Priscilla, for decades I thought I felt like such a failure of a mom. Once I started to watch your vlogs and more on parenting special needs, did I see what I was really dealing with and how I really did do. I have gained a lot of self forgiveness because of you. Thank you from the deepest part of me.
I really appreciate the fact that you guys don't prioritize recording a meltdown when Abbie needs help, and that when you do it's most definitely for helping others and demonstrating the ways you can healthily assist in calming her down. As an autistic person, I used to be incredibly uncomfortable with seeing other autistic people recorded during a meltdown. The caregiver would often be more concerned with recording and showing off how "difficult" it was for theirselves. This often meant neglecting the autistic person or being harmful and making things worse in the process. You guys have really calmed this anxiety when I'm watching your videos, it makes me feel a little safer knowing that there are parents out there like you.
That footage of Abbie with you (Asa) in the golf cart is probably one of my favorite parts of a vlog ever. The pure happiness and love she has just shines so bright .. it’s cliche but my heart was so so happy watching it ❤️
My older brother is 21 and is Autistic. when he has meltdowns, he gets more aggressive/violent so we use a lot of pressure therapy. my dad has to get him on the ground as safely as possible and then get on top of him and hold his arms down ( it sounds a lot worse then it is, but my brother is as tall as my dad and my dad is very very careful and isn’t violent at all !! ) but he stays on his back until he calms down. then my brother realizes what’s happening and cries and says he’s sorry. I have severe anxiety/ptsd/panic disorder ( anxiety attacks ) and it also helps a lot with that, my boyfriend will press his hand firmly into my chest. it’s a comfort thing and really helps with these specific disorders. I wouldn’t know about others, but I really believe it does do a lot of good!!
My 15 year old son doesn't have autism, but he has Tourette syndrome, generalized anxiety, oppositional defiance disorder. One thing I have done since he was little is ignore his negative choice and acknowledge the positive choice. I tend to get depressed and when I see Abby's smile it brightens my day, you are awesome parents
Her connection with Maverick is so sweet to see. She immediately calmed her body down with his help. I noticed even her toes stopped wiggling so much. Way to go, pup and Abbie.
Using Maverick was a great distraction. I’m usually able to talk my son through it when he’s having a tough time. Yes Asa when I was watching the video I noticed that Abbie was getting a kick out of you chasing her and making a game out of it. Sometimes it’s best to ignore certain behaviors which is what I do with my son as well. Abbie is doing a great job with her chores. 👍🏻
It makes me a little nuts when it seems like she is at times being rewarded for maladaptive Behavior and attention-seeking behavior. I know we only see a tiny snippet of what is what so I know that there is a lot more to it than that. My son is a special needs guy and I feel like I'm setting him up for failure in his future when those types of behaviors go unchecked or laughed at.
I have severe anxiety and depression and when I go into a breakdown I can’t think straight but my mother always brings my dog to me and he calms me down without me even noticing, it’s crazy the effect animals have on people
My sister and father are knowing about my depression and Panik attacks But my father doesn't believe me in both. My sister listened to me but I don't know she understands what that means to have both of them. My boyfriend also knows about it and try to help me. Some things that help me a lot : A Planetarium (it sounds childish but it calms me down) And essential oils (to calm me down when I have a breakdown) I do not know if you want to know but I hope you are doing great
I am a camp counselor at a camp for special needs friends and I had a camper who was on the spectrum who was having lots of violent behaviors, and we talked to him about things he had been saying throughout the day to calm him down and distract him. We talked about his camp shirt and seeing his mom on Friday and getting to go on golf cart rides. He really liked pop up books as well so we would try to get him to look at that and distract him from what was making him upset. Those things were always helpful and made him feel less upset and violent. Thank you guys for your amazing and Informative videos, they give me knew knowledge about autism and how to help our camp friends have the most special week of there lives.
Petting a dog, and especially the licking, can be very grounding... its one of the best things for me! Maybe Maverick will be able to come back to his service dog role!
