Hey there! Welcome to the NeurOrdinary podcast. I'm your host, Karen, a mom to two amazingly autistic kiddos. In this episode, we're diving deep into the theme of gratitude and celebrating the small wins.
As autism parents, we know that our journey can be challenging and overwhelming at times. That's why it's so important we appreciate the little victories along the way. These small wins may seem insignificant to others, but for us, they hold immense value.
We'll discuss how gratitude can transform our perspective and turn ordinary, everyday moments into something extraordinary. By shifting our focus and embracing gratitude, we can uncover the beauty hidden within our daily routines and the progress our children are making.
I'll share three practical ideas to help you celebrate and focus on the small wins. From creating a gratitude jar with your child to ending your day with a simple (but effective!) gratitude practice, these quick and easy practices can have a profound impact on your relationship with yourself and your child, plus they really help shape your mindset as an autism parent.
If you're looking for inspiration to navigate the ups and downs of autism parenting, this episode is for you!
Let's explore the power of gratitude together and learn to find joy in our journey. Join me on NeurOrdinary as we celebrate the small wins and cultivate resilience in our parenting adventure. Make sure to tune in every Thursday for new episodes. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share with other autism parents who could use some support and inspiration.
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Resources Mentioned In This Episode
Transcript
Hey, I’m Karen. And I’m a mom to two amazingly neuropsicy autistic kiddos. If you’re an autism parent like me, you know I don’t have the time to make a podcast intro. I also lack the tech skills, so let’s just get into it…this is the NeurOrdinary Podcast!
First, if you’re listening on drop day, to those in the US, hope your Thanksgiving is going well if you celebrate it. While I realize this holiday can be a bit fraught for a lot of reasons for many people, I always like to think of it as a day we can practice gratitude in whatever way works best for us. That’s why I didn’t skip creating an episode today - y’all know how much I love gratitude! It’s also why today’s episode is all about finding gratitude in the small wins. It's not just a Thanksgiving thing; it's a year-round practice
In our chaotic world of autism parenting, it's crucial to pause and appreciate the little victories, the unsung milestones that often go unnoticed by the rest of the world. These small wins, no matter how seemingly insignificant, are so, so important!
The Significance of Gratitude
Let’s bring it back to gratitude for a hot sec. It shouldn’t be limited to special occasions; gratitude is a powerful mindset that turns everyday moments into something extraordinary. In the world of autism parenting, our daily victories may seem small, but they hold immense value. Shifting our focus to gratitude unveils the beauty within seemingly routine moments in our everyday lives.
These moments, although they might appear modest to others, are the hidden treasures of our parenting experience, and it often feels kind of weird to share how excited we are about them in a world that isn’t made for our kids and sometimes, doesn’t seem to understand them or their needs very well. It could be the shared laughter during a therapy session, your kid doing something that another child their age would have “mastered” years earlier, or another type of subtle progress that often goes unnoticed. These instances deserve to be celebrated and enjoyed with gratitude and joy.
When we intentionally center ourselves on gratitude, we open our eyes to the beauty within these seemingly ordinary moments. It's like putting on glasses that allow us to see beyond immediate challenges, appreciating the small yet powerful victories scattered throughout our journey as our kids’ parents.
Think about the daily activities that make up our routine – mealtime, bedtime, and moments of play. Within these everyday occurrences lie the building blocks of progress and connection...but since they are so mundane and we often get dragged down with the tasks of parenting, we may not always have the energy or mindset to notice. The consistency of our efforts and our children's resilience reveal the extraordinary within the ordinary.
As autism parents, we intimately understand our children's developmental nuances. Gratitude is the tool that sharpens our awareness, helping us recognize and appreciate the beauty embedded in our daily routines and the progress our kiddos are making.
The mindset of gratitude invites us to savor the journey, finding fulfillment in the everyday victories that contribute to our child's growth. It reframes challenges as opportunities for growth and setbacks as stepping stones toward progress.
In autism parenting, gratitude weaves together seemingly disparate moments into a beautiful story. It's a daily practice of acknowledging strengths and achievements, no matter how small, shaping our parenting experience.
And when we embrace gratitude, we cultivate resilience and fortitude. We learn to find joy in the journey, and we can even get to a place where we can appreciate the unique beauty autism brings to our lives. It's an approach empowering us to navigate challenges with grace and celebrate small wins as cherished victories.
In essence, gratitude isn't just an emotion; for me, it’s a way of life! Embracing an attitude of gratitude has significantly changed my perspective on my kids and how I show up as their parent. It's the compass that guides me through the labyrinth of parenting, reminding me to pause, reflect, and appreciate the extraordinary within the ordinary. So, I say let's continue our parenting journey with hearts full of gratitude, finding beauty in each step and celebrating the small wins that make our parenting adventure truly remarkable.
