The Mom - Defined

Mother's Day is coming up!I was going to do a cutesy post about being moms, but I started thinking about being a mom and how it has changed me.  Oh boy - has it ever changed me!

Mrs. Priss' boys - 2007

Today, I'm going to tell you about the first time I really became an empowered mother.
As many of you may know, my son Michael was diagnosed with Asperger's at the age of three.  I was educating myself as fast as I could but the world was taking the reins.  I relied on therapists, books and teachers to guide me as I learned what Michael's needs were.  I was so worried that I would miss something and it would ruin Michael's life forever.  I trusted these people to lead me through it.  I lacked confidence and was never one to speak up.  This may shock those of you who know me.
The year that Michael was in the four-year-old preschool program at the school, things didn't go so well.  I began to not trust the teacher.  All she shared were negative things.  She didn't appear to make much effort, either.  My sweet Michael was struggling to make it through a half-day in her class and came home keyed up.  I was disappointed in her but also carrying the guilt of knowing that my son was more difficult to manage than most. 
The Doc and I decided maybe it was time to try private school.  With high hopes, we met with the principal and explained our situation.  He said they would be glad to have him.  It was the middle of the school year, but we felt he could enter the class and things would be better in this private, Christian setting.  
It was anything but that.
As the semester dragged on, I began to cry every time the phone rang because the school called about something bad - every single day.  My child was constantly suspended for many things ranging from "refusal to color" to "biting."  Yeah, biting.  That biting thing was a one time deal and a turning point for us.  Michael was being bullied by his classmates and over-disciplined by his teachers and no one would do a thing about it.  I kept trying to figure out how my mild-mannered child had become such a mess.  I trusted that the teacher had his best interests in mind and was appropriately dealing with his behavior.  I was even punishing him at home for his reported behavior by taking away his favorite toys.
We got the call one day from the principal that Michael was going to be suspended for biting another child on the playground the day before.  The incident took place on the playground and the child hadn't reported it to his teacher, but his mom called when she saw the bite marks that night.  This boy had a bite mark on his stomach and said my son had done it.  All the moms out there know that a stomach is a weird place to bite.  I knew instantly there was a lot more to the story than the school was telling.
No one had even bothered to find out from Michael what happened.
When got Michael home, the Doc and I quizzed him.  One of the problems was that Michael never told on the other kids when they were doing stuff to him.  His communication wasn't very good then, but he looked at his dad with tears in his eyes and said, "I didn't let them tear my clothes off."  
Those boys were bullying him and one had pinned him down to the ground.  That bite was his attempt to get the other kid off of him.  My child had to use self-defense and no one came to his aid.
When we finally got the whole story from Michael, the tides had turned.  I was no longer crying out of despair, I was crying from anger.  
Yes, I cry a lot.  
I realized that day that if I didn't look out for my child and defend him every time, no one else would.  I didn't have the luxury of trusting other experts to drive this car.  It was my job (and Doc's) alone.  I no longer take a teacher's assessment at face value.  I question it thoroughly to make sure that everything makes sense.  I question Michael thoroughly to see what was going on in his head.  Then I think it through and use my mothering instinct.  I trust that instinct now.
It took about three months after school was over before I got my sweet boy back.  He was a mess of anxiety!  And his public school Kindergarten teacher helped me know I could trust again.  There are some wonderful teachers out there.
Nowadays, when something is wrong, I don't hesitate to intervene.  You'd better be able to back up your case if something is going wrong in your classroom.  Michael does not get away with much, but he knows his mother will defend him.  The world does not understand Asperger's and I'm hear to advocate for Michael.  I've done a some advocating for my little Jacob as well.  Every kid needs an advocate, you know.
That's the day I had had enough.It's the day they woke the Mama Bear in me.


And I still cry a lot.But that goes with the territory, right?

Do you remember a significant moment that defines you as a parent? 

Mrs. Priss

who wishes you a Happy Mother's Day --

and reminds you to be thankful for your own mothers!

RHOK'n the Smarts & Arts

One thing that is very important to me is keeping busy with things that matter.  When I look back on my life someday, I hope to see that I made a difference.

After having a son diagnosed with autism, I realized that this would be my life's passion.  The feeling of isolation and hopelessness that come with the diagnosis are overwhelming.  It has become my mission to help be a support to others experiencing this and to help them move forward.  This is the reason I have been helping the Autism Center of Tulsa raise money.  They help provide the support and education families need and they do it at no cost to the family.

