Amidst the recent earthquake, hurricane/tropical storm, and tornadoes in the USA, and after losing a family friend (see post HERE), I find myself very thankful for “simple” blessings, especially those concerning my son. While I was away to attend services for my friend’s mother, to show my support for her and her family and visit with my family in the same town, Ethan did beautifully with the unexpected changes to his routines, during the first week of school, no less! Thank God! Also, when I returned after being away for four days, Ethan was super sweet and happy to have me home. We spent time reading together in the afternoon and after lights out last night, I stayed to cuddle with him. As we were visiting in the dark, Ethan shared some worries and concerns he has about losing me (and other loved ones)…on the heels of my trip, I’m not surprised that this fear is weighing on his heart and mind. However, I’m wholeheartedly thankful that Ethan is able and willing to communicate these concerns to me.

Happy Independence Day to our readers in the United States of America! I am very thankful to be an American and grateful for the freedoms I have enjoyed throughout my life thanks to the sacrifices of all those who fought for our independence (so long ago) and those who have fought to maintain it since that time. I don’t take freedom or independence for granted.
Like so many families raising a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), I frequently wonder what the future will hold for Ethan in terms of independence…and when I stop to ponder, I wonder about the future – not just for Ethan, but other children of Ethan’s generation, especially those affected by ASD.
On this journey, I’ve come to meet so many families working day-and-night just to help their child with ASD gain independence in areas families with typical children may never even give a second thought to…
For all families raising children with ASD, today I’m sending prayers and wishes for the children’s independence this Independence Day specifically concerning:

With a busy holiday weekend ahead, you are probably preparing for good times with family and friends. So how do you keep the kids busy and entertained at home, in the car or within the community while maximizing on social opportunities with their siblings, cousins and friends? Here are a few links to some of our past summer blogs that will do just that:
Let’s Go to the Movies:
http://www.autismspot.com/blog/Summer-Fun-Lets-Go-Movies
Frozen Treats:
http://www.autismspot.com/blog/Summer-Fun-Frozen-Treats
Going on a Picnic:

Pumpkin Littles is an educational and therapeutic center in North Dallas using some amazing techniques and revolutionary therapies to individualize programs for children with special needs. Every time I spend time with Michelle Beck, the founder of Pumpkin Littles, I’m encouraged and inspired by all that she and her staff are doing with the little pumpkins at the therapy center. So, recently I asked Michelle to share a little about Pumpkin Littles, their tremendous iPad Communication classes and other individualized programs to share with our AutismSpot readers! Big thanks to Pumpkin Littles (and the little pumpkins’ parents) for sharing the adorable photo of their two precious iPad Pals [to the left].

We can not travel the autism journey alone. Some say it takes a village to raise a child. When it comes to raising a child with autism, it takes a small army. Our children are unique, different, special, and require a different set of tools that we often pick up along the way. As a community, we share from our bag of tricks and ideas. After a few years of being involved in the autism community, you quickly get past the awareness phase because you're dealing with much more immediate, bigger, and pressing matters.

Don’t let it deceive you. Play isn’t just fun and good times for kiddos. It’s essential for your child’s overall development. ALL children learn through experiencing, seeing, listening and doing…....which is the essence of play. This is true for all children…..typical children and children with disabilities.

Learn to Cook & Cook to Learn
As the holidays are approaching, one of the most language-rich and socially stimulating activities you can do is cook with your child! Things tend to get a little more hectic as we try to organize all our holiday events, so why not let your children help you with some of the holiday baking? Not only will they love it, but they will be engaging in a hands-on learning activity.

Question of the Day: The holidays are approaching. How can I prepare my child?
The holidays have a tendency to sneak up on us. September went by like nobody’s business....soon it will be Halloween…..then Thanksgiving will hit us like a ton of bricks……then before you know it, it’s Hanukah, Christmas and then New Year’s. Whew! For me, the holidays are typically a whirlwind of preparation and stress, but of course filled with wonderful traditions and fun time with family. If the holidays can be stressful for us, think how stressful they can be for our children.