I totally feel bad for the parent and the people who have to go threw this omg this just breaks my heart😭 hope everything will get better just keep up the good work mom&dad you two are strong parents♥️🙏🏻♥️
(Sorry I’m late) when I get frustrated I used to self harm and throw things but I’m getting better so when I’m frustrated somebody (my bff) always hugs me and says to use my words and explain the situation. My bff really helps me calm down I wouldn’t be able to live without her.
I love the fact that animals know when someone is upset. My neighbors dog can sense when I am anxious and will just come and sit on my lap. I love her so much
I would just like to say that Priscilla you are doing an amazing job! You're an excellent parent, don't be discouraged because of a bad day. Abbie is lucky to have you
You guys are so wonderful! I’m an aba therapist and the way you guys implement what you’ve learned from your therapist is amazing. What you guys said about dealing with attention seeking behavior is absolutely correct! In times like those it’s definitely best to not give a response at all (if you don’t have to) and once she’s being appropriate or at least a little more appropriate immediately reward her with the attention she’s seeking out. I love how you guys really try your best to be patient and figure out the function of her behaviors. Keep being amazing and she will keep learning!! ❤️
Please keep sharing what meals you are having. I am on the blood sugar diet which is similar to keto and I am now going to be trying a taco skillet. I have lost 2 and a half stone doing this diet and I have been struggling majorly for the last month but coming back to your channel and hearing you guys talk about keto and your diet even the little bits you do really gives me a boost to keep going so thanks :)
I have a 15 year old son that has high-functioning Asperger's and behavioral problems. it gets really rough as a single mom I'm always trying new techniques and etcetera to help him get through his day. watching your logs makes me feel like I'm not alone going through this. thank you very much
Priscilla, you are doing great with Abbie, she was just acting wild for the shake of it and you handled it perfectly. Don't feel bad for her behaviour, you are a great mother to both your kids.
Her smile, joy and laughters are so insanely precious. I hope they wieght far more in her everyday life than her bad times with meltdowns, which you manage well.
i found your channel about a week ago now and have been bing watching it like crazy... i am absolutely loving the content you put out, the awareness you bring to autism and what it is truly like to have a child with special needs. to see how sweet maverick is with abbie during her meltdowns is such a sweet moment and shows just how amazing animals can be. keep up the great work i am already a huge fan!
Our 3 top things that helps. 1 is sending her to her quiet spot in her room for 2 minutes. Sometimes the quiet really helps with sensory overload. 2 rubbing her back. 3 rubbing her arms or or use a soft bristle brush.
Our daughter is not on the spectrum but she has Down Syndrome. Her meltdowns can be pretty bad sometimes, she has a giant stuffed monkey that she will sit and hug when she is having her meltdown that seems to help a ton. Takes her mind off why she was upset in the first place. :)
I’m new to your channel, and have binge watching. My 10 year old son is on the spectrum. He is verbal, however, during his meltdowns he shuts down completely...no communication. We have a lab (not trained for therapy) and he distracts and calms my son down immensely. It’s as if he knows what to do during these times. If there is no self harm or destructive behaviors, my son prefers to be left alone...no communication, no touching, and no soothing. ABA has tremendously helped in correcting the self harm and destructive behavior. For the most part, he has learned different breathing techniques, and I have learned, through ABA parent training, that not reacting has been beneficial.
Here here! All kids know which parent will be easier and they work that person HARD. It goes the same for therapists too. Many don’t realize that just because an autistic child or teen doesn’t make eye contact or speak it doesn’t mean that they can’t pick up on or play off others’ emotions.
We do about what you do for meltdowns. Remove him from the situation and hold him. Talk calmly which was hard in the beginning. Y'all are always so patient with her! Much love
I work in an Essential Skills classroom where we have kids with autism among many other special needs. I love watching your videos to learn other ways to deal with some of the behaviors I deal with, as well as other ways to talk to and work with kids with special needs. We often use the "no reaction" method and as long as the child isn't a danger to themselves or their classmates we let them just work it out on their own, which really seems to work better. Although, one of my coworkers has a very reactive personality and reacts instantly in a very strong way, and that almost always causes the situation to escalate for the child and the adult...not good!