This was the age Michael was when he was diagnosed with Autism.

I recently helped the Autism Center with their Smarts & Arts fundraiser.  We spent months and months begging for donations from local businesses for our auction and organizing the event.  It all finally came together with donations for a wine pull, live auction and silent auction and art sale but volunteers were scarce.  You'll never guess who came to my rescue?

Those wonderful girls from the RHOK showed up for the event and ran their tails off.  They sold necklaces and encouraged auction bidding.  They closed out the auction when the time came (a huge job!).  And they did it all with a smile on their faces.

Mrs. Sinclair & Mrs. Hart are closing the auction.
No pictures of Mrs. Albright & Mrs. Montgomery who had jobs on the run!

These girls really do RHOK.  

Without their help, this event would not have run so smoothly. 

 Without their support, my life would not run so smoothly.

In this month of thankfulness, I want you to know how thankful I am for their giving hearts and friendship. No other friend of mine stepped up in this way.  These girls sacrificed a Friday night with their families in order to serve a friend in need of assistance.  These girls put the "real" in REAL housewives.  No fakes here.

I'm also thankful for my winning table who RHOK'd the trivia competition and won first place!  Oh, yes they did!  Two out of three years winning isn't too shabby...

Do me a favor and don't ask how many answers I helped with.

And for some silly reason, I'm even glad they do stuff like this with my award when I am not looking.

Now it's your turn.  Tell us about a girlfriend you are thankful for!

~ Mrs. Priss

An autism advocate and newly renamed "Uranus" like...






P.S. Don't miss us on Channel 8 News with Kristen Dickerson TONIGHT at 10p.m.!

Lest You Be Judged

The alternate title to this post could really be "Lessons Learned From Shoulder Surgery."  You see, it's been a long journey.

I'd like to start by saying that if you tell me you don't judge others we all know you are lying.  Like a rug.  It's as natural as breathing for all of us.  It is much easier to see the imperfections in other people's lives, isn't it?

As mothers, we judge the parenting strategies we see.  As wives, we judge the state of others' marriages.  As friends, we judge it all.  And what kind of friend does that make us?

We can never judge the lives of others, 
because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation.  

It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, 
but it's another to think that yours is the only path.

~ Paulo Coelho

Having a son on the autism spectrum has often made me feel like a mom under the microscope.  His inability to blend in stood out at every turn.  His meltdowns brought looks our way that showed disapproval over our parenting.  You might be surprised at how many people thought I could spank the behavior out of him.  They didn't live my life and they didn't know.

Having another son who pooped his pants daily until almost eight years old brought on a whole new scene.  Did you know you can't spank that out of them either?  There is very little sympathy for shadooby dropping out there.  I bet you didn't know that.  Everyone else was able to potty train their kids... what's wrong with you?

My own circumstances have given me more compassion than I might have otherwise had.  When I hear you tell stories about "that kid" in your child's classroom, I immediately think there is more to the story.  "That kid" might have special circumstances of their own.  If they don't, it's not my business.  If it interferes with my child, it is my job to discreetly work with the teacher or parent to find a solution.

You begin to develop a thick skin.
Then it gets even more personal.

During my recovery from shoulder surgery, I have learned that every single person I know has had - or knows someone who has had - a shoulder surgery called "rotator cuff."  These people have miraculously recovered in record time without the help of pain medication.  I, on the other hand, spent most of 2011 unable to lift my arm past the 90 degree mark.

After hearing my progress, or lack thereof, these well-wishers began cruising down one of two paths.  Some would ask if I had been doing my therapy daily.  But the path most traveled was by those who would brag on how successful they were in their own recovery.  It never occurred to any of them that my surgery may have been different from theirs.  Not even when I tried to explain it.

Once again.  Judged.
And what good comes from it?

I'm making a commitment to shut it down.  When I feel like I know better, I'm going to remind myself that I can't possibly know the whole story.  What you experience is unique to you.  And most importantly, if I spend my time and energy judging others, I lose focus on God's purpose for my life.  Loving others.

If you judge people, 

you have no time to love them.

~ Mother Teresa

Let's stop pointing fingers and start lifting each other up.
Who's with me?

~ Mrs. Priss

Finished with physical therapy & pain pills after nine stinking months like...

What Is Your Master Plan?

I don't know about you, but I am a planner.  If you know me personally, you are all too familiar with my love for a plan.  I have a strong belief that you need to have attainable goals in your life.  If you don't sit down and think them through every once in a while, you end up running in circles.

