We live in a duplex. And just today our neighbors surprised us with these customized gates. Bobbi’s wanted to chill on the porch, and now she can. Audric found his way to the other side though. He likes to test his limits. I told him as long as he sat there, he could stay. But […] The post When you’re surprised and the surprise is good. appeared first on Crafted by Amy ..read more

Self-care is a huge focus in our home school program. I’m honing in on #2. I didn’t realize what all goes into wiping. I’m trying out different things. See what works for him. For now, I get the toilet paper ready. I’ll teach him about toilet paper etiquette after he gets the wiping part down. I […] The post Self-care, learning to wipe appeared first on Crafted by Amy ..read more

We sit together, touching. Our meditations are no more than 3 minutes. I try to keep him calm. He’s watched me do this so many times, that he understands, “when I sit like this, wait until I open my eyes.” I started meditating with him lying down. And we used the Calm app. And we […] The post Meditating with Audi appeared first on Crafted by Amy ..read more

Audric’s sensory behaviors are standing out more. It’s hard to ignore. They affect his daily living on a functional level. He’s getting bigger too, so the behaviors are literally louder and more intrusive. One behavior is teeth grinding. When I brush his teeth, he winces. The bristles rub directly on his gums. I can’t tell […] The post Why I asked the pediatrician for THC and the alternative appeared first on Crafted by Amy ..read more

Every morning, I pray. I ask Universe for protection, guidance, and give thanks. Then, I pray several times a day. It’s my comfort. I literally talk out loud and no one else’s in the room. No filter. And I don’t feel judged. Sometimes, it’s a conversation. I’m talking to the Universe, and it’s listening! Few […] The post Praying supports positive mental health appeared first on Crafted by Amy ..read more

I love creating and crafting activities that are doable and functional. Chunking is breaking down a task into smaller parts. It’s like eating food. You take spoonfuls at a time. Each chunk is a spoonful, and you take breaks in between. Chunking tasks help me with follow through and consistency. I don’t get overwhelmed with […] The post How to chunk tasks at home with greater ease ⏩ appeared first on Audric's Mom ..read more

I love photo journaling and special needs photography. Using real pictures of your child supports communication. And I love that the pictures are unique to you only. There are so many functional ways to use real pictures. Hang them as art. Turn them into communication boards, visual schedules, social stories, coffee table albums. You name […] The post How to use real pictures to support communication. appeared first on Audric's Mom ..read more

It’s the norm to assume that age and development go together. But what if you’re 13, and developmentally, you’re reading and writing at the pre-k level? It’s hard for people to understand. People expect a 13 year old to speak, behave, and do 13 year old things. Reading chapter books and figuring out math theories […] The post How to make activities that are developmentally appropriate. appeared first on Audric's Mom ..read more