. She suspects he has apraxia but is not specially trained in it. I have been doing some research and have come across therapists that specialize in GLP, NLA, and apraxia. My son tries to imitate certain sounds/words but is simply unable to form his lips/tongue/mouth to do some of them. Which kind of speech therapist would be most helpful here?

Thank you in advance for those that read and comment! I understand we are not to give medical advice, so I'm just hoping to hear your stories of something that might have worked if something resonates with you.

My daughter is 7 and she is autistic. I was never given a diagnosis level, but I would say she's a level II, she does use words to communicate as well. So far the only medication she takes is nightly Gabapentin which is for sleep, and she's been on it about 8 months.

Since about mid June, my daughter is really struggling. I'm seeing a lot of aggression, irritablity, elopement, anxiety, and anger. She isn't happy doing anything unless she is alone, in her darkened bedroom, with her tablet. She's gotten to the point where it's unsafe for me to take her out of the house. She gets out of her seatbelt, bangs her head/hands on the windows of my car, and basically runs around the vehicle while in movement. I let her know what is happening beforehand, speak calmly to her, and offer her weighted blanket for in the vehicle. I've gotten her a safety harness to wear in the car, but it takes 2 people to get her in it (I'm a single Mom, so there's never 2 people) and when she's in the harness she absolutely loses her mind screaming and banging her head off the windows. Unfortunately she does need to attend summer camp programs a few weeks this summer (because I work 2 jobs) so it is necessary I do something to help her feel better. I feel like my entire life is in chaos because she is so unmanageable. Every day I wake up and hold my breath just to get through it.

My gut is telling me it is time to look at medication for her, and we have a phone appointment with her pediatrician on the 28th. I will obviously listen to whatever interventions her doctor suggests, but I'm interested to hear what has worked for fellow autism parents with similar experiences. In doing some initial research, it seems some families find that Ambilify or Risperidone have been helpful in reducing the target behaviours that I am hoping to help her with. Does anyone have anything to add? Any experience with any medication? Anyone dealing with anything similar? HELPPPPP

Finally feel like I have a win for my level two mostly nonverbal 8 year old. We have been in and out of speech therapy for about two years now. He doesn't have an appointment as often as I would like that's a different story for a different time. At his last appointment finally got his mother to agree to letting him use an aac device. My concern was she doesn't want him to use it with her or at her home only on my time with him. I just worry about how he's gonna communicate after getting used to his device or if he's going to get the chance to really use it. I'm already in the works for getting him full time but everyone knows that is a big process. This is apparently his second attempt at using a device. I believe he used it previously with his speech therapist but that's it from my understanding. Is there anything I should take into consideration or watch for. Thank you for reading.

My son (4yo level 2 verbal, recently diagnosed) spends hours every day happily playing with legos. Basically any downtime we have at home he's building little Lego creations. At what point does it become too much??

My boys, ADHD and ASD (1) severe ADHD cannot walk in any sort of vaguely organized pattern if it kills them. If I walk along side them I literally have to put my arm out so they don’t run into me, walk in front of me, step on my shoes, or trip me. Have chipped my teeth several times after losing my balance being near them.

We took them to the city and walking around was a minefield for me- who has horrible coordination to begin with. Both kids are in OT and have been for years.

My 10 year old sold has mild ASD. He has come MILES from a few years ago and his biggest issues are self-regulation and some physical boundaries. He is way more talkative than be used to be. He doesn't really elope anymore.

My wife and I are wondering about getting him a really basic phone. He does do some YouTube, with supervision. He does NOT need social media on his phone at all otherwise. Maybe some games. It just needs to be durable and able to call someone who we pre-decide when he feels the need, including a couple of autistic friends.

We use Google Fi, though that probably doesn't matter a whole lot.

Any thoughts?