Free Teleclass For Tackling Toilet Training Your Autistic Child

Free Teleclass Helps Parents of Autistic Children Tackle the Challenges of Toilet Training
Are you thinking of potty training your child? Are your current potty training efforts going down the drain? Stop flushing your time away and get the support you need to tackle toilet training with confidence and success.

Connie Hammer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Jun 01, 2010 – Parent Coaching for Autism, a subsidiary of The Progressive Parent, LLC, announces an upcoming teleclass, From Bathroom Battles to Bathroom Bliss – Toilet Training Tactics that Work, scheduled for Thursday, June 17 beginning at 8:30pm Eastern. This informative class is designed to assist parents of young children on the autism spectrum develop the mindset and strategies necessary for mastering the important self-care skill of using the toilet independently. Weaning a child from diapers is one of the biggest challenges a parent will undertake and learning to do it with less stress and more confidence enhances the possibility of success.

“Although this teleclass is geared to parents of children with autism, the tactics work for any and all children,” says Connie Hammer, owner of The Progressive Parent, LLC. “This call will provide valuable information and techniques on potty training to help any parent conquer this childhood milestone by learning new ideas, practicing new strategies or tweaking the ones they have already tried.”

Topics addressed in this teleclass will include:
• How to determine readiness in your child
• The importance of establishing a routine
• Communication strategies that break down barriers and more. . .

Parents who want to assess where they are in the potty training process and move on to the next step can register at http://www.parentcoachingforautism.com/bathroom-bliss.

Hammer is the owner of The Progressive Parent, LLC, http://www.theprogressiveparent.com, a parent coaching business founded in 2005. As a parent educator and certified parent coach, Hammer helps parents uncover abilities and change possibilities with her more than twenty years of experience working with families. A licensed social worker, she currently supports parents of young children recently diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. For additional information, visit http://www.parentcoachingforautism.com

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The Progressive Parent, LLC offers quality parent coaching services, workshops & tele-seminars to individuals, couples & groups. Parent Coaching for Autism, a subsidiary of The Progressive Parent, supports parents of young children recently diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Membership to the Parent Chat Club and free information are available in the form of an e-course, Parenting Your Autistic Child - 3 Secrets to Thrive, to help parents positively impact their parenting vision, voice and path. In addition to a weekly newsletter, The Spectrum, packed full of strategies and insights to parent with more confidence and ease. For more information, visit www.parentcoachingforautism.com

Celebrity Kids with Autism

Hello all, I bow my head in shame that it's been so long since I submitted a post.  Things around the home have been hectic and uncertain due to job changes and doctor visits.  However......on to today's post...and remember I am the writer who is learning about autism.....

I read an article in a magazine to which my daughter-in-law subscribes.  It was about Holly Robinson and her husband having to struggle with their marriage and learning to raise an autistic child.  I was surprised to learn that Holly had an autistic child and is a successful and well-known actress.  She's so beautiful and her smile is almost always evident.  It misleads one to believe she has no struggles.  Ahhh, the things we moms can hide from the world.

After reading Holly's story, I went online and searched briefly for actors/actresses who have autistic children.  In just a one page search, I discovered only two others besides Holly Robinson who are celebrities with autistic children.  One was Toni Braxton and the other was Jenny McCarthy.  I'm not as familiar with those two ladies, but I do recognize the names when I hear or see them.

Anyone can have an autistic child.  It's not readily evident to the world that a parent has a child with this challenge.  Autism is not an entity that chooses who to target.  Celebrities usually do, of course, have more expensive resources available to them to deal with challenges, and the money with which to get the best of help that is available and discovered.  But the fact is that it should not be a source of shame that a child is discovered to be autistic.  It is also a fact that these ladies, even with their successful circumstances, have still had to be educated and have suffered through mistakes with their children.

Parents should be proud of their children and unashamed to make the challenges known to others.  It is in opening up that one begins to discover avenues that would otherwise be lost.  A child does not choose to be autistic, and therefore should not evoke the parent to feel disappointed in them. 

My hope today is that any mom who does feel any guilt because of having an autistic child or has felt apologetic and hopeless and embarrassed, will understand that we should not be ashamed of our children or our circumstances provided we are making every effort possible to be the best person and mother we can be.  Doing the best we can is all that can rightfully be expected.  Pity is often extended towards mothers with challenging children because of a lack of understanding.  It is often through enlightenment that the pity changes to empathy, a totally different emotion.

