20161101_172231This is now 3 days old. This is what happens to me often because of the boys. Its from being pinched or head butted or hit and at one time bit. Its because there are times they cant regulate, because they are overloaded and scared of something or some place.

Saturday going to trunk or treat did this to Leo. He was super excited, and when we got there he fell apart. Too many people, he didnt know where he was, he didnt know anyone and I hadnt been able to verbally walk him through what to expect because Id never been either. At least once a day Max takes my hand, he squeezes it so hard it hurts me and hi rubs it on his face, over and over and over and over. He does it until he is able to regilate his body and find his words when hes over stimulated.

I dont make a big deal about it because its part of our world. I dont talk about it because its very personal to the boys and there are times they draw attention to themselves with their physical actions. I dont talk about it because I dont want to have to explain, again what is going on with my kids.

I can feel when my kids are going to lose it. I can see a shoulder twitch or a breath, a hand motion or hear a pitch change in their voices and know if we are on the verge of a meltdown. If they are over stimulated. And sometimes it means that we are jamming from where we are at. Because my heart cant handle the eye rolls, stares and comments anymore. Because the people that judge us dont know how hard the boys have worked to learn how to stim and they dont know how hard Ive worked to accept autism.

Sometimes we wear bruises. And they keep up grounded and knowing that we are still working.