A few years ago, I wore blue because a Facebook friend asked people to wear blue and take a picture for her to show her son. Guess what? I forgot to take a picture! Did I not care about autism anymore? Hardly. I’m just too tired. You see, for about a year my son has progressively gone down hill. In August I called a local autism center at the recommendation of…
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About Jenny Herman
Autism Warning: Timers Don’t Always Help
When I was new to the autism parenting world, I read many articles and blog posts. Time and time again people would say how timers and visual timers saved the day. Timers help children on the autism spectrum with transitions, they said. So I tried it. Eager to smooth transitions and cut down on meltdowns, I started setting the microwave timer. “You have 15 minutes to pick up your…
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When Special Needs Homeschooling Hurts: A Sibling Story
“I don’t think he needs medication. I think he needs a break….Maybe a Montessori school?” And that’s how our homeschooling journey changed. I now have one at a Montessori school and one in homeschool. Last fall began the roughest 3-4 months we’ve had in a long time. My older son’s anxiety kept increasing and increasing. He seemed to develop misophonia, a condition related to anxiety in which a…
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Autism Mom, Are You Lonely?
Autism Mom, Are You Lonely? Have you ever had someone exclaim, “I don’t know how you do it!”? Or a friend says, “Wow, you’re Wonder Woman!” and you’re both thankful they recognize you battle a lot of things but you also blush a little, thinking, “What else am I supposed to do?” While you’re thankful for the acknowledgment of your hard work, you think of the secret challenges you face. The…
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Picture Books For Children On The Autism Spectrum
Picture Books For Children On The Autism Spectrum I love picture books. You can do some amazing things with beautiful and/or well-written children’s literature. You can teach language, introduce math, and induce belly laughs. You can also help children with autism understand themselves. Over the years I’ve read a good number of picture books for autism spectrum kiddos. These are my favorites. My Friend with Autism by Beverly Bishop…
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Rocking Ordinary Moms Make A Difference
Please indulge me for a moment as I tell you a story. But first, a little about me. I am a special needs mom. My ten year-old is on the autism spectrum. My eight year-old is above his peers in some areas. Needless to say, that mix makes things interesting around here in our small apartment. We are a one-car family and my husband works forty-five minutes away. This translates…
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Autism Parent: Stop Doing These Three Things
It’s hard to believe I have now been an autism mom for seven years! I remember those early days that seem so far away now. Tough days outnumbered good days. I couldn’t answer the riddle that was my child. I felt overwhelmed. If I could go back and tell my early autism-parent self some things, this is what I’d tell her. I’d tell her to log off the computer, grab…
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Pack The Perfect Backpack For Special Needs Summer Adventures
If you’re anything like I am, you like to get your kids outside as much as possible, especially in the warmer weather. After a Midwest winter, I’m ready to sit in the grass and enjoy the sunshine. My boys and I eagerly await spending hours outside at a time, walking to the library and adventuring through the local historic village. Whatever adventure awaits you this summer, more than likely…
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