Love you guys 💜 You should add Maverick into her tablet... Maybe she'll request him and possibly avoid a meltdown. Just a thought. Love from Canada ✌❤😆
I cried a little looking into your dogs eyes. He looked as if he was so worried she was in pain and he didnt know what to do for her. She wasnt really in pain but she was so frusturated the dog responded as if she was in pain. It was so sweet it brought me to tears. What a good boy.... Give him an extra treat for that.
My client loves to throw & move around clothing to different peoples closets when they’re having a tough day. Love that you guys keep it so real! We love watching you guys💓
Oh, Priscilla. I just wanted to hug you and tell you what a wonderful mother you are. It is so clear that she loves you so much. She may have been having an outburst but that isn't a reflection of your parenting skills. I would have considered myself lucky to have a mother like you. You are not a failure.
We have been blessed in that Jeremy doesn't have meltdowns. To distract him when upset we to take a deep breath and count to 10. It helps that the shoes he waches mimic similar techniques. So when we find a character he enjoys 'becoming' we use that to calm him. The struggle I have are with my other 3 sons who are undiagnoised. One does have anxiety and I suspect all of them are on a spectrum. It surprises me that my obviously autistic son is easier to soothe then my other 3. Slowly figuring things out one day at a time.
Your family just warms my heart. You go through life happy while obstacles are thrown your way. What a blessing Abigail is to your family. Seeing what the families with special needs children have to manage each day is amazing. It really helps me to appreciate what they have to go through. It also makes me want to hug my autistic cousin all the more (he loves it. Sadly he lives in Nova Scotia and I live in Ontario so we only see each other once a year). What a beautiful world we live in :)
Is there anyone else who watches the videos who doesn’t have anyone in their personal life on the Autism spectrum, but really appreciates watching FatheringAutism? I think it’s great for anyone to watch because they are such a great family. They are all so genuine it’s lovely 😊 It’s always a joy watching y’alls videos
I think it is wonderful that Abbie is able to calm herself by petting Maverick. She did such a good job putting the dishes away. I recently found your vlog and I have learned so much about autism. You are a very loving family .
I work at a group home with adults with severe behavioral and emotional, as well as cognitive disabilities. We definitely see people have behaviors like these and often the less of a reaction they get, the faster they quit. Unless it's a meltdown - that's a completely different situation. Love your blogs!
Thanks so much for teaching us how to help when you see a meltdown go down. Also, so glad you have an animal in the picture. I had a neighbor who trained ESA dogs for autistic individuals. Animals are so important in a child's life, the drop in allergies is amazing when you have pets and send your kids out to play. I have three mental disorders and my medication has been amazing, but more importantly I have a cat that sort trained himself to be my ESA animal. I have my own horrible days and if they lead to sobbing tears, he appears and sits beside me. He travels like a champ and acted as ring bearer at our wedding (they were clipped to his collar) and he walked me down the aisle and gave away the bride. You guys are amazing and I wish you so many more wonderful days as you tackle autism and believe me, a pet can be your greatest ally.
I wish i was as knowledgeable as you guys are when my son, Clayton, was younger. I think if they would have diagnosed him earlier and didn’t see him as ED he wouldn’t have needed a care facility. When I seen Abbey throwing stuff around it reminded me of Clayton’s level 1 rage. We did try many things but I haven’t seen anything I used with him used by you guys. It would have been nice to be able to show all this to Clayton. Thank you for doing so much for your children and continuing to educate other people.
You guys are amazing parents! My kiddo does a lot of attention seeking things also. But she definitely stops a lot quicker when She realizes she doesn’t get a reaction from me!
Seeing maverick with Abbie was amazing. I know absolutely nothing about autism (which is why I watch these videos) but it reminded me of when I have a panic attack and have to be brought out of it. Dogs are the sweetest and I’m glad that made her feel better.