Although there are people in this world, including close family members, and sometimes unexpected loved ones, who have a slim and closed mind and an unfairly judgmental attitude that nothing we can say or do will change.  But that is not reason to lose hope and faith in humankind.  To give in is to give up.  So, if you struggle with negative emotions and depression, please take this message to heart.

Hold your heads high for your accomplishments and for your milestones crossed with your children whatever your challenges.  As for those who are blessed to have not had this struggle with negative emotions, kudos to you.  Open up your heart and pour out that encouragement to others who desperately need a pat on the back and a light shed in their darkness.

A Mom's Lesson Learned Raising an Autistic Child

My Lesson

By Meredith Myers

It was 6:09 pm on a chilly November evening when the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen came into this world, struggling with all her might to join our close knit family. My little beautiful angel girl had a rough day ahead on oxygen and then a few more under the UV lights to rid her of the jaundice that had set in. She could not breastfeed, something she just couldn’t get a hold of, but none of that mattered, all I wanted was to bring her home.

As a parent you have expectations or shall I say dreams of what is to come for your child. All of the milestones to make, the potty training, ABC’s and the like, but you’re never prepared when you find out your sweet little one may have a “problem”. At first knowledge that our child had autism we were of course, like many other parents, unsure of what to do. There was so much starting at the time on treatments, traditional and unconventional, where do we begin? The one thing that we did know for sure is that she was going to receive the most love that any baby ever has.

There were many rough days ahead, hard times trying to understand her cries, challenges with her digestion and other health problems, and most of all her inability to speak. But through it all, God has given us the compassion to help make strides with her that we never thought were possible. The patience to try and try again, the strength to keep giving her hugs and kisses even when she would push us away. The diligence to try everything that may help and read everything we can get our hands on. She has made astronomical leaps forward in every way possible thanks to that love that is deep inside us all. She has taught us so much, so many lessons of understanding that we would have never learned otherwise and we are eternally grateful to her for coming into our lives. Sarah has been a blessing that we could have never expected and what an amazing person she is! The important lesson here is to not forget to take that deep breath every now and then, love these babies and all their beauty with all you’ve got, throw out your old expectations and when life’s speed bumps come your way, dig in deep and hit them head on because what’s on the other side is amazing.

Raising an Autistic Child and Taking Care of Yourself

It can be difficult to take care of yourself when raising an autistic child. I spend most of my time and energy on both of my kids. With my son, I am also taking him to appointments several times a week. I am homeschooling him, too.

For the last couple of years, I have been putting off going to the doctor to have a skin abnormality checked out. I would tell myself that it isn't important. My mother and sister would insist that I needed to get it checked out, and I would dismiss their concerns.

The bottom line was that I didn't have the money or time to have it checked. Actually, that's not quite true. I didn't want to spend the money or take the time to have it checked. If I did, then I would be doing something for myself, instead of taking care of my kids. I feel guilty whenever I spend money on myself or do something just for me.

I know. My logic was a little screwed. If I don't take care of myself, who will? If I don't visit the doctor for regular checkups, something that is minor could turn into something serious. Then what? What happens to my kids?

I finally went to the doctor. At the appointment, four spots on the side of my nose were biopsied. The doctor is also having an appointment made for surgery to remove a basil cell carcinoma. The results of the biopsy results won't be back until next week.

Bottom line, I should have gone to the doctor when I first noticed the skin abnormality. I still feel bad about what this is going to cost my family. I am going to feel guilty when my husband has to take a day off of work to take care of the kids, while my father drives up and takes me to have the surgery. I know that I shouldn't it, but it is who I am. I am glad that this is being taken care of, and I pray that the biopsy results will be fine.

Given all of what I have just written, I urge all parents to take care of yourself. Take the time to visit your doctor for routine exams. Don't put it off due to time or money. In the end, you could be hurting your family a lot more if you don't take care for yourself.

Stress-Relief for Families Living with Spectrum Disorders

By award-winning author/ stress-relief expert Susie Mantell

Q: Dear Susie, Our 8 year old boy with Aspergers Syndrome experiences very "jangly" moments and can be quite disruptive at school and home. Do you have relaxation techniques that would help, and might your CD, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace," possibly soothe him into a calmer state at those times? (Signed: Sleepy Mom)

A: Dear "Sleepy Mom," Your journey, and your son's, are not easy ones. But there is growing attention to the complex range of Autism Spectrum Disorders. My own work being in stress management, so it is also advisable to talk with a trusted, knowledgeable medical professional who can sit face to face with your family and recommend how best to proceed. That said, here are few suggestions that come to mind that I hope will bring some comfort.

