8 Steps to Creating a Neurodiverse Family Budget

8 Steps to Creating a Neurodiverse Family Budget

Creating a family budget may seem like an overwhelming thought. But, it is possible so long as you keep your financial goals in mind. And take baby steps. In fact, the first time we created a family budget; we didn’t do very well with it. Some months we were definitely okay and other months, well, it was as if the budget never existed. Also remember that by creating a budget, you aren’t sacrificing your entire life. You also aren’t handcuffed to your budget. But if the idea of living within your budget gives you anxiety, give yourself a little breathing room at the beginning and gradually work your way into your budget. It all starts with creating a family budget that everyone can agree on….

Is my child autistic or just shy? Looking for social signs of autism

Is my child autistic or just shy? Looking for social signs of autism

When it comes to looking for the initial signs of autism in children, we often look for the developmental delays first. And this makes sense, right? Autism, after all, is a developmental disorder. But, what else are we looking for? What else should parents be concerned about? With my daughter, she had a regression in speech.  Other signs to look for include delays in social skills or social signs of autism.  Delayed Social Signs of Autism In addition to some of the other red flags such as speech regression, here are a few of the social signs of autism: This will look different, of course, depending on the age of the child. A toddler, for example, is still very concerned about themselves. The world, in…

Protecting Kids From Extreme Heat

Most kids love summer. They look forward to a long period out of school. They enjoy light evenings when they can stay up later and play outside for longer. They love hanging out in the garden, playing with water, and having fun with their outdoor toys. You might have a family summer holiday planned, and plenty of day trips to exciting attractions to look forward to. Parenting can even seem easier in summer when we can save money by spending days in the garden, and pass the time with lazy afternoons outdoors. There’s less pressure to have big plans for weekends when your kids are happy in your garden with a bucket of water and some cups.  Photo Credit – https://unsplash.com/photos/R_BLOGXpsOg But, at some point,…

Things that Parents of Autistic Children are Sick of Hearing

Things that Parents of Autistic Children are Sick of Hearing

I often hear what’s meant to be “helpful advice” usually from well meaning strangers. And while most of the time I can at least appreciate the fact that they’re trying to help; it’s really just getting on my nerves. I’m certainly not against receiving advice, just that when it comes to my autistic child, I really don’t want to hear it. I understand, of course, that on occasion there is good advice. But other times, it’s just not what I want to hear. So here are just a few things that this parent of an autistic child is sick of hearing. And if you’re looking for ways to support a family that has a child with autism, please check out my autism resources and inspiration….

Do Vaccines Cause Autism?

Do Vaccines Cause Autism?

When most parents are starting on the autism diagnosis process, one of the first things they ask: Did vaccines cause autism? Maybe they’ve read an article or it was word of mouth.  But why the doubts? Why are parents concerned about this? Well, for starters, the rate of autism diagnosis has increased year-after-year.  This tends to cause a bit of worry and concern. And rightfully so. Parents start looking for a cause. Do vaccines really cause autism? When I first started blogging about autism, I told myself that I would never touch the vaccine topic. Why? I always felt that it was more trouble than it was worth. However, with Autism A to Z, I felt that I would have a great opportunity to cover the topic…

How To Get Your Garden Ready For Summer

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash Summer is well and truly here and now that the warm weather is here to stay, it’s time to start thinking about getting your garden ready. If you haven’t already started planning for all of the summer BBQ’s and get together’s you’re going to throw, now is the best time to start. Not only is it the best time to buy all of your DIY equipment in the summer sales, but it’s also the best time to get started if you want to avoid the intense heat that will be coming over the next few months. With that in mind, here are some tips and tricks to help you get your garden ready for summer:    Make Sure You’re…