Can we talk about Marvrick?! He is so cute and loving when Abby are having a meltdown. He just lays there and stay there with them all. He’s like «I see you, and I gonna stay here till you are fine». Dogs are so amazing! My dog does the same if I have a Anxiety attacks or depression. And if Abby feels better you guys should let him be a part of it. I really love it when my dog just lay there with me so I know I’m not alone. 💙
I work with a wonderful little girl on the spectrum and non verbal. During her melt downs I give her big colored almost gem stones rocks. She puts her hands in and immediately is calm. Food also calms her or anything she can chew. This channel has helped me so much! I am such a big fan and look forward to watching your journey❤️ Love From South Africa
We have to stay on the perimeter when Bethany has meltdowns. She does not want to be touched and gets paranoid when we get too close and goes into either fight or flight mode! Talking to her makes it worse, too! Thankfully, she rarely melts down anymore! But just when we think she might never have another one she proves us wrong! She's 19. Hoping she eventually fully outgrows meltdowns!
I think this is one of the best videos you’ve done. It was the real thing. I know nothing about Autism and I’m very grateful you let me in your private world. Also when you explain how each child with Autism can act completely different I sincerely appreciate that. I understand better what parents must cope with.
As someone who is blind and has severe anxiety, I understand how wonderful a dog can make everything. My guide dog is also one of the most important things to bring me back down from a panic attack. I smiled so much hearing Dad tell Abby to pet the dog
My best friends son has autism and when he was younger and had meltdowns she would sit with him and stretch his arms and stretch his legs and would have him breath while she did the stretches ... it really helped with him.
I have a 14 yo w severe autism and I find the less I say during meltdowns or excessive behaviors, the better it goes. Now I say very little. He will tell everyone else to leave and ask me to stay - I think because it’s hard to process people talking “at” him mid meltdown. I really enjoyed this video of Abigail...I’m thinking of starting to have my son help put away dishes and it was helpful to see how it goes with her. Thanks for sharing that. She is so sweet. We do have one boxer dog that my son loves to pet (he says “Is nice! Is soft! Is fur!”) but the dog gets too anxious during my sons meltdowns to help him. The dog hides under the table! Maverick is so calm with her! -Tamie
I just wanted to say I am SO proud of this channel's growth and your growth as a family. I've been here since you guys were just hitting 10K, 94K now, I am so happy for your well earned prosperity.
Wow, wish I had seen this when my grandson was younger and had similar meltdowns. God bless you for sharing even the most difficult of times with us. I have no doubt it will help many who go through similar situations.
Im not autistic but i do have severe anxiety and panic attacks. For my panic attacks i do use my service dogs. She has tasks that she does for it but i do like her licking me for my sensory issues. That cause my anxietu and come with my 4 chronic illnesses
I’m just watching this now, when my son is having a meltdown, we got him a cat, a cat that comes when his name is called. I have him pet the cat until he gets more calm where I can effectively communicate with him. I truly love you guys.
I'm starting to develop a little problem. Vlog addiction. Your guys' stuff is so fun and uplifting and encouraging! We all have our version of a meltdown. Kaidale once took me out of a booth at Dunkin of all places. I got tangled up awkward and ended up in the floor.
I lie somewhere comfortable when I have one. Usually I can't speak after them so I'd rather not be around anyone for a while. But I've found that other people don't want to leave me alone after I meltdown, which only makes me more frustrated. I don't really know what to do about this.
Nathan Lawrence Have you tried explaining to them that after a meltdown you need some space? Tell them it's important to you to have a time out by yourself so you can relax and regroup. No offense to them, you know they care about you but you feel very frustrated afterwards when people crowd your space. That's what I would tell them. You're not trying to be insulting...you just would like some peace and quiet for a bit afterwards. That's all. I think you more than deserve that and have every right to ask them for that time for yourself. It's really a form of self-preservation.
