Blog

Sensory Softball

This past weekend my family and I hosted a sensory softball game. Although my oldest brother has been playing at this field for years…my brother Teddy has not been able to attend a game here since he was about three because there has always been too much noise….too many people…he just couldn’t tolerate it! So, it was so awesome having the opportunity to finally be at this familiar place together as a family! It was great seeing my brother get the chance to play in a game. Through the years I have participated in many different sports and activities, but I can’t say the same for Teddy. Sometimes it’s hard not to focus on the things my brother misses out on because of autism. Every time my family and I grieve about something we feel is a loss we try and think of one blessing and it helps us stay positive and grateful!

Exercise

Teddy struggles with maintaining a healthy weight for several reasons….The three main issues are that he has a limited diet with lots of processed foods (we are working on that), he takes medication that affects his metabolism, and participates in limited physical activities that other neurotypical kids his age are involved with. So, now that the weather is getting warmer my dad started taking Teddy on walks in hopes to improve his health. This is HUGE for Teddy not only because he’s getting exercise but because he is learning safety!! So proud of Teddy!

Carolina Carts

We all use shopping carts at the store…but have you heard of or seen these Carolina carts? Spotted recently at my local Walmart and Target stores. Unfortunately each store has only a few so you have to be fast or lucky to grab one! On a positive note, these handy carts have made it possible for Teddy to tolerate quick trips to the store now that he’s too big to ride in the shopping cart! He loves them and they are helping to make it possible for him to integrate into the community and participate in everyday activities!

Meet My Family

We are a family of 5 living in Upstate New York. My dad, David is a mechanical engineer and my mom, Erin is a speech-language pathologist. I have two younger brothers, Patrick and Teddy. Patrick and I are neurotypical and Teddy is neurodiverse… He is autistic! Living with an autistic person has been full of adventures. I hope you stay tuned for some of my family’s stories!