The Autism Mom

The Autism Mom Mom and son dual Autism & ADHD life unfiltered.

~ The Autism Mom 🫶🏽💙 We carry a wide selection of baby and Toddler clothing and shoes.

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When an autism child is in survival mode, they can’t learn from consequences.Not because they don’t care—but because the...
04/14/2026

When an autism child is in survival mode, they can’t learn from consequences.

Not because they don’t care—but because the part of the brain responsible for reflection, connection, and understanding isn’t accessible in that moment.

What looks like “not listening” is often a child who genuinely cannot take anything in.

And this is where we often get it wrong.

We try to correct, impose consequences, and demand accountability—right when the child isn’t in a state to process any of it.

But punishment doesn’t solve that.

It doesn’t teach.
It doesn’t build skills.
It doesn’t create understanding.

It simply adds fear to an already overwhelmed system—and calls that learning.

But fear isn’t the goal.

So punishment has no place here.

Because the real work isn’t about controlling behavior—it’s about building the capacity behind it.

And that only happens when a child feels safe enough to learn.

That’s the shift:

Safety first.
Then skills.
Everything else follows.

~ The Autism Momđź’™

Kids on the spectrum are loving, smart, and determined. They are very passionate and tend to be experts in the things th...
04/13/2026

Kids on the spectrum are loving, smart, and determined. They are very passionate and tend to be experts in the things they are interested in. (Please see my post on special interests).

Some children with autism show love by sharing vast amounts of information on their specific interests. This isn’t just talking; it’s sharing a passion. This can be seen as an attempt to connect with you by sharing something they love. This is called “Info Dumping”.

Children with autism enjoy connecting through playing. It allows them to enjoy closeness without the pressure of social interaction. It builds a sense of trust and freedom to engage on their terms often presents as “Parallel Play”.

Understanding how children with autism express and experience love requires patience, understanding, and adapting to their unique ways of showing affection. It’s about respecting their individual preferences and learning to recognize their sometimes unusual expressions of love.

By embracing their unique love languages, you build stronger connections whether at home or in school, learning to recognize their unique expressions of affection helps them feel understood, loved, and secure, fostering a deeper, more meaningful bond.

~ The Autism Momđź’™

If your child has just been diagnosed with autism, remember—this doesn’t change who they are. They are still the same ch...
04/10/2026

If your child has just been diagnosed with autism, remember—this doesn’t change who they are. They are still the same child you love. Embrace them as they are, celebrate their uniqueness, and never feel the need to apologize for their differences.

~ The Autism Mom đź’™

Why are children with autism drawn to water? Children with autism may be especially vulnerable around water due to wande...
04/08/2026

Why are children with autism drawn to water?

Children with autism may be especially vulnerable around water due to wandering or elopement, limited danger awareness, sensory seeking, and communication challenges. These are not parenting failures; they are part of the neurodevelopmental profile of autism—and they mean we need to plan ahead with care.

The sensory experiences individuals with autism encounter in their daily lives can be overwhelming. When submerged underwater, these sensory stimuli are muted. This temporary escape from sensory overload creates a sense of comfort and tranquility.

While water can present a safety concern, water play and swimming also offer several benefits for children with autism, but in most instances, the dangers outweighs the benefits as most children with autism cannot swim to safety.

Each person with autism is unique, and their reasons for being drawn to water may differ. My son Jaivyn has water aversion (showers, rain, swimming, washing hands) - it feels overwhelming, painful, or unpredictable, and can cause extreme anxiety or panic.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death for children with autism. That’s a heartbreaking statistic, but one we can work to change. Research shows that children with autism are 160 times more likely to die from drowning compared to the general pediatric population.

~ The Autism Momđź’™

Dispelling Misconceptions about Nonspeaking Individuals with Autism. One of the most damaging and pervasive misconceptio...
04/07/2026

Dispelling Misconceptions about Nonspeaking Individuals with Autism. One of the most damaging and pervasive misconceptions about nonspeaking individuals with autism is the assumption that their inability to speak correlates with a lack of intelligence or understanding.

This is simply not true and can lead to a significant underestimation of a child's abilities and potential. Although they cannot speak out words, they can still hear. Intelligence is not defined by speech and nonspeaking does not mean stupid.

~ The Autism Momđź’™

I would be lying if I said I never wished how life would've been without the daily struggles of autism. I would be lying...
04/05/2026

I would be lying if I said I never wished how life would've been without the daily struggles of autism. I would be lying if I said I haven't wished a thousand times this evening why our lives aren't as "normal" as everyone else’s.

Yes, I know I'm this “strong advocate” who might come across as someone who has all her ducks in a row, but I promise you I do not. I struggle, and today is one of those nights when I feel like a failure from my toes to the inner skull of my brain.

Autism comes with so many challenges for families and doing something as simple as an Easter egg hunt turns our lives upside down in just a matter of minutes. Jaivyn loves to do these things; he will enjoy it at the moment, but soon after, he is extremely overwhelmed and overstimulated. Results— meltdowns; and 2 exhausted humans.