Congrats on the weight loss, you guys look great🎉. I worked in Sp Ed for 25 yrs and saw many different forms of Autism. One thing that seemed to work a lot of the time was tone and volume of voice. It can be difficult at times, that is when you need to back up and take a deep breath. Priscilla you know Abbie loves you, I think she just knows how to push your buttons. You guys are great, I love your vlogs😀
Every time I watch one of your videos it just surprises me how patience yall are with Abbie. I feel like it takes a lot of strength to stay that patience. So props to you guys. I don't think I could do that. I would easily take over just to get it done as fast as possible. When unloading the dishes and watching yall wait for Abbie and correct her and staying persistence with everything. Yall are great parents. I love watching your videos.
Regards to what do we do as far as meltdowns go my son is 16 yrs ASD ADHD conduct disorder my daughter is 14 yrs ASD ADHD Tic Disorder disruptive mood Dysregulation disorder OCD all we can do is ignore the bad Reward the good prevent the self harm and violence ~~Not easy~~ when 1 teen loves to sing hum tap n scream and the other teen is noise sensative and cant stand the singing taping screaming even with noise cancilling head phones maybee we need a new head set for her
We use animals, too. Our dogs have been a gift. They calm me, too! :-) Wrapping in a weighted blanket always worked well when the twins were little. But animals are the BEST. Also, I'm glad you recognize the emotion behind the behavior. Sounds like you guys are on the right track. Priscilla, you are NOT a failure. It's not you. It's autism. And it's so unpredictable in an ironic sort of way. I'm always amazed at how tidy your house is. You do an incredible job. You guys are great parents. I remember the throwing days. We still have meltdowns but not as many.
That made me cry when Priscilla said abigail hated her, im so sorry that must hurt you so much. Maverick is helping her to create something safe for her to be distracted i would agree that will help her alot. I am praying for you all💜
Way easier now = less independence later. My daughter is almost 27 n I am having to teach life skills that should have been learned when she was younger. Attention seeking behavior is so hard for me to ignore, so hard. We have to re-teach ourselves how to parent in their world...whew!
awww when Priscilla said Abby hates her it was sad but that's just such a normal thing for a mother of a teenage girl to go through! My mom is currently parenting 3 teenage girls and yeah, often we act like we hate her and we don't want her around and we're unnecessarily mean to her! It's something that almost every teenage girl does unfortunately!
When I was in middle school I helped multiple boys on the spectrum who I cherished deeply. Normally things I used would be edible reinforcement for calming down, and tons of hand holding and tight hugs. I was about 100lbs and only a little over 5'1 back then and still managed to get those to help with the 200lbs 6'0 kids I was working with. Always a bit of a struggle but normally I'd manage to make do with physical touch and soft voices no matter how bad it happened to be. Love you guys! 💝
I appreciate your vlogs so much!! You have given me so many helpful ideas! You are a blessing to me. Opened my eyes to better understanding Autism!! I cherish the simple things in life through Abbie's eyes. Thank you!! Enjoy your weekend!! We are having a heat wave in N.J.!!
I found your page while researching something with autism. I am now a subscriber Abbie is so beautiful. I have 2 daughters 8 and 6. My 8 year old is autistic and this just warmed my heart. I recognized so many similar things between Abbie and my daughter Amiah pronounced amaya. Amiah is verbal but only when she wants to. She can't have a conversation. I'm rambling I just wanted to say that you and your wife and son are an amazing family. I showed my husband your channel and he enjoyed watching as well. Keep up the great job.
With my grandson, we use deep breathing and " blowing out the candle". Also he loves Beauty and the Beast movie and sharks movie sometimes settles him down
I have autism myself and usually I have to deal with meltdowns on my own but being with my pets and my little brother always calms me
Beautiful woman how are you doing today
Priscilla, for decades I thought I felt like such a failure of a mom. Once I started to watch your vlogs and more on parenting special needs, did I see what I was really dealing with and how I really did do. I have gained a lot of self forgiveness because of you. Thank you from the deepest part of me.
Patricia Howell Cassity how old is your child?
You're not a failure.. I know how you feel, believe me..
we all feel that way.
priscilla when she is doing that take her thing way
I really appreciate the fact that you guys don't prioritize recording a meltdown when Abbie needs help, and that when you do it's most definitely for helping others and demonstrating the ways you can healthily assist in calming her down.
