Are you bringing a child home from another country? Are you welcoming a foster child into your life? Are you adopting an infant? Here are some ways to bond with your adopted or foster child. 1) Rock. Rock. Rock. Rocking has been proven to help heal the traumatized child’s brain. A well-known child psychologist, Dr.…
Read Morepositive words: how to encourage your foster and adopted children
You can listen to a recording of this post, simply scroll to the bottom. There is so much negative in your child’s life. Their mind alone is sending detrimental messages continuously. If they come from a neglectful or abusive background, kids and teens wonder: Do they really love me? Are you going to treat me…
Read Morenavigating IEP meetings
Autism is an ever evolving world where I frequently feel left behind. I’m thankful our autism world is evolving because I know it could remain stagnant. This is all proof that I don’t always know what I’m doing in this autism world and I’m learning, just as you are. IEPs is one of those places…
Read Moreyour words are hurting my child (adoption & foster)
We are not an island unto ourselves, other people are involved in our lives, and therefore our child’s life. We can’t control those friends and families words, but we do need to be aware of them. When a child comes from trauma, they have a heightened awareness of the world around them. Words can not…
Read Morethe best sensory toys (part 2)
Two weeks ago, I started a two-part series on the best sensory toys. In that post I shared what sensory toys have been the most helpful to us, and in this post I will add more to that list and include some toys that have been recommended by others. Based on one study, around 78…
Read Moreour words and how they affect our kids (adoption & foster)
You can listen to a recording of this post, simply scroll to the end. Actions speak louder than words right? We’ve all heard this numerous time and it’s true, but words still carry a heavy weight, especially for our children who’ve been neglected, abused, and traumatized. Words can have both a positive and negative effects,…
Read Morethe best sensory toys (part 1)
Does your child jump incessantly? Get irritated quickly? Chew on anything? Bite? Stim (flapping hands, waving hand in front of face) constantly? Hit themselves or others often? Spin? Bang his head? These behaviors could be indicative of sensory issues. Based on one study, around 78 percent of children with autism have Sensory Processing Disorder, as…
Read Morejudge rotenberg center
People would be outraged if this happened to animals. But the truth is, it’s happening to children at the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) in New York. We must take action, as Jess who wrote this post says, “That young man screaming for help in the video? He’s my daughter. He’s your son. He is our…
Read MorePutting the “A” in Adoption
After Chris Snow, an adult adoptee, heard about the backlash I received because of my post about National Adoption Month, he wrote this fabulous response. I will let his eloquent words speak for themselves. If you’re an adoptive parent, I hope his words encourage you. If you’re hoping to adopt, I hope his words inspire…
Read Moreit’s in a word: autistic vs. has autism
You may follow my blog and wonder why I say “(insert name) is autistic,” when you feel strongly it should be, “(insert name) has autism.” The second is described as being person-first language. I’ve had discussions with parents and grandparents who are strong proponents of the person-first language. I understand this. Not wanting your child…
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lovin' adoptin' & autism 