Special Needs Super Mom Spotlight #3

I am happy to introduce you to my third installment of Special Needs Super Mom Spotlight where I shine the light on some incredible, creative moms of special needs children. It seemed only fitting that, on Autism Awareness month, I would feature a mom whose child has autism so...I give you Miz Kp from Sailing Autistic Seas. I found Miz Kp on Facebook and have been a follower of her blog and facebook page ever since.  Her blog is very informative and she gives us an authentic look at her life with a child on the spectrum through her fb posts; the good, the bad , and the funny! Read on...

Tell us a bit about yourself: Name, home state, occupation

Hi. I am Miz Kp and I live in the Bronx, NY. I am an editor at an educational publishing vendor but my passion is autism advocacy.

Describe your creative journey pre-kids to post kids. How have you been transformed? 

Before I had my son, my life was all about me and making myself better through my career and personal goals. When I had Angel that changed. I finally realized what it is like to love someone unconditionally. My true transformation came when he was diagnosed with autism. When Angel was diagnosed, I thought that creating my Web site and writing about our experiences would be therapeutic for me. I am still in the process of being transformed because I am still on my journey. There is still so much more to be done.

Specifically, what kind of crafting do you do, crocheting? jewelry making, what materials do you use and why? 

I have to admit, I do not do any crafting as far as sewing etc but I do consider writing to be my craft.  

What is your schedule like? How and when do you find the time to work? What is your process? Do you craft full time or do you have another job? 

When I first started my web site, my goal was to post twice a week. I admit that I started feel like I was in a pressure cooker when other obligations (home, work, etc) started to pile up. Then I decided to cut myself some slack. Now, I write when I have something to say.

Tell us a little bit about your child.

Angel is a joy to have. He is very friendly (sometimes too friendly), empathetic, and affectionate. He can be mischievous and certainly keeps us on our toes. He loves to play outdoors and he is very active. He loves his iPad and watching Yo Gabba Gabba and Super Why! He also loves fruits and vegetables.

What is your child’s diagnosis and how does it affect him? How does it affect you? How does it affect your marriage? 

Angel was diagnosed with autism when he was four years old and he attends a special education school in NYC. He has limited communication skills. He has made me realize that a large percentage of communication is non verbal. I admit it can be hard sometimes because I do not always know what he is trying to tell me and he gets frustrated. His hyperactivity can also impede his ability to stay engaged and focused on activities.

His diagnosis has made me a stronger person. It has made me a more empathetic person. It has made me more passionate about advocating for him and for others. As far as my marriage goes, at first it was tough. My husband and I coped in different ways. Now we freely discuss Angel’s diagnosis and his needs. We are trying our best to work together as a team. Yes, we have challenges but we try our best to work it out. Frankly, we have no choice but to work it out. Angel is depending on us.

Where do you go for support? local groups, blogs, family, network of friends, religious community, etc...

I find support from my family, friends, social media, blogs, and wherever I can find it. It can be hard at times but I try my best because the alternative would be feeling alone.

Besides crafting, what else do you do to relax, unwind, cope, self care? 

I try to take a trip at least once a year. I love to read, go to the spa, listen to live music, and steal time to nap when I can.

Can you mention a particular stressful incident with your child that gave you the opportunity to employ said coping strategies?  

I can’t and that is only because I tend to employ these strategies way after the fact and not right when the incident happens. I need to work on that.

What tip(s) would you give moms caring for special needs children? What have you learned? Marriage tips are welcome too (only if you want to share)

I would tell them to take time for themselves when they can. I would also tell them to find a support system because it can be depressing to feel that no one understands what you are going through. I would tell them to seek out as many resources as they can to make their lives easier. I have learned so much and I am always learning new things. I am always seeking new information. It could be through social media, web sites, seminars, workshops, and of course other parents. One marriage tip and I need to remember this is to try to not let your child’s diagnosis consume your life 100%. Try to remember that you have to take steps to maintain your marriage. I know it can be hard when trying to juggle so much with our kids but all we can do is try and hope our spouses get it. A tip to the spouses would be to realize that there are no senior and junior parents when parenting a child with special needs. At least there should not be. A partnership is best.

do you have a blog? facebook, twitter, where can 

people follow you?   

Check out my Web site: www.sailingautisticseas.com
Like my page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sailingautisticseas
Follow me on Twitter @AutisticSeas
Check out my boards on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/autisticseas/
Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/autisticseas