Following Asher

We had a great morning at the ASD Safety Day put on by UCF CARD - Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. The boys were excited to sit on a police bike, sit in a firetruck, and say hi to the police officer and fireman. Walked around their resource fair too. Then got a late seafood lunch.

We’ve sure had a lot going on, including Asher and fam weathering their first major hurricane..but we are safe and ok, and we were glad for a fun morning.
👮 👨‍🚒

Busy season of regular life for us. Grateful when we get to add in fun bits like a little trip to a pumpkin patch/farm, and play time at the library. Asher also had his regular ice skating session. There were many opportunities this weekend for us all to practice understanding, grace, perseverance, giving space, encouraging each other, etc. amidst having a lot of fun.

All kids can benefit from talking through what’s going to happen before the activity, but that can be very essential for autism families sometimes. Also, sometimes you have to learn to pivot and press through, and recover, even at a fun outing. I’m really learning so much that when any of us are having a hard time, that’s exactly what we’re having. We’re not trying to be difficult or cause issues for others, we’re just having a tough time. Grace required for all. We’re like any other family in that regard. Each new day is a chance to practice these things.

Asher had a blast at ice skating, and he’s gaining so much more core strength. Yesterday’s class was his first time he did the whole lesson without the walker! Walker free over here. Way to go Asher! 👊 👏😎

I have been quiet in my posting on this account as of late. I was in a car accident, and life has also been full, with back to school stuff for the kids, and activities. We have been enjoying the beautiful moments, the blossoming, the trying new things, and have been having grace for, and encouraging through, the hard things. Our amazing neurodivergent children teach us so much each day. They teach us that there is not just one way to do something. There are so many ways to do things. There are so many ways to learn new things. Growth is not linear. We are more than what we can do, and how we can do it. This is true for us as parents, and for all of you too.

This weekend the kids helped me make pizzas. Asher wasn’t initially wanting to join in, but with some encouragement, and hyping it up, he joined in as an assistant chef. We praised his efforts, he got into it, and their homemade pizzas were tasty!

Asher also had his adaptive ice skating group this weekend too. They’ve been working on helping him with his core strength, so he is able to stand and skate more and fall less. He did wonderfully today, and had fun. I was grateful for the buddies helping him too.

There was a lot of beauty this weekend. Lots of smiles and joy. Hope you had a joy-filled weekend too. ❤️

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We had such a wonderful time last night at Disney on Ice. So grateful to Feld Entertainment, Inc. and Disney On Ice, as well as Gliding Stars of Central Florida for the tickets! Much of Asher’s adaptive ice skating group, and their families were there. Asher had all the best dance moves! 🕺 Atlas was a dancer at the beginning, then was obsessed with Mickey, then fell asleep for the second half. 😅 And Sunny crooned along to the Disney tunes. 🎵 Mom and Dad enjoyed it too. ❤️😎

Wow, what a special afternoon today! Asher had the opportunity to do a special ice skating session with his group, with a few members of Disney on Ice! Disney on Ice has shows this weekend in Orlando, and what a special opportunity for his adaptive ice skating group to be able to skate and spend time with a few cast members. We are supposed to receive free tickets to go to Disney on Ice this weekend too! There are some technical difficulties with that…so hoping we get it ironed out, and are watching Minnie and Mickey skate this weekend! ⛸️ 💯

My sweet, strong, creative, loving Asher is a joy in our lives. He feels safe and happy and comfortable with his family, and chats up a storm at home, or around a few known individuals. He is learning what it means to try and make a friend. He is learning how to be brave and speak to a classmate. He is learning how to engage and interact with a non-familiar person. We are here for it. We honestly could not be more proud. We have encouraged this for such a long time, gently praising his abilities and his strengths.

He came home yesterday and announced to us that he talked to a classmate. I felt hot tears in my eyes. I didn’t want to respond with too much elation and excitement. I tempered it a bit, and told him I was so proud of him, and how neat it was, that he was able to have a special interaction with a fellow classmate.

We are all doing the best we can. A day at a time. A step at a time. Testing out a new skill. We should all pat ourselves on the back and give ourselves some grace and credit. Good job Asher, we are so proud of you!

My sweet buddy had his first week at school. I’m so proud of him. He does love his little microschool, but he misses us fiercely when there. The staff and teachers love and care for him, and he had a good week. He is learning to summon strength, be brave, and say hi to other kids/learning how to make a friend. And he’s slowing easing back in to academics and social emotional skills and life skills time.

Life is complex. Sometimes we like new adventures and seasons, and sometimes they are hard, or we don’t feel ready for them. It can be both/and. Give yourself and others grace as you move through these next few weeks. We’re all doing the best we can.

