Have A Plan For Your Child With Autism

Have a plan for your child with autism, or they will have a plan for you!

So, if you have watched any of the Facebook Lives I’ve done for Autism Awareness Month or just FYI’s I’ve posted on autism strategies and tips, you know that I’ve said, “being a 24/7 mom when the full-time hands-on part doesn’t stop at 18 it’s quite challenging.” 💪

Being a mom is challenging, but when you are still responsible for someone else’s haircut, manicure/pedicure, food/clothes shopping, it can get overwhelming very quickly. 🛒✂️👗 So, let’s stick together and get a plan and put some routines/structures in place. 🗓️

Life can be great, friends, and I want to help show you how. 🌟 Follow my Facebook and Instagram pages as I will share more autism parenting strategies. 📲 Also, you can check previous blog: Autism mom, what happens when being a hands on mom doesn’t stop at 18?

Parenting A Child With Autism

Our top priority is helping Jacob be confident, happy, and independent. The first parenting strategy is setting up schedules. 📅

Giving Jacob a schedule removes the anxiety of not knowing what his day holds. It also helps because he doesn’t do well with long directions and back-and-forth conversations. He has receptive and expressive language delays, so verbal communication isn’t ideal for keeping him happy and on track.

He loves to be independent, and schedules give him a way to control his day and have choices while living his best life. 🌟 This keeps us from having to give him verbal reminders all the time, which would be annoying.🧩

Support For Parents of Autism

What support do parents need to know about? You can and should have support from family, friends, professionals, and other parents. Surround yourself with people that you feel comfortable with and understand you and the family dynamics.😔

The complexities of autism can leave you feeling confused, frustrated, and desperate sometimes, depending on what stage of life you and your child are in at the time. 🧩

Autism Family Support

When Jacob was little, my mom and I would help each other out. She would watch the boys for me, and I would take the boys and go stay with my dad so she could get out of the house. My dad had COPD in his later years and needed assistance. Family support can be a lifeline, but it can also be challenging to navigate the emotional dynamics.

Some families of children who have autism feel judged by other family members who think you are just spoiling your child and not trying to train them up in the way they were raised. This judgment can be hurtful and isolating, making it even more important to find supportive and understanding family members who can provide real help and empathy.👨‍👩‍👦‍👦

Professional Support for Autism

The professional relationship is probably the easiest to navigate because there’s no emotional attachment. If I don’t like a doctor, I can just get another one. But family and friends are much different because you might feel misunderstood or feel like you can’t say what you really think because you don’t want to upset the family dynamic. 🩺🩻

Friends and Social Support

Sometimes friends stop coming around or asking you out because you have to say “no” to invitations due to the lack of regular babysitters for your child. A child with special needs cannot be left with just any babysitter.

This can be isolating, but finding understanding friends who get your situation can make a big difference.👭

Autism Community Supports

Look to organizations like the Autism Society, TEACCH, ABA therapy, and more in your area. Find support groups and agencies that can help you get a plan for your child with autism. Here is one I found interesting: https://epidemicanswers.org/developing-a-biomedical-plan-for-your-child-with-autism/

These organizations provide invaluable resources and connections to other parents and professionals.🏢

Check out previous posts on my site because I would like to also like to be a resource for you to turn to: Help! 3 Ways a schedule can help sensory issues and communication barriers? #Autism Challenges🧩 

Special Needs Parenting

A big resource can be other parents of children with autism because they are living the life too. They have experiences that may offer better advice because they’ve already lived it and worked out some solutions. Connecting with other parents can provide a sense of community and shared understanding.🤗

I hope these insights help you find the support you need and help you understand that you need plan for your child with autism. Here is another post to check out: https://educatingjacob.com/empowering-special-needs-children-with-self-care-skills-our-inspiring-journey/

Remember, you are not alone on this journey. Together, we can create a great life for our children. 💖