Mom Brain, Psych Trained

Mom Brain, Psych Trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner & mama of 2 kids with autism 👦🏼👧🏻

10/17/2026

We spend so much time talking about the challenges that come with autism, but what about the incredible strengths?

Hudson has always had an exceptional memory, especially when it comes to numbers. His ability to remember numerical patterns and do mental math continues to amaze me. 🧠✨

Autism is a spectrum, and every autistic person has a unique combination of strengths, challenges, and abilities. Not every autistic person has extraordinary math skills, just like not every autistic person struggles with the same things.

But sometimes, we become so focused on the areas where our children need support that we forget to celebrate the areas where they absolutely shine.

Our children are so much more than their challenges.

And their strengths deserve just as much attention as their struggles. 💜

10/15/2026

Kids say the darndest things.

Anyone want a cute 3 year old?

10/13/2026

Does your child make the SAME sound or repeat the SAME word over and over (and over 😅) again?

They may be vocal stimming! 🧠💜

Stimming is short for self-stimulatory behavior, and it’s a way our nervous systems seek sensory input, regulate emotions, and manage stimulation.

While we often think of stimming as hand flapping, rocking, or spinning, stimming can also be vocal! When I found that out when Hudson was younger, it made so much sense.

Vocal stimming might sound like:
🔹 Repeating the same sound, syllable, or word
🔹 Humming, squealing, or making high-pitched noises
🔹 Repeating lines from favorite shows or videos
🔹 Making clicking, grunting, or other repetitive noises
🔹 Repeating certain sounds simply because they feel or sound satisfying

And here’s something important: Stimming isn’t always a sign of distress!

Children may stim when they’re excited, happy, overwhelmed, anxious, bored, or simply enjoying the sensory experience.

For some children, the repetition provides predictable sensory input that helps them feel more regulated.

And yes, sometimes that SAME sound repeated 487 times can be OVERstimulating for us as parents. Especially when we have our own sensory sensitivities!

But here’s the thing: Just because a behavior is dysregulating for YOU doesn’t mean it’s dysregulating for THEM.

Instead of automatically trying to stop the sound, ask yourself:

💜 Is my child safe?
💜 Is this helping them regulate?
💜 Can I accommodate my own sensory needs without taking away their coping mechanism?

Noise-reducing earbuds, stepping away briefly, or creating spaces where everyone can meet their sensory needs can help.

The goal isn’t to eliminate harmless stimming. It’s to understand the NEED behind it.

And remember, vocal stimming isn’t exclusive to autism! Repetitive vocalizations can occur in other neurodivergent individuals and neurotypical children, too. Not every repeated word or sound is necessarily a stim.

Sometimes the behavior that seems meaningless to us is actually serving a meaningful purpose for our child. 💜

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10/13/2026

If you had told me a few years ago that I would voluntarily present in front of 90 therapists and give a presentation, I probably would have laughed. And then panicked. 😂

Public speaking is NOT my thing. But today, I stepped way outside my comfort zone to talk about something I’m incredibly passionate about: Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). 🧠💜

Why? Because this information matters. Because understanding the why behind behavior can change the way we support neurodivergent individuals. And because sometimes, the message you’re trying to share is more important than the fear of sharing it.

And you know what? It went pretty well!

So here’s your reminder to do the thing that scares you. Raise your hand. Take the opportunity. Put yourself out there, even if you don’t feel completely ready.

You don’t have to be fearless to do something meaningful.

You might just surprise yourself with what you’re capable of.

10/10/2026

Whatever you say, girlfriend!

Trust me, she ain’t one to argue with 🤦🏻‍♀️

10/09/2026

Parenting fail of the week. 🫠🦷

Hudson lost his tooth on MONDAY. We forgot to put it under his pillow that night, and then apparently the Tooth Fairy completely forgot she had a job to do. 😭

Fast forward to THURSDAY, and I find his tooth still sitting under his pillow.

The mom guilt hit HARD. Especially because Hudson is autistic and still has some communication challenges, so he never told me the Tooth Fairy hadn’t come.

This called for some 11 PM creativity.

Thanks to a little AI magic, the Tooth Fairy now has an official excuse involving a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, unsafe flying conditions, and a VERY delayed tooth collection. 🧚‍♀️🌪️

Sometimes parenting is magical. Sometimes you’re just trying to keep the magic (and the kid) alive while juggling 47 other things.

If you’ve ever dropped the ball on something that mattered to your kid, you’re not alone. We’re all human. 💜

Please tell me I’m not the only parent who’s forgotten to be the Tooth Fairy.

This is crazyyyy and amazing!!! Thank you all so much for being here. So close to 20,000!!!
10/09/2026

This is crazyyyy and amazing!!! Thank you all so much for being here. So close to 20,000!!!

10/08/2026

Fall break sounds like a break… until you have a neurodivergent child who THRIVES on routine.

Our fall break starts on a Thursday and ends on a Tuesday, disrupting TWO school weeks instead of one. 😫😫😫

For many neurodivergent kids, changes in routine can mean increased anxiety, dysregulation, meltdowns, and difficulty transitioning back to school.

The goal isn’t to keep them entertained every second. It’s to create predictability, support regulation, and make transitions a little easier. 💜

Remember, what looks like a fun break to us might feel like a loss of structure and predictability to them.

Does your child do better during school breaks, or does the change in routine throw everything off?

10/06/2026

This is gestalt language processing in real life. 🧠💬

Hudson wanted me to turn the air conditioner on, but instead of generating a brand-new sentence from scratch, he pulled a phrase he’d heard in a video and used it to communicate what he needed.

Then a few minutes later, when he wanted it OFF, he pulled out another script that fit that situation.

And this is why I love showing examples like this.

Scripting isn’t “meaningless repetition.” For many gestalt language processors, those stored chunks of language ARE language. They’re taking phrases they’ve heard, connecting them to meaning, and using them intentionally to communicate.

Sometimes you have to know the original context to understand exactly what they’re trying to say. But when you do? It’s pretty incredible to watch their brain make those connections.

Don’t dismiss the script. Listen for what they’re using it to tell you. 💜

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