Finding Peace, After Autism
For the first two months of his life, all my son did was cry. He cried in the morning, while I made breakfast for my three-year-old daughter, who covered her ears in annoyance. He cried from his perch in the tiny bouncy seat on the bathroom floor, as I stood in the shower and rested my aching head on the tile wall. He cried all night long, as I paced the room with his tiny body in my arms. Is he hungry? Is he wet? Is he in pain? I never knew. I never could tell! Nothing I tri
The 2 Places You Go When Your Child Receives an Autism Diagnosis
Autism Speaks recently shared one of my blog posts, “What My Kid With Autism Wants You to Know About Him.” Well, actually, it was more like my son Ryan’s blog post since it was his voice and his words. There were a lot of lovely comments from parents who “got it.” They understood autism doesn’t define their children and so much more lies beneath that label. There was one comment, though, that pierced my heart: “My son was diagnosed today. I needed to read this.” As I read thi
How to Boost Your Child's Self-Esteem: ADHD Parenting Advice
Many kids with ADHD and learning disabilities also struggle with poor self-esteem. Here's how parents can help. When children feel good about themselves, everything goes a little easier for them and their parents. But poor self-esteem is a big problem for ADHD children--and an even bigger problem for the 50 percent or so of ADHD children who also have learning difficulties. To feel good about themselves, children need two things: the sense that they're successful, both social
Boy Designs Dragon T-Shirts to Raise Autism Awareness, Unleashes his Inner Knight
In fairytales, dragons are usually the villains. But for one boy in the real world, they're the heroes. Santino Stagliano is a 10-year-old with autism who designs dragon T-shirts to raise awareness and money for the Center for Autism in Philadelphia, Today.com reported. The hand-drawn designs have helped the 10-year-old come out of his shell, and he now shares his dragons through his own nonprofit. "I think it's really helping to spread awareness and the message that children
Kids and Anxiety: What Parents Should Know
Anxiety in kids gets a bad rap. So says Lynn Collins, a licensed clinical psychologist in Portland who works with families. Anxiety actually has its beneficial side, Collins told The Oregonian/OregonLive. "A little anxiety actually sharpens you intellectually," she said. It produces an adrenalin surge that speeds up mental reactions and processing speed. So if your kid has jitters about playing a soccer game or taking a history test, that's normal and healthy. But if anxiety
10 Things I Swore I'd Never Do when I became a Parent...I Do Every Day
For today's Top 10 Tuesday, I thought I would share some of my stellar parenting moments... I miss the days when I was a perfect mother with a perfect child...you know, when I was childless and still swimming in self-righteous parenting ignorance. I'm pretty sure the saying, "Never say never.", came from parents saying it to non-parents. So far, almost all of my pre-parent, I will nevers... I have done. Here are 10 of my top "Nevers" that I do and say on a regular basis... 1.
The Job Offer Letter We Should Send All New Autism Parents
Dear Liz, Congratulations on your successful appointment to the position of "Autism Parent." We understand you may be confused by this appointment, as you never actually applied for the post in the first place. You may also be concerned that there are no contact details in this letter, so you cannot write, call or email us to turn the position down. Your concerns are to be expected and will lessen over time. However, we would like to make clear right away that being an autism
To Be a Mom on Mother's Day
It's almost Mother's Day. Even in the wake of burying my beautiful, beloved mom, it is still my favorite day of the year. It's not becuase of the #1 Mom masterpieces, the cereal-and-brown-banana breakfasts in bed, or even the sweet kisses and declarations of love. It's because I am fortunate enough to be a mom. Motherhood is not a gift all women receive. And I know some moms don't get enough time on earth to fully raise a child. Each morning, I have the privilege of waking up
More Than A Mom
The moment you were conceived, you made me a mom. But as you started to grow, I grew too....and you made me more than a mom. 9 long months of pregnancy. I watched as my flat mid-section turned into a delightful baby bump...and then into a not quite as charming distended belly -- a belly that pinched nerves, aggravated joints and bullied surrounding organs. My once dainty feet swelled from bearing the weight of two humans, then merged upwards into barely identifiable ankles an
OMG, I Just Found Out my Son has ADHD
I'm sure you imagined your child, at some point during pregnancy or the adoption process, proudly showing you his latest A on a school test or crossing the stage during college graduation. Parents want the best for their children and have the highest hopes for them. An ADHD diagnosis initially feels like an abrupt end to many of the dreams you had for your child. It raises the possibility that your dreams for her may not come true. But it doesn't mean that achieving her dream