1. Your suggestion of guided imagery and other relaxation tools is an excellent idea. We receive letters and emails telling us that my own relaxation audiobook, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace," has been used successfully by many parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD or sleep disorders, to soothe children and help them to fall, or fall back to, sleep. The gentle narration provides a focal point for the listener's mind, which can be especially helpful when children are 'stimming' or repetitive or perseverative thoughts or actions seem to preoccupy attention and energy. "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace" was originally created with an adult audience in mind, though we’ve discovered through parents that children also respond to the comforting quality, so yes, you might want to give that a try. I have heard that Listening Therapy is an approach sometimes used, and this might be a gentle technique to incorporate. (It may provide comfort to fam ily members as well.)

2. Take a look on my website's Tips page for many techniques for helping caregivers, parents, and for kids cope with stress too. There are many strategies there that are appropriate for you and your little boy, or that you can adapt. As you know all too well, autism impacts every family member, so you all may find supportive stress-relief suggestions. Also see tips for breath work--mindful, focused breathing, which calms and refocuses, providing a focal point where the mind can simply rest.

Remember: When events circumstances are not a choice, perspective is.
'It is not what you look at, but what you see.' -Henry David Thoreau
See: "Just for This Day" by poet Sally Meyer for her remarkable son, Dhylan, reprinted with permission from the author at http://www.relaxintuit.com/tips/259

I hope something here is helpful. and wish you and your very special little guy wonderful support, love and laughter, and many, many "half-hours of peace."
Kindest regards,
Susie Mantell, www.relaxintuit.com

[Copyright 2000, 2010 Susie Mantell, Relax. . .Intuit (tm) LLC. All rights reserved.] Federal law prohibits use of this material in whole or in part without the express written consent of Relax...Intuit (tm) LLC. For Reprint Permission: Kindly email your request for guidelines, pasting in the full text of the specific article you wish to use, to info@relaxintuit.com We'll try to reply within 72 hrs.]

Award-winning stress-relief expert Susie Mantell ...is the author of the deeply soothing relaxation CD, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace,” clinically approved for symptoms associated with stress and sleeplessness, depression and grief, anxiety, P.T.S.D., Fibromyalgia, caregiver stress, cancer, pain, divorce, children with special needs, and addiction recovery. Featured in The Los Angeles Times, NBC, ABC, CBS-TV, Town & Country, The American Pain Society, Hazelden and The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, listeners include The Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, The Betty Ford Center, V.A. Hospitals,and Canyon Ranch (#1 Spa.) Customizing stress-reduction for Fortune 500 companies, distinguished hospitals and spas, Mantell has facilitated thousands in relieving health-related, work-related, chronic or traumatic stress. Her multi-sensory, mind-body techniques appear in national media, medical and corporate publications. Susie Mantell's Stress-Relief & Wellness Tip s are intended as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, professional health care. Order “Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace” and find more of Mantell’s stress-relief tips at www.relaxintuit.com

Who Can Help My Autistic Son

Who can help my son? My son is ten years old. He is nonverbal. His is autistic. Who can help my son? He can not write. He needs hand over hand assistance to write letters and numbers? Who can help my son? He has a short attention span. He has difficulty following verbal instructions. Who can help my son?

He can dress himself. He is not able to bathe himself. Who can help my son? He has sensitive hearing. He doesn’t like his hands and fingers touched. Who can help my son? He is extremely intelligent and bores easily. He isn’t able to demonstrate his knowledge unless he is using hand over hand to access a communication device. Who can help my son?

He has OCD. He flips through books from back to front. He doesn’t play with toys. He wants what he wants, when he wants, and there is no reasoning with him or changing his mind. Who can help my son? He has a limited list of acceptable foods that he will eat. He can operate the tv, the remotes, and his radio, yet he can’t or won’t operate a gaming system. He wants to, but is determined that someone else does it and he watches. Who can help my son?

He rebels against being made to do new things. He fights against being made to work and attend to tasks. Yet, if he is being asked to do something he likes or gives him what he wants, he will do it. Ask him to get a food item out of the pantry to good his favorite meal, he’ll do it. Ask him to get a cup so that he can have a drink, he’ll do it. Ask him to get an item off of the table you need, because you need it, he won’t. Who can help my son?

