First of all, I landed a part time job with a nonprofit I’ve been a fan of for a decade!
I wrote about Extreme Kids & Crew here:
The NYC-based organization founded by Eliza Factor was our haven when Ocean was first diagnosed, and he still attends a weekly online club, Gaming Crew.
A few years ago, I was recruited to be the host of Powerful Parents, their support and advocacy group for parents raising neurodivergent kids. (It’s free to join and we’re starting a new cohort mid-October.) Now I’ve become their Social Media Coordinator! It’s part-time and online, but still… 🤯
Getting the job was exciting, and now the work is settling into their rhythm and figuring out how to rebalance all my responsibilities, again.
What was I thinking, you ask? Well, I wasn’t expecting to be training a puppy and caring for my husband and clashing with my teen while onboarding, I’ll tell you that much.
When it rains, it pours. Right? This has been a perfect storm.
Here’s my plan so far:
The podcast and many posts will be less polished. The last Sunday of each month will be a roundup of links I’m obsessed with and all the posts from the past month, in case you missed anything.
My hope is that this will allow this community to continue to be a supportive resource, while allowing me to avoid burnout. I need to practice what I preach, right?
Another thing is, I’m lifting the auto-paywall. Some posts may still be paywalled for privacy, but for the most part everything is open as of today. I deeply appreciate those of you who give back to this community.
I’m reimagining how I show gratitude to paid subscribers, and would love to hear from you: What would make $5/month a no-brainer? What do you most need right now?
Connection with other parents?
Specific expert advice?
1-1 support?
A private community space off social media to ask questions of each other?
Something else?
Hit reply and let me know!
This Month’s LIVE Interviews:
Director Nicola Rose and I discussed her family comedy where puberty meets Synesthesia, called “Magnetosphere.”
Patrick Weir shared his passion and his process for creating Parenting Pivot Podcast.
I was practically sobbing with The Autism Mums as we swapped stories, struggles, and solidarity.
How Self Compassion Helps Parents Avoid Burnout With Simple Strategies
A 2-parter I wrote on self-kindness practices you can fit into the tiny cracks of your parenting life. Their beautiful simplicity makes them accessible to you during your toughest moments, helping you feel safe and loved. Understanding our nervous system is a game changer in parenting.
More Links You’ll Love
ADDitude Mag: my latest contribution is My Autistic Child Sincerely Wanted Friends – and Finally Found Them.
Acknowledging a scary Back-to-School season, I loved 5 signs of a Self-Reg Haven. Sigh. We can dream, right?
“A Self-Reg Haven is a place where everyone feels safe in every way: physically, emotionally, socially and culturally… You feel safe in the space and all the signs that others feel the same way are there too…”
A kinder future for our kids begins with kindness toward ourselves.
Woo hoo! Kate Lynch + Extreme Kids = ❤️❤️❤️
I am sure much good will come of it!