As an autistic person, I used to be incredibly uncomfortable with seeing other autistic people recorded during a meltdown. The caregiver would often be more concerned with recording and showing off how "difficult" it was for theirselves. This often meant neglecting the autistic person or being harmful and making things worse in the process. You guys have really calmed this anxiety when I'm watching your videos, it makes me feel a little safer knowing that there are parents out there like you.
I use sport. I find golf relaxing. When I was new to the sport. I had a meltdown on the golf course. I also, cycle. That helps.
The SMILES on her cart almost made me cry!! Hers and Dads, very special moments in time you captured💕
That footage of Abbie with you (Asa) in the golf cart is probably one of my favorite parts of a vlog ever. The pure happiness and love she has just shines so bright .. it’s cliche but my heart was so so happy watching it ❤️
I agree...those were some sweet moments 😊
My older brother is 21 and is Autistic. when he has meltdowns, he gets more aggressive/violent so we use a lot of pressure therapy. my dad has to get him on the ground as safely as possible and then get on top of him and hold his arms down ( it sounds a lot worse then it is, but my brother is as tall as my dad and my dad is very very careful and isn’t violent at all !! ) but he stays on his back until he calms down. then my brother realizes what’s happening and cries and says he’s sorry. I have severe anxiety/ptsd/panic disorder ( anxiety attacks ) and it also helps a lot with that, my boyfriend will press his hand firmly into my chest. it’s a comfort thing and really helps with these specific disorders. I wouldn’t know about others, but I really believe it does do a lot of good!!
My 15 year old son doesn't have autism, but he has Tourette syndrome, generalized anxiety, oppositional defiance disorder. One thing I have done since he was little is ignore his negative choice and acknowledge the positive choice. I tend to get depressed and when I see Abby's smile it brightens my day, you are awesome parents
Abby knocking the stuff on the floor reminded me of those cat videos... eff that...eff this.. eff that too. Lol
can't blame her, lol. I feel like that too sometimes.
You made me guffaw
i love to see the impact that maverick has on abi!! i think animals are always so calming and patient ♥️
It literally did absolutely nothing
Animals always know when you’re upset, they know when to calm you down
Her connection with Maverick is so sweet to see. She immediately calmed her body down with his help. I noticed even her toes stopped wiggling so much. Way to go, pup and Abbie.
That’s sweet it looks like maverick is still doing his job keeping Abbie calm.
Omg when abbie put the frying pan In the drawer, sorry but that was funny
That was great
She probably thought it was just a big spoon
That's what I do with my clothes when my mom tells me to clean my room
It made me smile 😂❤️
I mean she atleast got the right area of the kitchen as to where it went
Using Maverick was a great distraction. I’m usually able to talk my son through it when he’s having a tough time. Yes Asa when I was watching the video I noticed that Abbie was getting a kick out of you chasing her and making a game out of it. Sometimes it’s best to ignore certain behaviors which is what I do with my son as well. Abbie is doing a great job with her chores. 👍🏻
It makes me a little nuts when it seems like she is at times being rewarded for maladaptive Behavior and attention-seeking behavior. I know we only see a tiny snippet of what is what so I know that there is a lot more to it than that. My son is a special needs guy and I feel like I'm setting him up for failure in his future when those types of behaviors go unchecked or laughed at.
Why
Q.
That sweet dog, I can see the love and concern in his eyes.
Maverick is such a good pup. I’m glad he can help her.
Priscilla, Abbie does not hate you! That broke my heart when I heard her say that! You guys are AMAZING
I have severe anxiety and depression and when I go into a breakdown I can’t think straight but my mother always brings my dog to me and he calms me down without me even noticing, it’s crazy the effect animals have on people
My sister and father are knowing about my depression and Panik attacks
But my father doesn't believe me in both.
My sister listened to me but I don't know she understands what that means to have both of them.
My boyfriend also knows about it and try to help me.