The Power of Small Wins
Why are these everyday victories so crucial? They are the tangible beats of progress, the tiny strides our kids make that might appear insignificant to others but hold monumental significance for us. Each small win stands as a living testament to their growth and our shared journey with them. While I am not a fan of the puzzle piece logo as a symbol of autism or autism awareness, I do think celebrating these small, daily victories is like gathering puzzle pieces. Over time, you can use them to construct a profound picture of both you and your child’s resilience and achievement.
In the eyes of society, these modest victories might not always seem noteworthy. Yet, as autism parents, we understand how hard our kids worked to achieve them and what we put into helping them achieve it. These insights help mold our parenting journey and can help us keep our commitment to offer the type of unwavering help and support our children need.
Think of these small wins like your daily affirmations. They affirm that, even amidst the challenges they face, that our children are making strides, big or small. It's a continuous journey where these victories serve as milestones, reminding us of the progress our children are making.
So how can you celebrate and focus on the small wins? I’ve got three ideas for you…
Create a Gratitude Jar With Your Child
Every evening, jot down a small win or a heartwarming moment with your child. Watch as the jar fills up, becoming a visible reminder of the good things that happen everyday. It's a simple yet powerful practice that keeps us grounded and grateful for the journey we’re on.
Now, why is this practice so impactful? Firstly, it deepens the connection between you and your child. Sharing these moments of gratitude fosters an environment of mutual acknowledgment, fortifying your bond. Secondly, it provides a moment for reflection. As you both contribute to the jar, you'll find yourselves celebrating the good memories you've made together. Lastly, it acts as a reservoir of positivity. On days when challenges loom large, a glance at the filled jar serves as a vivid reminder of all the great times and good moments you’ve had together.
So, as you engage in this shared activity, consider the huge impact it has on your relationship with your child. Through the act of recognizing and recording these wonderful moments, you're not just building a Gratitude Jar — you're strengthening your resilience and celebrating your relationship with your child! You’re creating a visible testament to the enduring strength and love of your relationship.
One caveat, this practice may not work very well if you have a kiddo with a PDA profile - that can stand for Persistent Demand for Autonomy or Pathological Demand Avoidance depending on who you ask..I’ll drop some information about PDA in the show notes for you. If this is you and your child, you may still benefit from creating a gratitude jar on your own, just don’t expect too much from them when it comes to participation and also try to be flexible: if seeing the jar bothers them, keep it simple where only you can see it. But know that it’s there as a visual reminder of your relationship and the good things that happen in your lives every day…even amid the challenges you face.
End Your Day With Gratitude
Here's a self-care challenge for you – as you wind down each day, take a moment to reflect on three things you're grateful for in your role as an autism parent. It could be a small achievement, a shared laugh, or a moment of understanding. By consciously practicing gratitude, we invite more positivity into our lives and foster a sense of contentment.
Why is this so crucial? Firstly, acknowledging the good things in your life fosters resilience. Secondly, it provides a mental break, and it steers your focus towards the uplifting aspects of your day and your life. Lastly, intentionally practicing gratitude is a powerful emotional anchor. It helps you cultivate contentment even on the more challenging days of autism parenting. This nightly exercise acts as an easy way to help add a bit of gratitude to your attitude, and help improve not only your outlook on life but your ability to handle whatever life throws at you.
Shout it out!
Find someone who will be just as happy and excited about your child’s wins as you are! Your 5-year-old finally pooped on the toilet - congrats! That’s awesome! Your teenager shook someone’s hand and introduced themself by name on their own?! You both deserve a high-5! Your pre-schooler slept through the night for the first time ever and you survived the 90 seconds of terror you had when you woke up to realize that fact…if you know you know. Also, been there done that. You deserve to have a place where you can celebrate your wins, big or small - and the community I’m building with the NeurOrdinary Podcast and my Out Of Your Ordinary coaching business are built to do exactly that for you. I’ll drop some links to where you can connect with us in the show notes!
Conclusion
As we wrap up this episode, and as we navigate the everyday maze of autism parenting, let's not overlook the small victories. Embrace the joy in the journey, celebrate the progress, and find gratitude in the everyday magic.
When we reflect on our journey as parents and our children’s journey as young autistics, we realize that every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory worth celebrating. It's in these small wins that we find the strength to face the challenges that come our way.
Thanks for joining me in this celebration of everyday wins. Wishing you and your family a life filled with gratitude and countless victories, both large and small.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of the NeurOrdinary Podcast drop every Thursday. Don’t forget to like and subscribe, and if you’re feeling generous leave a comment or review to let me know what you thought about today’s episode. If you know an autism parent who would benefit from hearing what we’ve talked about today, please share this episode with them. And whatever you do, keep it spicy!
Meet your self-care coach!
