Welcome To Our Autism Journey.
At 54, I started parenting my niece’s son. He came to live with us when he was about 16 months old just when covid was beginning to make a significant impact in the U.S.
Little did I know, our little house guest would eventually be diagnosed with severe autism two years later.
Life has been a whirlwind, and I have learned so much in the past year.
At 56, I am learning what so many other parents are experiencing daily. Starting over at 54 was not easy and my strength and stamina are not the same anymore.
My grand-nephew is a beautiful redhead with blue eyes. He is strong, but he struggles with speech, developmental delays, and aggression.
He is a headbanger, especially when he gets angry because he has been told no or denied access to something.
With help, we are working through these challenges and trying to teach him how to communicate and process his emotions. The ABA therapists we have are wonderful people and have helped us immensely.
Has your child been diagnosed with autism? Are you starting over?
I understand more each week about how to help my grand-nephew, and it is a lot, but I know if we do not tackle this now, he will miss out on opportunities to grow.
Early intervention is critical; the earlier, the better because this doesn’t get corrected overnight. Autism is a marathon, not a sprint.
On this website and my YouTube channel, I share our journey, and while it doesn’t look the same for everyone, hopefully, the things we learn can help others as they wait for diagnosis and treatment.
We realize that what works for our child may not work for other children. Like many others, we are new to this journey, so we ask for grace when speaking about our experiences. We are not looking for a fight. We share information with others to help because someone shared information with us, and it has made a big difference in our lives and the life of our little Jaxon.
Welcome to Starting Over at 54 – Parenting 2.0.
DISCLAIMER: What we have experienced may not be your experience. What we have implemented for our child may not be what is best for your child. You have to make decisions based on what you feel is right for your child. We are not responsible for any outcomes related to your child.
Are you feeling isolated?
Please don’t do this alone. Reach out to others for help. Ask someone to assist you even if for a few hours a week.
Are you looking for ways to help your child?
Thousands of families are searching for answers. We must help spread the word about therapies and techniques that work.
Would you like to learn more about autism?
There are lots of online resources available today to provide direction and assistance.
Do you have a team in place?
Get a team of people together to help you! A team approach is better than going it alone.
As we learn, we are collecting the thoughts and wisdom imparted or gained in the form of Blog Posts or Articles. To see the reflections and the resources that have helped us in our journey so far, take a look at our Blog below.
