How to Ditch the Special Needs Mom Guilt

How to Ditch the Special Needs Mom Guilt

ByKori
6 Comments

How often do you struggle with guilt as a mom of a special needs child? This seems to be one of those on-going struggles for so many of us. And I want to tell you that yes, it is possible to ditch the special needs mom guilt. And yes, that means you, autism mom. Ditch the autism mom guilt. Dear Mom of a Special Needs Child, First and foremost, I want to inform you of something: you are enough. Got it? Remember this when the going gets tough. Because we know that there are going to be days where we’re more than ready to throw in the towel and walk away. But we can’t. Because we’re moms and someone has to be there. Second, let’s talk about…

A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Special Education Terminology

A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Special Education Terminology

ByKori
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In the beginning of a special needs diagnosis, you’ll come across a lot of terms that may seem like a foreign language. Among them are terms related to the (sometimes) overwhelming world of special education terminology. Because of that, I wanted to make a list of frequently used terms that you may come across as you progress through this world of special needs parenting and into special needs advocacy. That’s why I want to share this parent’s guide on how to understand special education terms. Some of the terms listed are autism related or autism specific, but I’ve also tried to include many general terms in this post. I would also like to say: I’m not an expert, just a mom trying to help out….

Why Parents Might Feel Grief After a Child’s Autism Diagnosis

Why Parents Might Feel Grief After a Child’s Autism Diagnosis

ByKori
123 Comments

After receiving an autism diagnosis for your child, you may experience many things. Some, for that matter, you may feel over and over again. Or long after the initial diagnosis. But why do we, as parents, grieve their child’s autism diagnosis? For that matter, is grief an appropriate reaction? Honestly, that all depends on the individual. I’m not going to tell you that there’s a right way or a wrong way to react. Because on one hand you have a diagnosis and that’s a great starting point. On the other hand, this newfound diagnosis brings about a whole new world that you may just be unprepared for. What I felt after my daughter’s autism diagnosis was disenfranchised grief along with a whole heap of parental…

A Parent’s Guide to Helping an Autistic Child with Anxiety

A Parent’s Guide to Helping an Autistic Child with Anxiety

ByKori
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Autism A to Z is winding down and today’s post is going to follow up on something that was mentioned in the comorbidity and autism post. For the letter X, I wanted to cover helping an autistic child with anxiety. Yes, I realize that it’s not a word that starts with x , but cut me a little a slack, okay? The reason that I chose to use anxiety is because it’s one of the more prevalent co-morbid (or co-occuring) conditions with children with autism. Another reason I chose anxiety is because May is Mental Health Awareness month and I wanted to use this post to tie-in with the upcoming posts that I’ll have on anxiety and depression. While this is not something that all…

6 Important Reasons to Celebrate an Autism Diagnosis
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6 Important Reasons to Celebrate an Autism Diagnosis

ByKori
11 Comments

I had once said that an autism diagnosis is not something that I would congratulate someone on, nor was it something I would order a cake for. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find the upside in a diagnosis. In fact, I think there’s plenty of good things that can be found after receiving a diagnosis for your child. And I’m sharing six reasons as to why you should celebrate an autism diagnosis. Maybe you may not realize it right away and maybe you might not have a party… but let’s face it, having a slice of cake couldn’t hurt, right? Point being, receiving a diagnosis of autism  may not always be a bad thing. I’m certainly not suggesting that you go out and rent…

What Are the Early Signs of Autism to Look For?

What Are the Early Signs of Autism to Look For?

ByKori
4 Comments

If diagnosed early, you can start therapy sooner. They key, of course, is knowing about the initial signs of autism. But just what are the early signs of autism to look for?  In recent years, more and more children in the United States and worldwide, are being diagnosed with autism. In the United States, the rate is holding steady at 1 in 44 children according to the CDC. I’m a mom to one of those children, as you know. Parenting an autistic child has not always been an easy journey. I’ve had my fair share of wins and I’ve had my fair share of moments where I was ready to just quit and be done. Getting through the initial diagnosis was an accomplishment within itself….