u/Sad-Cartographer9859

I realized recently I could definitely use more people around my age to just talk to, send random shit to, play games with, and maybe eventually hang out with if we vibe.
I’m 26F and pretty laid-back. I’m into gaming (Fortnite, Spider-Man, Nintendo, PS5/Xbox), TV/pop culture, music (mostly hip-hop, rap & reggaeton), random deep dives about completely unimportant things, and sending people TikToks/memes all day 😂
I’m in school for psychology, I’m neurodivergent, 420 friendly, occasionally drink, and definitely more of a “come over in sweats and we’ll order food and talk shit for three hours” person than a fancy night-out-every-weekend person. I’m also down for gaming/Discord friends if we’re not immediately close enough to hang out.
Mostly looking for other women around my age who are funny, nonjudgmental, can actually hold a conversation, and want a genuine friendship. Bonus points if you also need someone to overanalyze shows with 😂
Tell me what you’re currently watching or playing!

Hi everyone! 😊
I figured I’d put myself out there because making parent friends as an adult is hard. 😂
My partner and I are hoping to meet other families in the Portland area with autistic kiddos around our son’s age (he’s 5). We’d love for him to make some friends, but honestly we’re hoping to find some parent friends too.
A little about us: we’re pretty laid back, sarcastic, and love to laugh. We aren’t into drama or judging other parents. We both have a passion for working with kids. My partner is an ABA Behavior Technician, and I’m in college studying psychology with plans to become a Child Life Specialist, so we understand that every autistic child is unique and deserves patience, support, and consistency.
A little about our little guy: he’s verbal and does a great job communicating what he wants and needs, though his grammar and sentence structure are still developing. He loves scripting, running around, sensory play, crashing onto his crash pad, and just being a goofy kid. He’s incredibly social and genuinely loves playing with other kids. One of the reasons I’m making this post is because he often wants to join in with kids at the park, but sometimes they don’t quite know how to interact with him or end up excluding him. My heart just wants him to have friends who understand him and enjoy him for exactly who he is.
He thrives with structure, consistency, and clear boundaries, and we’d love to connect with families who value kindness, patience, and helping our kiddos build meaningful friendships.
We’re hoping to meet other down-to-earth families who are looking for genuine friendships too. We’d love to do park days, splash pads, the zoo, coffee, BBQs, game nights, or just hang out while the kids play and the adults get to know each other.
If this sounds like your family, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to comment or send me a message! 💙

Can I be really vulnerable for a minute?
For anyone unfamiliar, when I say PDA, I’m referring to Pathological Demand Avoidance (also called Pervasive Drive for Autonomy), an autism profile where everyday demands can trigger an intense anxiety response and a need to resist or avoid those demands.
Parenting a child with a PDA profile has forced me to confront parts of myself that I didn’t even realize were still there.
I grew up in a home where defiance wasn’t tolerated. If an adult told you to do something, you did it. There wasn’t room for arguing, negotiating, or saying no. Whether that was healthy or not, that’s how my brain was wired.
Now I’m raising this incredible little boy whose nervous system experiences demands completely differently, and some days it feels like my brain and my heart are at war.
I know he’s not trying to manipulate me. I know he’s not choosing to make life difficult. I understand the “why” behind PDA. But understanding it doesn’t mean it isn’t emotionally hard.
I also have ADHD, and I’ve realized my own need for control, predictability, and autonomy can end up clashing with his need for autonomy. It’s like our nervous systems are fighting each other before either of us even wants them to.
The thing is…I don’t take that out on him. I keep my composure. I redirect. I rephrase. I offer choices. I lower demands when I can. I work so hard to be the parent he needs.
But internally? Some days I feel completely drained.
Some days I wonder if the boundaries I’m holding are actually helping or if I’m just making both of us miserable. Some days I feel like I’m giving in all day long just to avoid another meltdown, and then I question whether I’m teaching him anything at all.
And then I spiral wondering if I’m being too firm or too lenient. I don’t want to push him into a meltdown just because I’m trying to hold a boundary, but I also don’t want to avoid every hard thing because I’m scared of one. I constantly question myself. Am I helping him build resilience, or am I expecting too much? Am I accommodating what his nervous system genuinely needs, or am I accidentally making things harder in the long run? I never feel like I know if I’m getting it right.
Then there are the days where it feels like I’m talking to a brick wall from the moment he wakes up until he goes to bed. Every request is a negotiation. Every transition feels uphill. By the end of the day, I’m emotionally exhausted and questioning everything.
He’s only 5, and I catch myself wondering…does this get easier? Am I laying a good foundation, or is the resistance to demands going to become even harder as he gets older? How do you balance respecting their nervous system while also teaching them that there are things in life we simply have to do?
I love this little boy more than anything. He is funny, loving, incredibly social, and the sweetest kid. I wouldn’t change who he is.
I’m just trying to rewire a lifetime of conditioning while parenting a child whose brain works so differently than mine, and some days I feel like I’m failing even though I’m trying my absolute hardest.
If you’ve felt this too, I’d really love to hear from you. What helped you find that balance?

Hi everyone! 😊
I figured I’d put myself out there because making parent friends as an adult is hard. 😂
My partner and I are hoping to meet other families in the Portland area with autistic kiddos around our son’s age (he’s 5). We’d love for him to make some friends, but honestly we’re hoping to find some parent friends too.
A little about us: we’re pretty laid back, sarcastic, and love to laugh. We aren’t into drama or judging other parents. We both have a passion for working with kids. My partner is an ABA Behavior Technician, and I’m in college studying psychology with plans to become a Child Life Specialist, so we understand that every autistic child is unique and deserves patience, support, and consistency.
A little about our little guy: he’s verbal and does a great job communicating what he wants and needs, though his grammar and sentence structure are still developing. He loves scripting, running around, sensory play, crashing onto his crash pad, and just being a goofy kid. He’s incredibly social and genuinely loves playing with other kids. One of the reasons I’m making this post is because he often wants to join in with kids at the park, but sometimes they don’t quite know how to interact with him or end up excluding him. My heart just wants him to have friends who understand him and enjoy him for exactly who he is.
He thrives with structure, consistency, and clear boundaries, and we’d love to connect with families who value kindness, patience, and helping our kiddos build meaningful friendships.
We’re hoping to meet other down-to-earth families who are looking for genuine friendships too. We’d love to do park days, splash pads, the zoo, coffee, BBQs, game nights, or just hang out while the kids play and the adults get to know each other.
If this sounds like your family, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to comment or send me a message! 💙