Did you know that April was Autism Awareness month?  Did you know that my oldest son is on the autism spectrum?  Do you know why I'm talking about master plans and autism in the same post?  

Special Olympics 2010

Some years ago I worked for the state as a Family Coach for the Autism Pilot Program.  The program itself was poorly designed in my opinion.  The state recognized a need for assistance among families with a child on the autism spectrum.  Oklahoma was not prepared to put their money where their mouth was and the program ended, along with the minimal assistance that was offered.  Go figure.  This is not unique to my state but it is frustrating.

During my time as a family coach I was given a peek to other families' lives.  Few were thriving, some were surviving and most were just barely making it - emotionally, financially... every aspect of their life.  The families had different levels of education (for the parents), different levels of children affected, different everything.

The one commonality for the thriving families was all about having a plan and following through with it.  They looked past just that one particular day and into their family's future.  I would argue that this aspect is definitely more important for families with children who have special needs.  But I will also argue that a successful life needs to have direction.  Period.

When working with these families, everyone had to come up with a Master Plan to obtain support through the state.  Since many of our families had young kids, we planned out what they wanted to happen in the next five years.  For some, they looked more long term into their child's adulthood.  It was up to the individuals how far ahead they wanted to look.  We looked at where they wanted to be in five years, what skills they wanted their child to have.  Then we looked at who was helping - doctors, therapists, teachers.  We called this community support.  The real interesting part to me was to then look at where you were spending your money.

Many times, money was spent on things that didn't match with the parents' actual goals.  They were working on goals set by teachers, doctors, and others who didn't feel the impact of living with the child on a daily basis nor were they looking at the big picture of growing into an adult.  There were families with teenage sons who couldn't drive.  They had no plan for Drivers' Ed nor had they started working on how to use the bus system.  They wanted their child to work, but had not thought out the need for transportation.  At this point, the family and I would write out baby steps to get to those goals and see where the gaps were.  Looking at things on paper really puts it in to perspective.

This doesn't need to be only for parents of children with autism. 

If you look at this in your life, do you see where I am headed?  It is good to take inventory on your life and see where you are headed.  It is also good to see if you are actually working towards that goal.  Are you putting your time, energy and money towards things that help you reach your goals?  Are you doing the same for your children?


Or are you just treading water, stuck in one place unable to move forward.

As I zoom towards my mid-life ages (okay, I'm already there), I still have goals for myself and for my children.  I have goals for the Doc, too, but well... he has to want those for himself.  I want my kids to choose a life that honors God and lets Him take the lead.  I want Michael to able to live independently from us when he is an adult.  I want Jacob to use his compassionate heart in a way that lifts others up.  I want the Doc to throw away the wheelbarrow that has sat in the yard for 3 years.

As for me, I want to help other parents who have children with autism.  I want to continue to study the Bible and apply what I learn in my life.  I want to parent my kids so that they will have a joyful and successful life.  And, I could be a better wife.  These are goals I am working on.  This is the focus I want my life to have.

I could get more specific for you but I won't.  Your master plan should not be so vague.

Find your focus.  Plan your achievable steps.  Reach your true goals.
Be intentional and make your life matter.
Teach your children to look ahead.

Are you ready to make a master plan?
Do your goals match your daily life?


~ Mrs. Priss



& Master Planner


For those of you in the Tulsa area, we have a great non-profit who help families with children on the spectrum.  The Autism Center of Tulsa is a great resource for anyone who needs it.  They also could use volunteers if you are available for their Ready Set Run fundraiser this Saturday the 7th at Hunter Park!  Join us!

April is Autism Awareness Month!

Since it is Autism Awareness month, I just can't keep myself from offering up an autism related post.
My passion for people with autism developed when Michael was diagnosed.  My passion for kids with special needs has been life-long.

Before Michael was born, I thought autism would be the worst thing that could ever happen.  I think about random stuff like this.  I specifically prayed all through my pregnancy that my child would be genius smart and not have autism.  I was always certain that I would have a child with special needs.  I thought a child with autism could never love me back.  I was so wrong.

Living with someone affected by autism has stretched the Doc and I in many areas of our lives.  It has not been easy.  But living with autism has taught us the joy of life from a whole new perspective.  To be honest, I wouldn't trade a thing about Michael.

What I never realized about autism is this: our biggest challenge has been how other people respond to our son's behaviors.  Who knew? I thought it would be the actual behaviors.