Really, is it too much to ask? I want practical help. I want real assistance. I don’t want pie in the sky solutions from quacks that think that because a certain therapy has helped other children, it will help my son. I want a real evaluation from people that have years of experience working one on one with autistic children instead of an evaluation from doctors that only sees a child once. I want a real plan of continued therapy that won’t bankrupt me. Who can help my son?

Am I the only one? Let me here from other parents. Let our voices, our pleas, be heard.

Manners

Today, I'm taking time out from my learning-autism posts to gently suggest a reminder for parents of all children, autistic or not.

I was speaking with a friend yesterday.  She has children come to her house after school.  One of the girls, around 5 years old, needed to use the bathroom.  My friend allowed it, of course, and then regretted it.  She had unfortunately left a pair of undies on the floor, not intending for anyone to come over before she could get them moved.  Plus, it was her house, so she really didn't think anything of it since she has few people stop by.  Wellllll, the little girl decided it was hilarious that the undies were left out and proceeded to make fun of the situation and the size of the undies.  My friend, even knowing this was only a child, was a tad hurt.  Now, whether or not my friend was wrong to be hurt is not the issue here.  That could open up a whole other can of worms!  The issue is manners.

Manners seem to be one of those things that gets lost in the shuffle sometimes.  Children have to be taught manners.  Some children come by the skill naturally, some have to be saturated in the lessons to just finally give in and accept that they need the manners whether they believe so or not.

Manners are also one of those things that even us adults seem to lose track of at times.  I confess, even I have forgotten my manners from time to time.  I've also met adults who were devoid of manners for whatever reason.  Some people tend to act like having manners is a weakness.

But it is important, especially in this day and age where so much seems to be taken for granted and almost anything goes......please, please take the time to teach your children manners.  Refresh your own if need be; after all, it never hurts.

Manners always make the person better, no matter what the situation.

Learning Autism, Public Reactions

It's been awhile since I posted about learning Autism, so I hope I can get some great responses to this post.  My topic today is about public reaction.  Since I'm learning, please do not take offense to my questions.  Helping others understand is to everyone's advantage.
1. Do you avoid taking your child out in public?
2. Does your child enjoy shopping?
3. Does your child show particular interests in certain types/styles/colors of clothing?
4. Do you buy toys for your child or just educational items?
5. What is the general public reaction to your child?
6. How would you prefer the public to react to your child?
7. Do you meet many other parents in public situations who also have autistic children?

That's my limit for today, folks.  Thanks for your time and for allowing me to participate in this experience to get to know autism better.  God bless you all.

The Gray Hairs from Our Children

While I was growing up, adults had a favorite saying about their children giving them gray hairs. I haven't felt the need for this saying much myself, especially after having heard it so often during my childhood. I guess I felt like it was just an insult to my children. I didn't want my children to feel like I resented being their mom in any way, shape, or form.

My children have been a blessing. I haven't felt the anguish as often as other mothers. My children have basically been good kids who were fairly easy to raise. However, I do believe if either of them were to make me utter the "gray hair" statement, it would probably be my daughter more often than my son. I said they have been a blessing, not perfect, just close to it.

My daughter has more freedom and privacy than many other teen girls. I put more trust in her and expect her to live up to that trust. So, it was with dismay that I discovered she had taken part in a quiz online that indeed made me wonder if any gray hairs had sprouted instantly. It was a quiz that was on an art site and was discovered by a mom in our homeschool group. Her daughter, being even younger than my own, had taken the same quiz. After some investigating, we discovered several of the girls in the group had participated in said quiz.

Having said this, it was not so much the quiz itself, but some of the answers my child gave that shocked me. Needless to say, we had an intense family discussion after I read through the quiz. She claims she answered the quiz as a character in a story. I made the point that it still gives her a very bad image, and that not everyone is going to see it as just being a character in a story but as part of her own values. It was disappointing and upsetting to say the least. I dare not go into the details of this quiz. I try to follow the rule that if I want my children to respect me, I must practice respecting them. I only feel the need to vent somewhat and hopefully help other moms realize that even their good children need to be monitored from time to time, for their own sakes. They are the clay, and we are helping God shape them. I guess the gray hairs are just a free bonus???