Tips for Holiday Survival

This is a quick list of the things that I have learned as an autism mom to make the holidays a whole lot easier for our family. My son Noah is going to be four next month, is nonverbal, and is considered a huge sensory seeker. My first and foremost suggestion is if you can host the party in your home, do it. Your kid is always going to be more comfortable being in their own environment with their own things. This will be our second year hosting Christmas in our home, and I believe it…

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My Sensory Seeker

I laugh every single time I walk into a room and see a blue blob. Especially since it’s blaring music from Choo Choo Bob. And giggling. Cooper doesn’t really care for many so-called sensory gadgets. He doesn’t have any interest. But this sensory sack is one of his favorites. He even requests it after particularly long days. He crawls inside and stretches and rolls. I highly recommend it if you have a sensory seeker or a child that craves deep pressure. Link to Transformer Sensory Sack from Fun and Function:…

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Let’s Talk Compression Clothing and Autism

Often, children with autism will be recommended to use a weighted vest. My son Cooper is a sensory seeker and highly behavioral. Every therapist we’ve ever worked with has recommended we try to get him to wear some type of compression clothing. Some common reasons a teacher or therapist may recommend a weighted vest: To improve a child’s focus so they can pay attention to academic work in the classroom. To provide deep pressure stimulation that has a calming effect. To help decrease stereotypical behaviors. Increase Attention to Academic Work We…

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Autism and Bed Stripping

My son Cooper has stripped beds since he was two years old. This means that he will remove the blankets, pillows, top sheet, bottom sheet, mattress pad and even the mattress. This also means that every single day of the week I make three beds from mattress up. Mine, Coopers and Sawyers. I want to tell you that of all the ‘behaviors’ that my son exhibits…bed stripping is the worst in my book.The behavior is exhausting and frustrating. I know he is doing it for sensory input. I understand that.…

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Sensory Balloons

Sawyer and I spent the morning making sensory balloons for Cooper. HE LOVES THEM SO MUCH. I totally recommend making these if you have a kiddo that likes to hold objects. They are super squishy. Cooper will carry these around until I eventually have to throw them in the garbage and make new ones. And making them really entertained Sawyer too. Of course I let him make a huge mess because it bought me 20 minutes to write this blog. Winning. First, cut off a bottle. I used an old…

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My Little Destructor

Cooper had a long couple weeks off from school. Rather, Cooper had a break from school and mom lost her mind. And so did dad. I think we were both actually excited to go back to work. And I see it more and more how much Cooper needs structure. I also need structure. Cooper would watch movies ALL DAY if we let him. And oddly enough there is an emotional strain on me when he does that. I feel like such a failure. I was looking through pictures getting ready for this…

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The Frantic Sweat

It happened again this weekend. The frantic sweating. And I know every single mom out there with a kiddo like Cooper can relate. Cooper and I spent a lot of time at the beach this past weekend. When we first got there I noticed another mom who looked a lot like me. My age, blonde, 3 young boys, camping. She was me. If I had to guess I would say her boys were probably ages 7, 4 and 2. I am a super observant person and I watched this mom a lot. First,…

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I Call That A Victory

We had a victory and an epic fail today. And all in the 3 hours after work. Nothing like cramming a full day in a few hours. Cooper is afraid to ride our lawnmower. It’s hard to explain. He loves it and wants Jamie to drive it. He even wants Sawyer to ride with Jamie. He gets super excited and amped up when it is going. But the second you try and put him on it he loses his shit. Lately I have been noticing that he is afraid of…

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