Because people affected by autism do not walk around wearing signs on their forehead labeling them as such, people tend to assume and judge.  STOP IT.  There is never a need to offer your unpleasant stare, your unappreciated ugly comment or any other such rudeness under any circumstance.  Sure, we all judge - being the perfect parents that we are.  But you don't know the other family's story so you can help or you can butt out.  You can not look at a child and automatically know the inner workings of their brain.  I've tried.

What can you do?
Do you know someone who has a child with autism?  Chances are that you do.  
Show an interest in how things are going.  Take your cues from your friend.  They may want to talk about it, they may not.  They will appreciate your genuine interest.  They will also appreciate you keeping their information in confidence.  You wouldn't believe how many friends were told about Michael's diagnosis and never said a word to us about it since.
Offer to babysit.  You might even need to babysit at their house.  Parents of spectrum kids don't tend to get out much without their kids.  Send them to dinner without the kids.
Church is a challenge for many believers.  Unlike school, other activities as well as church are not designed to accommodate differences.  Many give up and quit attending.  If this is the case, see how you can help.  Can you be a buddy for their kiddo in Sunday School?
Encourage your kids to be friendly to all of their peers.  You know that kid you tell your kids to stay away from?  Sometimes that is the kid with autism.  Always, that is the kid who needs friends.  Is there another way to solve the issue?  Talk to the teacher about how to handle the situation.  When you tell your kid to stay away, they tell their friends.  Their friends stay away too.  Yuck.  This is a bad situation made worse.  Try other things first.  Because of privacy laws, you won't know specific issues related to that student unless their parents tell you.
If a parent is struggling with a child having a tantrum, you can offer to help.  Chances are you will be turned down.  I can't tell you how many parents have suffered through rude stares and ugly statements from people passing by.  If you don't want to get involved then don't look.  I was so proud of my neighbor who saw an incident at Disney recently and asked if she could help by holding stuff for the dad who had his hands full when his preteen son started to fall apart.  She was amazed at how people stared and didn't offer help.

What not to say?  Here are tidbits from friends, family & teachers that cause me to have my own personal meltdown (when you aren't looking).
All kids do that.  When dealing with the obsessions and meltdowns of autism, you learn very quickly that this is different.  It really is.  I am quite familiar with how kids are, thank you.
At least he doesn't have cancer.  Well, yes - there is that.  This is a statement I heard a few times from people who wanted me to see the bright side.  But when I found out my child had autism, I knew that this was a lifelong developmental disorder and his future could look a lot different from that "typical" child I was planning on.  I need time to wrap my mind around this.  An autism diagnosis sends parents through a true grieving cycle similar to mourning the loss of a loved one.  They need to work through the stages.
If you were more consistent, this wouldn't be a problem.  For me, specifically, this was a crappy thing to say.  My kiddo was so adapted to routine that everything in our lives was consistent.  Stubbornness and routine prevail with this momma.  A child who is neurologically different does not always learn at the same pace or in the same ways as a typical child.  My child has autism.  His behavior isn't a result of poor parenting.  To imply that it is, that's just insulting.

Living with autism can sometimes make you feel like you live in a pressure cooker.  Living with autism can also show you the amazing blessing that life has to offer. You don't take things for granted that you might have before.

How about we all follow the golden rule and love one another.  Give others a bit of grace.
Be a good friend to someone with autism or a parent of someone with autism.  They could use one.

I would love to hear your questions and comments.  Maybe you even have something helpful to add.

For more information, I've included a couple of links.
My favorite national autism site is this one.
Here in Tulsa, we have a wonderful non-profit called the Autism Center of Tulsa (ACT).  We are currently gearing up for our 5th Annual Ready, Set, Run! fundraiser.

Did you know that Saturday is "Wear Blue for Autism Awareness Day?"
I hope you'll wear a bit of blue for us.

Mrs. Priss

who is wearing blue tomorrow...

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

I took this picture a few weeks ago while my son Michael was having a chat with his therapist.  He sees a therapist to learn strategies to deal with his anxiety.  The anxiety he feels is directly related to his Asperger's Syndrome.  The more you understand autism, the more you understand why their anxiety levels are so high.  It is a complicated world and we are complicated people.  Navigating the world with unwritten codes of social rules sets him up to fail.

I love how Michael feels so comfortable that he stretches out in the chair - just like all of the therapy sessions you see in comic strips.

