Recognizing, Accepting, & Supporting Individuals/Families who have Autism

A little over eight years ago, I had the privilege of writing a Featured Guest Article for Our Parenting Spot which is an outstanding online parenting community that offers advice, support and friendship to everyone. Due to this article being quite lengthy because it is packed full of information, you will want to read it in sections so that it will not be too overwhelming. Please visit Our Parenting Spot, either as an anonymous visitor or you can join the community, to read through Autism "How-To" Guide for Parents and share it with someone you know. YOU never know if a family may have just had their child recently diagnosed with Autism, or they might know someone else who thinks their child needs to be evaluated! Thank you for your support and I hope that you enjoy the article. I always look forward to hearing from anyone who takes the time to leave a comment below or on the Our Parenting Spot community where my Guest Article is featured!

Please remember to be accepting and supporting of individuals and families who have Autism, or look/behave different than what you are accustomed, because they will appreciate it more than you know. Not understanding the daily struggle that our special needs family experienced when our son was younger, individuals were extremely judgmental when he would have a meltdown in public. We were already dealing with more than what we could handle, and we did not need to explain why our child was screaming and hitting himself in public (i.e. "Did your son get hurt and is he alright?" or "You should be ashamed for hitting your child; I should report you to DHS!"). They obviously had no clue what challenges that I encountered while trying to help my son learn how to use his words to communicate how he was feeling, what he needed or wanted. #CelebratingAutismAwarenessMonth

Enjoy your evening and stay home to stay safe!

Your friend,

Lorrie

Attention Parents of Students Who Are Tasked With Distance Learning

If you are a parent of a school-age child who been on an extended spring break due to the health crisis, you have most likely been doing everything that you can to help everyone in your family to settle into the new normal routine for your household. My family is preparing for both of our teenage sons to start their distance learning tomorrow morning. We were told that over the next month the students will mostly be reviewing what they have already learned, as well as complete assignments that they might have not turned in before spring break, allowing each of them to bring their current grade up before the end of the school year. 

I have used my previous experience of taking online college classes to help my guys organize and prepare the space they will each be using for their distance learning. I think what will be most challenging for them is that they will have to go to bed early enough so that they can be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed every morning for their distance learning adventure. My son who is a senior in high school is the one who is complaining the most about how late he can stay up at night. He thinks that he is a man because he turned eighteen years old a few months ago. smh😏 I cannot wait until he has children of his own! lol

So, if your family is also facing distance learning, hang in and remember that this school year is almost over. If he or she is taking AP classes, and possibly concurrent classes at a technical school, distance learning will also let him or her see what it is like to take online college classes. It will also make him or her responsible for setting aside the appropriate amount of time each day so that that he or she can get their assignments in on time. If he or she can master the skills associated with time management related to distance learning, this experience will prove beneficial to him or her especially if they ever have to work from home (WFH) by future employers.

Your student(s) can do this because they have YOU to support them in this adventure! This pep talk is for me as much as it is for you. 😉 Make sure that you set aside some "me time" each day while you are trying to maintain what resembles homeostasis in your household because your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you have not already called it a night, you should get some sleep before your children have to be up to start their first day of distance learning!

Your friend,

Lorrie

Baking Can Alleviate Stress and Bring Families Together

If you have been looking for something different to do for family time, try picking a recipe to bake together. You might be surprised how willing your family is to making something sweet to enjoy after finishing their lunch or dinner! I have included a recipe within this post that you may want to make together, as well as the link to check out the video on Taste of Home. 

