written by Nicole Fisher, Student Clinician, FIU Life is unpredictable.  As stated in the movie Forest Gump, we often find that “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” We all have good days, and we all have bad days. As parents, your lives revolve around your children. When your child is having a good day, you are having a fantastic day. However, if your child is having a bad day, you may find that you are having a downright horrible day. Parents of children with autism may find life to be especially unpredictable. For a child with autism navigating through the world can be a very challenging and emotionally exhausting task. Thus, parents often spend a considerable amount of time and energy helping their child to learn how to cope and survive these bad days—but what about you? Here are a few tips to help you, the parent, get through those bad days: 1.    Forgive Yourself Remind yourself that you are human. You are allowed to have bad days. While parenthood can bring immense joy, it can also leave you feeling tired, frustrated, and perhaps a little angry. It is ok to…

Here is a website where a mother of three, shares her experiences and advice on parenting with our community. Parenting is never easy, and many times guidance is a necessity. Pragmatic Mom posts “how to” guides for parenting, recipes, and much more.  What I find most helpful are her various booklists that are divided by age group and gender; these are especially notable because she includes various topics such as: mythology, literacy, science, and even books for special needs kids! I am sure many of you will benefit from visiting her site, even if it is just to take a look. She has an abundance of information to share! You can also follow her on twitter! To visit Pragmatic Mom, please click on the link below: http://www.pragmaticmom.com