I took this photo just for grins, but then I started thinking about what Michael learned this day.  He learned that he spends a lot of time lying to himself.  Know what?  I'll bet you do it too.

Why don't you stretch out on your own couch and think about it.

In Michael's case, he lies to himself about homework, chores, attempts at friendship - those kinds of things.  What he tells himself, however, are the exact same things you might be saying to yourself.


I can't do it.
It's too hard.
I'll do it later.
It's not worth it.
I'll never...

See what I mean?
He stops himself before he even tries.
Homework assignments cause him so much anxiety that he will start crying when I pick him up from school.  It breaks my heart.
Michael sits alone at lunch because sitting by others means conversation and - well, conversation is not his favorite thing.  It's hard for a kiddo with autism.  Others think he just wants to be alone, but the truth is that he just can't force himself to do put the wheels in motion.

If I try, I will fail.

Will you?
Do you look at a monumental task and find yourself overwhelmed?
Do you talk yourself out of even trying?
Do you lie to yourself?

I don't know about you, but this hits home for me.  With Michael, we break down these tasks into smaller steps that we know he will find success in.  Why am I not doing this with my own goals?

Right now, my monumental task is just to get better.  While I'm recovering from shoulder surgery, my energy is focused on better strength and mobility.  I know I have months of therapy ahead of me.  I have many more personal goals that I keep putting on the backburner but for today, I'm making sure I break my day in to segments that allow me to get 4-5 session of therapy exercises in.  As for those personal goals, it helps me to write down all of the things I have going on and then prioritize.  From there I put dates down to give myself a deadline.  Face it, we all love a deadline.

What is your lie?
Have you given up on a fitness or health goal?
Have you quit working on your marriage?
Have you been unwilling to tackle the chore of organizing that messy closet in your house?

Pick a lie.
Think about it.
Change the way you talk to yourself.

I hope you will find a way to change your attitude and tell yourself something more constructive.
I know I'm going to tell those negative voices in my head to shush.  Then, I'm going to pick a goal and get started with it.

How about you?  Care to join me?  What lie are you going to quit telling yourself?



Mrs. Priss


Telling the truth like...

The Bad Kids

With school starting, this has really been on my mind lately.  For those of you who read my blog, this is a repost from last year.  To me, it is worth repeating.

My friend and I are in the process of creating a peer support system for kids with special needs.  As our kids get older, they really need more understanding from their classmates.  We are training students who want to be buddies to be leaders and helpers for those who need it.  

Here is why:

When I talk with kids about Michael's Asperger's Syndrome, one of the first things I do is tell them that there are disabilities you can see (people who use wheelchairs, people who have Down's Syndrome, etc.) and disabilities you can't see, the invisible ones.  Just because you can't see them does not mean they are not there.  It's a dangerous assumption to make that those who appear normal -- are.

I often hear moms discussing who their elementary kids are talking about in the classroom.  I'm horrified at all of the privacy laws that are broken by teachers.  Adults and kids often make the assumption that they see the whole picture just because a child looks like the rest of them.  There is almost always a bigger story to tell.  I try to remind people of this but it doesn't always sink in.  In fact, it usually doesn't compute at all.

I didn't get to teach for very long, but I was a teacher because I have always had a big place in my heart for kids.  When I finally got my teaching job, I ended up in a gang neighborhood with 5th graders as big as me.  The first thing I realized on that frightening day school started was that these were just kids.  They weren't so scary.  One thing is for sure, I met plenty of bad kids.  Most of them got moved to my classroom because the other teacher couldn't handle them.  Many of the kids I taught have probably been to jail by now.

I hear moms talk about how bad a kid is.  I hear moms gripe about how a particular child in the classroom takes up all of the class time because of their behavior.  I get it.  I understand.  And I'm sorry but these parents forget that I happen to have one of these children living in my own home.  So I take this one personally.

I didn't ask for my child to be the difficult one.  I work much harder than the average parent trying to attain normalcy and to teach my son things that your kids will learn naturally.  At one point in time I put so much effort into it that it wasn't fair to Michael.  He is who he is.  We teach what we are given.  His behaviors are not something he does in an effort to create problems for others, not intentional.  He is doing the best that he can.  At the core of this child is a purity that few possess.  He is often untainted by the pressures of society or peers.  This is his blessing and his curse.

