u/ZucchiniLazy7997

Like the title says, my son is nearly 9 and has recently started crying over every tiny disappointment. It can be as insignificant as asking for pepsi or a snack and being told to wait, or being asked to clean his room or do something else he doesn't want to do. He isn't doing it to throw a tantrum or anything, he always goes to his room or the basement to cry alone but I can see the tears in his eyes as he walks away. This is new behaviour so I'm wondering if it's a hormonal shift? He has also experienced a few voice cracks recently so I'm wondering if this is the beginning of puberty? It feels young but I've only ever had female relatives so male puberty is a new experience for me.

I'll add that nothing about his home life has changed recently and he has a very stable home life so I don't believe it would have anything to do with that. Thanks for any responses!

I'm currently a stay-at-home mom and will be for the next few years, but I'm starting to think about what I will do when my kids are all in school and it's time to go back to work.

Between neurological/psychiatric and physical health issues and the medications that I'm on for them, my mental capacity for going back to school and getting a degree just isn't where it needs to be. I'm smart and a fast learner, and I'm happy to take short/part-time/individual courses to learn specific things that will help me get a job, but I definitely can't do years of schooling or a full course load.

I'm looking for ideas for desk jobs, maybe data entry, basic accounting, office admin, etc. but not customer-facing like receptionist. Due to my health issues, I would excel in jobs where I am mostly left alone to do the job without having to constantly answer phones or speak to customers walking up to the desk.

If anyone has any job ideas that I could start looking into, I would really appreciate it!

I'll  preface by saying that I know all kids are different and Autism doesn't present the same in everyone.

My 5-year-old finally had his assessment and got an official diagnosis, along with Developmental Coordination Disorder, after years on a waitlist. I've always assumed that a lot of his symptoms/behaviour would improve as he got older and matured, but so far that hasn't been the case (some have actually gotten worse). He is completely verbal now, after 2 years of speech therapy. But he stims almost constantly now, and he is very much just in his own world most of the time, completely unaware of what's going on around him. He is incredibly intelligent and has a great memory when it is something that he is interested in, but in a lot of ways he is still like a 2-year-old. He was in nursery school this past year and while he loved being there, he didn't participate or do what he was supposed to most of the time, and he had to go for walks in the hallway or to the sensory gym several times a day for a break.

I'm wondering what the rest of his school years will look like if he isn't really capable of fully learning/participating. Does he just learn what he can, and move through the grades without ever actually meeting the academic requirements to pass? If that's the case, is post-secondary school just completely not an option for him ever? Will he ever have the capacity to have a job or live on his own? I would love to hear any stories about how life has moved forward for children with moderate-severe Autism. Thanks for any replies!

I'm starting to think about what I will do when it's time to get back into the work force (I'm a stay-at-home mom and will be for at least 4 more years). I currently have no marketable skills, previous work experience, or anything beyond grade 12. I will be mid-30s when I return to work and I would like to start slowly taking some courses to help me find a half-decent job. I am not looking for long, full-time, or intensive courses/degrees, but things like office administration, maybe payroll or accounts payable/receivable - courses that are fairly "easy" but will provide some skills that employers are looking for.

*I have some neurological issues so that's why I'm looking for courses and jobs that are not super hard or complicated. I know I won't be making $30 an hour, I'm just hoping for a bit higher than minimum wage.

I know we're all about body autonomy now and shouldn't force physical touch when it's unwanted. I really get that.

That being said, I have one child (8) that is extremely emotionally closed off. He doesn't ever want hugs, kisses, he doesn't say I love you to anyone ever, he doesn't talk about his feelings or have any deep connections with anyone. This is impacting his ability to make meaningful friendships and I know that he feels lonely and like he doesn't really have any friends, even though he doesn't say that. I can see it in his mood when I ask about his day, who he hung out with at recess, etc. He is not neurodivergent and doesn't have any noticable issues, though I think he struggles with anxiety sometimes.

I also have two other children who are the total opposite, they love hugs and phsycial affection. It feels so wrong to always be hugging and snuggling two kids while not doing so with the other, even though he doesn't want it.

In the last few months I have started giving my child hugs before school and bed, despite his protests. Sometimes he just rolls his eyes or makes a game of trying to escape, and sometimes he seems genuinely annoyed or mad that I'm "forcing" hugs. I want to respect his wishes but I also really feel like I need to show him love and affection, and hopefully help him work through some of his emotional struggles.

Am I totally wrong for giving him hugs? And as a side note, would you consider therapy for an 8-year-old that is so emotionally closed off?

I have very limited knowledge of ASL currently so I know that I would need to take classes to learn it first, before taking classes to actually become an interpreter. I'm quite good at learning languages so that part is possible for me, I think. I plan to be a stay-at-home mom until my youngest is in school full-time in 5 years, so I've been looking into evening/part-time classes to start.

However, due to some mental health disorders and the medications that I must take for them, I can have a hard time focusing/remembering things, especially when I have to read a lot. I have tried going back to school twice for other things and been unsuccessful in those programs. I'm hesistant to waste more money on schooling if this goal is not achievable for me, but I also need to gain some education and skills so that I'm ready to re-enter the workforce when it's time.

If anyone has experience with learning ASL to a professional level or becoming an interpreter, I would love to hear your experience or any advice you may have!