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Living Well Mom

I help moms with simple, natural ways to look after their families. Find recipes, fun stuff for kids, and simple DIY ideas. Plus natural solutions made easy peasy!

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3 Secrets to Reducing Overwhelm for Autism Moms

By Erika in Autism

autism inspiration

Dear Autism Mom,

When your child has autism, it’s easy to get caught up in everything you have to do.

From careful routines to specialist appointments and therapy sessions for your child, your schedule is busy. Then you have to add in all your everyday “stuff”, like caring for other children, working or managing your home, cooking, cleaning, managing finances.

You have a lot on your plate.

Yet, you might sometimes feel like you’re not doing enough. (You might feel like that much of the time!)

Today I want to share three simple “secrets” or reminders that have helped me tremendously over the years as an autism mom.

Dear Autism Mom, when your child has autism, life can feel overwhelming. Here are 3 inspirational secrets that will help you reduce the overwhelm. this idea now...

3 Secrets for Reducing Overwhelm

1. Do your best and don’t stress the rest.

Life happens. You can only do so much. Do your best and try not to stress the rest.

It can be hard to let it all go, but that’s okay.

Because you are only human! It’s hard to remember that sometimes, isn’t it? As an autism mom, you are almost expected to have a superhuman kind of strength. And you do… in a way.

But in truth, you are just human so be kind to yourself. God found some of the strongest women and made them autism moms....unknown quote

2. Don’t think in permanent phrases.

Try to stop thinking or saying “Never, always, etc.”


Confession time:
I used to think very negatively. Things like:

“He’s never going to get better.”
“He’s always going to be like this.”
“MY life will always be like this.”
“Will my life always be this crazy?!”

It was depressing and so final!

It’s not that I didn’t believe in my son, but in those tough moments, it was hard to see any light in that dark tunnel.

But I’ve learned it’s a mistake to think like that. Because friends, in the 14 years I’ve been an autism mom, I have yet to find a situation that was truthfully a negative “never or always!”

No now when I find myself slipping into that “never/always” thought pattern, I stop myself.

My son does improve. He has for every single one of those things I used to despair over.

Of course, those worries and concerns change as our kids grow and I now have new sets of things to think about:

How will he do in high school next year? (Yes, I’m scared!)
Will he be responsible enough to learn to drive in 1.5 years?! (even scarier!)

But I keep pressing on because I never want to limit my son or put him in a box. He’s amazed and surprised me more times than I can count.

If you find yourself thinking those negative “final” thought patterns, be aware of what’s happening and try to stop yourself.

3. There is always hope.

Like Anne of Green Gables says: “Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”

Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet - Anne of Green Gables quote

Yes, it’s very nice.

As frustrating and discouraging or downright awful as today may have been, tomorrow is always there as a potential for something better.

And if your day has been amazing and wonderful and encouraging, tomorrow can be as well!

Dear Autism Mom, when your child has autism, life can feel overwhelming. Here are 3 inspirational secrets that will help you reduce the overwhelm.

 

Hang in there, dear autism mom. You’re doing a great job!


Looking for support from moms who get it? Join our exclusive “Autism Moms Living Well” Facebook group!

I’m developing more resources and support options specifically for you! Please sign up here and I’ll send you updates with new autism posts, resources, and support meant specifically for you and your child! (No spam, EVER!)

Dear Mom, Join the Living Well Mom Insiders

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    Filed Under: Autism, Autism Moms Corner Tagged With: autism, inspirationPublished on February 23, 2017

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    About Erika

    Erika Bragdon is a flower essence practitioner and a second-generation homeschooling mom with 3 kids at home and 1 in college. She enjoys her chickens, goats, and gardening on a small farm in New Hampshire, and is passionate about sharing flower essences and more ways to renew body, mind, and soul with moms.

    Comments

    1. Carolyn Smith says

      March 24, 2017 at 10:28 am

      Thank you for your words of encouragement! I too am so scared about high school and driving. My biggest worry/fear is the bullying that goes along with my child’s everyday school life. The thought of him being “laughed at”, talked to rudely and shunned is too much for me to grasp! Thank you again and I’m glad I found this writing.

      Reply
    2. Dave says

      March 29, 2017 at 6:47 am

      This is wonderful advice. Often it is not the event that stresses us out. It’s our reaction and self-talk that make it worse. I get caught up with the permanent phrase words too. Any time I say something like, “I’m so tired of ALWAYS _____ ______…. No matter what that blank is just that statement causes the situation to get much worse and my stress to elevate too.

      Reply
    3. Rani says

      August 15, 2021 at 7:38 am

      Firstly I want to THANK YOU. You are an absolute amazing and I can not thank you enough for the information you have written for us moms. The time you have spent creating this site,blog or what ever you may call it. I can’t stop reading and trying to more understand my child. I thank you for all the natural things I am now venturing into making and so excited about it… I’m so glad I came across your site …Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart…

      Kindest regards Rani.

      Reply
      • Erika says

        August 23, 2021 at 12:40 pm

        Rani, you are so sweet – thank you! I am so glad I can help in some way. xxx

        Reply

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