So let's not assume we understand the bad kids.  Even if they don't have a label, there might be something going on.  When I taught school, there were kids in my class whose parents refused to have them tested for special services.  There are kids whose home life leaves them frustrated or angry or hurting or just plain empty.  You don't know what goes on behind closed doors.  They might be dealing with big things in their youthful minds.

When I hear you talk about so and so who is in trouble all of the time, I also often hear you say that you told your child to stay away from them.  And then I understand that you might say the same thing if you didn't know Michael and know our circumstances.  You may think your story is different, but to me it isn't.  My child is the one not invited to join in.  My child takes up more time from the teacher which in turn makes other kids think of him as being in trouble all of the time.

Let's remember one thing.  These are kids.  Not all of them have the neurological ability to perform at the level they are expected.  Not all of them have the support at home that they need.  And not one of them have the ability to change their life's circumstances.

Let's practice what we preach.  Teach your kids right and wrong - yes.  But teach your kids compassion and understanding.  Teach your kids to be friendly and kind to the unfriendly.  Teach your kids to include all of their classmates on the playground.  Teach them to be leaders and not followers.  Those bad kids are desperately in need of a friend and have become isolated by their peers and sometimes even their own teacher.  Your child can be part of their recovery from "badness".

They will look to you for answers and I hope you will look at the bigger picture.  There are circumstances in which your child may need to stay away.  But please be careful how you guide them.  They are listening to your words and will repeat them to others.  The more it spreads, the more the bad child will be alienated.

You may be offended by what I say.  You might be saying - "But your case is different."  I don't think so.  I hear you loud and clear.  And I hope you won't mind if I leave the room quietly the next time I hear someone start talking about the bad kids.
It makes me want to cry.

Mrs. Priss

Autism Awareness

Did you know that April is Autism Awareness month?

Around 2001 the word autism crept into our daily vocabulary. It was at this point that my days of being an average housewife came to an end – officially. Up until then we were told to believe these things were just delayed. At a young age there is a broad spectrum of developmentally appropriate, and this makes it hard to diagnose the little ones.  Our son had a speech delay, loved his routine and still didn't interact much with the other kids.  In addition to that he would only play with Thomas the Tank Engine toys at that age.  Michael would sit in my lap fascinated while I read to him for a solid hour by the age of 2.  By the age of 3, our son could not have a conversation with us but he could count and read past 100 and was beginning to put words together with the refrigerator magnets.  It's called scatter skills - academically he was off the charts and socially he was tanking.

Reality was a hard blow and the devastation was similar to losing a loved one. As the housewife, the weight of the care and decisions fell largely on my shoulders.  I admit that I am still a little gun shy of playdates.  With an autism diagnosis, our dreams for our child had to shift. Our expectations were more questionable. We knew our son was smart… and loving… but would he ever make friends? Would he be able to live an independent life someday?


These things still remain to be seen.


The biggest lesson I've learned from autism is to have faith.  Control is not always a possibility.  I have learned to do the best I can with each day and know that this is my limit.

Our son Michael is now 11 years old. Rarely will you see a more loving boy of his age.  He has no filter.  Whatever he sees or feels is expressed.  Most of the time this is a good thing.  How many 5th grade boys still like holding their mother's hand in public? 

Michael doesn’t get invited to birthday parties and sleepovers, although he would like to. It doesn't occur to him to invite kids over to play but he enjoys having them here.  Having Asperger’s Syndrome puts him in the high functioning autism category. Michael participates in a typical classroom but this presents challenges for his teachers and classmates when he has a “moment.” This year the bullying has begun. Those that love to bully find an easy target in Michael. The rest of the moments he just blends. He is completely unaware that he is different or that being different could be a problem. That’s a blessing and a curse.


With autism affecting 1 in every 110 children (1 in every 70 boys) chances are that you know someone who has a child with autism. From a parental standpoint, 80-90% of those parents will end up divorced. We might make it look easy to you but don’t be fooled. To have a successful day requires thoughtful planning and preparation and a little bit of luck getting through things beyond our control.


In honor of Autism Awareness month, take a moment to offer those parents some encouragement, friendship and prayers.  Send them a card. They need your support even if it is just a kind word or two. Parents of children with autism tend to get isolated if they aren't careful which makes your friendship even more important.

If you are a parent like me, get connected.  You'll be amazed at how helpful it is to network with the other parents.  If you are wondering about your own child, maybe this information will help.


For those of you in the Tulsa area you can find support and volunteering opportunities here or email Mrs. Priss (wearerhok@gmail.com). 


~*~ Mrs. Priss ~*~