Staying healthy seems to be dangerous. Many of my physical injuries have been the result of walking, cycling, and other forms of exercise. December 6, I managed to sprain my MCL (medial collateral ligament) while at the gym using a standard rowing machine. Yes, a rowing machine. For the unfamiliar,…
The Autistic Me
Podcast Episode 0035; Season 03, Episode 07; December 10, 2019 Baking was, for many years, a favorite hobby. I love cookies and cakes. I enjoy all things high in carbohydrates, unfortunately. Fat? You have to use butter in baking. Real butter, ideally the Amish or European butter brands. I’m not…
Please, during this holiday season, remember to respect every child’s or adult’s preferences: DO NOT: Force someone to hug other people, even family members. Insist on “sitting still” in stressful situations. Demand silence when the individual is trying to communicate stress. Refuse to excuse anyone from a crowded, noisy, overloaded…
Podcast Episode 0034; Season 03, Episode 06; November 25, 2019 The holiday season includes a lot of sensory inputs, social interactions, traveling, and more. In this episode, I offer a few tips based on our experiences as a family. Our daughters should have great memories of the holidays. To ensure…
We closed on the sell of our house in Pennsylvania this week, so now our Texas reset is focused on touching up our new home and completing tasks locally. I have been sick (as has my wife) for the last two weeks. We’ve moved on from a basic cold to…
Podcast Episode 0033; Season 03, Episode 05; November 12, 2019 Getting to sleep and staying asleep are difficult for me and many autistics. Our daughters also struggle to fall asleep; they don’t remain asleep, either. We’ve tried melatonin, relaxation techniques, and quiet bedtime routines. A parent asked me for advice, but…
Q: I read your blog and listen to the podcast, but you don’t mention any of the positives of being autistic? Where is your autistic pride? I don’t have any autistic pride. That should be evident, as I replied to the parent asking me the question. It isn’t that I…
Podcast Episode 0032; Season 03, Episode 04; October 29, 2019 Driving isn’t easy for me and many autistics avoid driving. Some of the challenges are the same ones I experience as a passenger on public transit, especially the sounds and vibrations. I don’t like to feel crowded, either. Heavy traffic…
Podcast Episode 0030; Season 03, Episode 02; October 1, 2019 Parenting while autistic is… parenting. My wife and I are like other parents: unsure of ourselves and doing our best to be good role models. If there is something different about being an autistic parent, I’m not sure what that…
Midnight passed as I edited this post, trying to shape the words into something more eloquent. For as long as I can recall, I have worked late into the night on projects, seeming to think more clearly after dark in a relatively quiet setting. Yet, in these late night hours…