Autism is no one’s superpower…

~ The Autism Mom đź’™

My son Jaivyn has autism. He was diagnosed at 7 years old, but our journey did not start there. At only 15 months old, h...
04/04/2026

My son Jaivyn has autism. He was diagnosed at 7 years old, but our journey did not start there. At only 15 months old, he was diagnosed with developmental delays and delayed speech. We started in-home therapy through the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS).

At age three, it was determined that Jaivyn had caught up with his peers developmentally, but needed to continue speech therapy as he was still non-verbal. When he started Pre-K at 4, we started having daily complaints and issues from school.

In kindergarten, it was becoming practically impossible to keep him in class with other kids, so I started looking up behavioral therapies, not knowing exactly where to turn. But I got burned out. I called his pediatrician, and that year, in October 2020, Jaivyn was diagnosed with ADHD, and we started medication - not the easiest decision I ever made, but that is a story for another day. While we sorted out the best medication, the doctor pointed out that Jaivyn could have more than just ADHD, but the only way to know was to first treat the ADHD.

Two years later (2022), Jaivyn was referred to a psychologist for a dyslexia evaluation. During that evaluation, after months on the waitlist, it was determined that Jaivyn did not have dyslexia but had ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety (AAA).

This diagnosis was far from what I expected; it was not something that had ever crossed my mind. The acceptance process started with a lot of mistakes and learned lessons. This is not only our story; it is a story of many parents and caregivers who have had this diagnosis or are still on a waitlist for a diagnosis.

I'm sure if you asked one parent, they had different plans for their kids. Those plans are not the same today. I am a perfectionist, and I envisioned a different approach to parenting, but I had to pivot. I'm not perfect; I cry, I guilt-trip, I lose it - all the things.

If you're traveling this journey, know you're not alone, and you're doing the very best you can. If your child just got a diagnosis, hang in there; it's not an easy journey, but you've got this. If you're on the waitlist, be patient; early intervention is very important.

This autism awareness and acceptance month, let’s all pivot; in the way we support those who need our support, in the way we show empathy, in the way we understand and show up etc.. This community needs all of us.💙

~ The Autism Momđź’™

It's Good Friday and there's no school. Jaivyn's purple pillow has been busy; he hasn't left my side, whether he's sleep...
04/03/2026

It's Good Friday and there's no school. Jaivyn's purple pillow has been busy; he hasn't left my side, whether he's sleeping on me, next to me, or between my legs. We actually even took a one-hour nap. Yeah, I'm surprised too.

But there's one thing I know: Jaivyn feels safe under my armpits as much as he feels safe next to me. Yesterday was tough, but today is a brand new day, and that is what autism looks like - very different every day, even by the hour, quite honestly. We're soaking it in for now while these hugs, cuddles, and kisses last.

~ The Autism Mom đź’™

Today we had some rough patches at the end of the school day - the autism brain was moving nonstop, followed by nonstop ...
04/03/2026

Today we had some rough patches at the end of the school day - the autism brain was moving nonstop, followed by nonstop meltdowns.

One of the most important lessons of autism is knowing your child when they cannot communicate exactly what is going on or what is causing the frustrations.

Jaivyn is verbal, but he cannot vocalize his struggles 90% of the time. Over the last few weeks, we have had meltdowns that are very similar in nature, so we discovered these are happening because little man is hungry because he’s not eating his lunch at school; he is very hungry by dismissal, but he will not say 'I'm hungry.'

He has great vocabulary, sometimes sporadic language, speaks in complete sentences, sometimes talks too much, and sometimes doesn't want to talk at all. He's been like this since he was 4 years old, but struggles to communicate. No look or intelligence can describe autism. It's challenging, to say the very least.

~ The Autism Mom đź’™

April 1st marks the beginning of Autism Awareness Month. 💙But this month… we’re going deeper.We’re not just talking abou...
04/01/2026

April 1st marks the beginning of Autism Awareness Month. đź’™

But this month… we’re going deeper.

We’re not just talking about awareness—we’re talking about inclusion, celebration, and community. Moving beyond awareness and toward meaningful acceptance.

Because the truth is…
most people already know about autism.

Now it’s time to show up.

This month, we’ll focus on what real support looks like—how to get involved, how to be present, and how to better support individuals who communicate, think, and experience the world differently.

So buckle up… we’re just getting started.

⸻

To the parents, families, and caregivers of individuals with autism—this is your reminder:

There will be an overflow of information this month; videos, books, articles testimonies, promises of cures, quick fixes, and miraculous breakthroughs.

Protect your peace.
Take what feeds your soul… and filter out the noise.

If you’re seeking new information—
verify your sources.
Make sure what you’re consuming is grounded in truth and integrity.

And if you’re new to this journey…
don’t let denial delay support.
Early intervention matters.

This path requires strength—
but even more than that, it requires discernment.

So this Autism Awareness Month:
Be informed, but not overwhelmed.
Be open, but not unguarded.
Be hopeful, but stay grounded.

And above all…
be kind to yourself.

Because sometimes,
the greatest act of love
is choosing peace over pressure.

This April, I hope you find moments to be happy—not just strong.

~ The Autism Mom đź’™




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