If you know they’re okay, like REALLY okay, it’s okay not to panic. When we immediately scream, gasp, or rush in over every fall, bump, or moment of frustration, we’re unintentionally teaching our kids to overreact too! They may start to believe that every little struggle is an emergency, and every uncomfortable feeling needs fixing right now. But not everything is a crisis, and sometimes staying calm teaches more than fixing ever could 🫶🏼 When we step back just a little instead of rescuing right away, we allow them space to figure things out and encourage critical thinking. This doesn’t mean we ignore them, it means we offer presence, encouragement, and support without taking over the moment. Struggling to put on their shoes? Tripped on their bike a lil? Spilled their blocks and feel frustrated? Let’s help WITH them, not FOR them. These are the moments where resilience and confidence are built, when they realize, “I CAN do hard things, even if they take time.” 🚨 IMPORTANT: we are not ignoring real needs or pushing kids beyond what’s developmentally appropriate. You know your child best. This kind of pause and support is for the moments when they’re safe, regulated enough to try again, and developmentally ready to practice independence. This won’t look the same every child. It’s not about being hands off, we are aiming to be the right kind of support in the right moment 💛

So many of us were taught to stay quiet, be polite, and make ourselves smaller to avoid upsetting others. But our children deserve better. They deserve to take up space, speak their truth, and feel safe being fully themselves. Teaching this means showing them how to set boundaries, speak with confidence, and trust their instincts. It also helps us be better by encouraging us to keep modeling self-respect and reminding them that being kind does not mean staying silent when something feels wrong. Support them in being loud, messy, assertive, and unsure, without shame. As parents, caregivers, and educators, we have the chance to break the cycle. To stop praising compliance over courage. To create homes and classrooms where kids are not only accepted for who they are but celebrated. Where they learn early on that their voice matters and their presence is NEVER too much. 💛 #happybeehavior

You ever risk it all by presenting the IMPOSTER cake pop? Yeah… me too. There is real science behind this moment. What many call “picky eating” is often about predictability and safety. In behavior analysis, we talk a lot about the discomfort that comes with novelty, especially when something expected suddenly changes. That pink cake pop is more than just a snack, it’s a safe food that is familiar in taste, texture, color, etc. It’s predictable. Comforting. In a world that feels chaotic or overwhelming, safe foods offer control. This isn’t exclusive to autism. While some autistic individuals may rely more consistently on safe foods for comfort and predictability, the need for familiar, reliable choices is a human experience. Think about your go-to order when you’re too tired to think, or the snack you reach for when you’ve had a long day, those are your safe foods too! So next time your child (or student, learner, etc.) resists a new food, sound, place, or routine, PLS REMEMBER it’s not stubbornness. It’s human. And building trust and flexibility takes time. 🫰🏼

I get it, reading to your newborn might feel a little silly since they can’t follow the plot or understand the words BUT their brain is soaking it all in Even this early your voice helps build the foundations for language, attention, and emotional connection!!
 It’s not about what they understand it’s about how they feel when they hear you🫶🏼 
So for now, it’s just me, my sweet boy, and these quiet little chapters🥹 #newmom #newborn #postpartum #mom #baby #reading

Reminder! It’s okay to need help. Somewhere along the way, many of us (including myself) started believing that needing help meant we were weak, that we had to do everything on our own to be worthy or capable. Especially for people who have tied their value to accomplishments or productivity, asking for help can sometimes feel like failure. But the truth is, we are NOT meant to do life alone. We are NOT meant to carry everything by ourselves. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of wisdom and strength. It means you recognize your limits, you value your well-being, and health. The pressure to always be strong and handle everything without breaking can lead to things like self-judgment, burnout, and a constant sense of not being enough. 😔 When we let go of the unrealistic expectation to do it all, we make space for peace. We give ourselves permission to breathe, to rest, and to be supported. You are allowed to lean on others. You are allowed to receive help. You are allowed to be human. It’s okay to need help. And you are still enough, exactly as you are. #behavior #askingforhelp #mentalhealth

So this is what we’re focusing on? Curing autism??
 What about a cure for actual DISEASES like idk…cancer, ALS, Alzheimer’s… you know, the real ones? Look autism is a neurodevelopmental difference. It can come with real challenges. Families struggle, support needs are real, and we’re absolutelyyyy not ignoring that.
 But autism is not a disease. It’s not something to be “cured.” Support ≠ erase.
Accommodate ≠ fix.
Accept ≠ ignore struggle. We don’t need a cure for autism. We need a cure for ableism. #autism #asd #disease #vaccine #cure