Enjoy and let me know how much fun your family had making this recipe! Please #share this post with someone you know in your surrounding community. Thank you!! #CelebrateAutismAwarenessMonth

Your friend,

𝕷𝖔𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖊

Chocolate & Peanut Butter Crispy Bars

Ingredients

• 1 package fudge brownie mix (13x9 pan size)
• 1-1/2 cups chunky peanut butter
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 3 cups Rice Krispies cereal

Directions

• Step 1 - Line a 13x9-in. baking pan with parchment, letting ends extend up sides. Prepare and bake brownie mix according to package directions, using prepared pan. Cool in pan on a wire rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate until cold.
• Step 2 - Spread chunky peanut butter over brownies. Place chocolate chips and creamy peanut butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals until melted; stir until smooth. Stir in Rice Krispies cereal; spread over chunky peanut butter layer. Refrigerate, covered, at least 30 minutes or until set.
• Step 3 - Lifting with parchment, remove brownies from pan. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• • 

    Total Time

    Prep: 15 min. Bake: 25 min. + chilling
  • 

    Makes

    2 dozen

Challenging Times Brings Out the True Measure of Dedication

Today, a friend who works at my son's high school contacted me with information that proved very helpful. She went above and beyond the duties of her job description to get my youngest son the letter that he needed to document his reading proficiency and that he was currently enrolled in high school for the 2019-2020 school year. Even though my friend had her daily routine abruptly disrupted and is having to work at home, she still made it a priority to help my son and other students that are trying to maintain as normal of a life as possible and move forward towards a goal they have set for themselves in the near future. This is exactly what we should be doing...living life and helping those around us do the same!

Enjoy your weekend and remember to reach out to someone by phone, email, or other way to let them know that you are thinking of them during our current health crisis. It will brighten their day and show that you care.

Talk with you soon!

Your friend,

Lorrie 

Thank Goodness for Communication, Connections, and Technology!!

Have YOU spoken with someone recently that made you appreciate the technology that allowed you to communicate with one another? I had the privilege of speaking with a wonderful woman earlier today that helped me to find a resolution to a situation for which I needed assistance. This makes me very appreciative that we can connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime, and in a variety of ways due to the technological advancements that have been made over the years. It is important to have contact with individuals outside of our homes, especially during this time of uncertainty. If we did not have the ability to communicate with anyone other than those that reside within our homes, it could adversely affect our mental health. I am grateful for everyone with whom I can connect while the "stay at home" order is in effect. So, this is an anonymous "shout-out" to my newest acquaintance and helping me to maintain my sanity! Thank you for conversing with me, not just once, but twice this afternoon!!

Stay safe and make the best of a challenging situation by talking with an old friend or having an open mind when talking to someone new for the first time!

Your friend, 

Lorrie

Making the Best of an Unexpected Change in our Normal Routine

I hope that each of you is staying healthy and are enjoying the unexpected time with your families. If you live in a state where a "stay at home" order has been issued after having almost everything around you already shut down, please know that this challenging situation will not last forever. Even though it is inconvenient for most of us, having to "stay at home" might actually be what we need to realize that our chaotic schedules have us so busy that we do not spend enough time relaxing and making memories with our families. As an in-home ABA therapist, I always have a variety of board and card games on hand to utilize in my sessions. So, I will be reallocating these resources to engage my husband and two teenage sons in a few family-friendly games to keep our brains active while we are all enjoying our unexpected stay at home. Of course, there will be instances where each of us will want some solitude to play a particular online game, read a book, or contact a friend to see how they are managing to survive during this challenging situation. 

Be safe and enjoy making new memories with your family!

Your friend, 

Lorrie

Accepting Delay in Returning to College and Other Unexpected Life Events

It has been a considerable challenge for me to accept that I had to take another semester off from college, but I am doing what I can to stay motivated. I cannot go into detail about an incident that recently affected me, but I would greatly appreciate your continued prayers as I move forward and look to the future. 

On a more positive note, I would like to share that I have been losing weight over the last year and a half. This has been a gradual accomplishment and one which has allowed me to move down two pants sizes smaller than when I transferred to the four-year university fall 2018. I am also happy to report that I am enjoying the best of both worlds; working with the students in the classroom, as well as the client with whom I work after school during the week. Not many people can say that they have the privilege of doing what they love each day but, I can!