Asher, we love you, and hope you have a great year! ❤️

We are so proud of Asher! His extracurricular activity this fall is going to be “Buddy ice skating” if you will! We went and watched last week, and he said he wanted to try it, so we signed up and joined in a week late. He did great this afternoon for his first ever time on the ice! So grateful for the Gliding Stars program! It is geared towards working with autistic and unique needs kids and teens. ❤️ ⛸️ They fit him for a helmet and skates that he can borrow, and have buddies to help and teach. Asher was smiles the whole time, Sunny enjoyed walking around the different rinks, cheering on Asher, and watching a minute of a hockey game, and Atlas enjoyed running around the whole place!! 😅😎

So grateful that Asher can have this opportunity to try something new, with supports. 💪 😎❤️

(Click to see full picture post).

Here is a PSA. Please take this with all the love and kindness that I can muster…if you are any type of professsional, offering any service to children, (heck, if you’re an adult in general), it is best to focus wholeheartedly on your job, doing it well, and showing understanding and professionalism along the way.

The screenshot is of a post that my husband wrote today, detailing the experience that my sweet autistic son had at the dentist office today. Hubby had to take Asher because young siblings that are busy or loud, are not allowed back with the patient.

Asher was nervous, even though he had been to this practice once before. We reminded him that it was just for a cleaning, and that Dad would be right there. I called and spoke with two different individuals at different times, reminding them that he was autistic, asking them to put it in the notes, and kindly asking them to be gentle and to explain what they were doing, while they were doing it. Not only did they not likely write it down, or pass along the message to the dentist, what the dentist said and how she responded, is not something you should do even with a neurotypical child.

We MUST do better!!!!! 📣 My husband’s post says enough. Shown understanding and kindness. Show empathy. Just do your professional job. Don’t try and teach manners to sweet quiet children (that are autistic), that are in their own world.

A friend reminded me that, “Better a late voice, than no voice,” and she is right. I have zero need to be angry or upset with them. We all make mistakes. We all are learning. I plan to gently call and speak with someone. I plan to explain what happened, with kindness in my heart. I can’t control whether they pass my message along or not, but I can do my part to help reach or teach.

I release my frustrations, so I can continue being a voice for my child, in this wild world.

The fireworks that people are setting off outside the house, are almost making the house rumble. I hope my kids, (and yours), can sleep. 😴

I have so many silent prayers and hopes this evening, for my babies, and for this nation. I look at my little ones’ faces as they drift, and understand that they are our future, (and my present right now).

Unique needs kids need many things in this life. They especially need kindness, grace, compassion, and understanding. I hope and pray that we as a people can be those things and give those things to individuals with unique needs, and honestly, everybody. If we all tried to embody kindness, curiosity, and gentleness, we just may get further as a nation and as a people.

I can’t change anyone, but I can accept them. I can show them grace, I can embody peace. May it start with us. ✨

Little brother became part of the OT fam yesterday, and had his first occupational therapy appointment. Sweet baby. He really enjoyed the appointment, and I am excited about the goals we are working towards. He also has an autism evaluation in October too. He is my bright sunshine-y baby! ☀️ 😎

A reminder that the autism spectrum is called a spectrum for a reason. People can be in various stages of development and communication. Also a reminder that it may be a genuinely well-intentioned thing to say, but saying, “he doesn’t seem autistic,” isn’t particularly helpful to a parent. To a person that doesn’t have much experience with autism, a person saying that, with good intentions, may mean that they seem communicative, alert, and social. There are many components of autism. Someone that may be considered “higher functioning,” even though we are moving away from levels, may have emotional regulation issues, sensory issues with clothing, and trouble getting “stuck” on certain things, even if they seem bright, and have good language skills.

We are all growing and learning at our own pace, and we all often have our silent things that the general public may not know we are working through. So be gentle with yourself, and gentle with others. Take an inquisitive approach, a curious approach, when talking with others, or about others. We all have so much to learn, myself included!! ❤️ 📚

Grateful for creative, open-ended art and play opportunities in the community…especially places that are welcoming, inclusive, and fun! The kids had a wonderful time creating nature wands and stamping, at the Art and History Museums Maitland this morning.

Asher worked hard on designing and creating his wand, with buttons and string, beads, chalk, and glued on found items. He asked for help when he needed it, and danced about with his wand when he was done. I’m happy seeing him happy and light. It’s sometimes hard for some autistic individuals to understand social situations and know how to communicate, even if they are verbal. Sometimes Asher really needs Mom or Dad or big sis to look to, out in the community or at play events. We are familiar and safe and can help him interpret an environment, and find the courage to enter in.

We are all growing in different ways. And what a beautiful thing, to celebrate the small steps!