Some things that help me a lot :
A Planetarium
(it sounds childish but it calms me down)
And essential oils
(to calm me down when I have a breakdown)
I do not know if you want to know but I hope you are doing great
I am a camp counselor at a camp for special needs friends and I had a camper who was on the spectrum who was having lots of violent behaviors, and we talked to him about things he had been saying throughout the day to calm him down and distract him. We talked about his camp shirt and seeing his mom on Friday and getting to go on golf cart rides. He really liked pop up books as well so we would try to get him to look at that and distract him from what was making him upset. Those things were always helpful and made him feel less upset and violent. Thank you guys for your amazing and Informative videos, they give me knew knowledge about autism and how to help our camp friends have the most special week of there lives.
Petting a dog, and especially the licking, can be very grounding... its one of the best things for me! Maybe Maverick will be able to come back to his service dog role!
I totally feel bad for the parent and the people who have to go threw this omg this just breaks my heart😭 hope everything will get better just keep up the good work mom&dad you two are strong parents♥️🙏🏻♥️
(Sorry I’m late) when I get frustrated I used to self harm and throw things but I’m getting better so when I’m frustrated somebody (my bff) always hugs me and says to use my words and explain the situation. My bff really helps me calm down I wouldn’t be able to live without her.
I love the fact that animals know when someone is upset. My neighbors dog can sense when I am anxious and will just come and sit on my lap. I love her so much
I can totally see the weight loss in you guys. Congrats!!
I would just like to say that Priscilla you are doing an amazing job! You're an excellent parent, don't be discouraged because of a bad day. Abbie is lucky to have you
i like it when you or Priscilla record her meltdowns while one of ya'll help her with it.
You guys are so wonderful! I’m an aba therapist and the way you guys implement what you’ve learned from your therapist is amazing. What you guys said about dealing with attention seeking behavior is absolutely correct! In times like those it’s definitely best to not give a response at all (if you don’t have to) and once she’s being appropriate or at least a little more appropriate immediately reward her with the attention she’s seeking out. I love how you guys really try your best to be patient and figure out the function of her behaviors. Keep being amazing and she will keep learning!! ❤️
Please keep sharing what meals you are having. I am on the blood sugar diet which is similar to keto and I am now going to be trying a taco skillet. I have lost 2 and a half stone doing this diet and I have been struggling majorly for the last month but coming back to your channel and hearing you guys talk about keto and your diet even the little bits you do really gives me a boost to keep going so thanks :)
I have a 15 year old son that has high-functioning Asperger's and behavioral problems. it gets really rough as a single mom I'm always trying new techniques and etcetera to help him get through his day. watching your logs makes me feel like I'm not alone going through this. thank you very much
Priscilla, you are doing great with Abbie, she was just acting wild for the shake of it and you handled it perfectly. Don't feel bad for her behaviour, you are a great mother to both your kids.
Her smile, joy and laughters are so insanely precious. I hope they wieght far more in her everyday life than her bad times with meltdowns, which you manage well.
i found your channel about a week ago now and have been bing watching it like crazy... i am absolutely loving the content you put out, the awareness you bring to autism and what it is truly like to have a child with special needs. to see how sweet maverick is with abbie during her meltdowns is such a sweet moment and shows just how amazing animals can be. keep up the great work i am already a huge fan!
I'm sorry Abbie was upset . Big hugs Abbie love you guys .you have taught me so much through Abbie.
Our 3 top things that helps.
1 is sending her to her quiet spot in her room for 2 minutes. Sometimes the quiet really helps with sensory overload.
2 rubbing her back.
3 rubbing her arms or or use a soft bristle brush.
It's amazing to see how the dog calmed her down. Such amazing creatures.
Our daughter is not on the spectrum but she has Down Syndrome. Her meltdowns can be pretty bad sometimes, she has a giant stuffed monkey that she will sit and hug when she is having her meltdown that seems to help a ton. Takes her mind off why she was upset in the first place. :)
I’m new to your channel, and have binge watching. My 10 year old son is on the spectrum. He is verbal, however, during his meltdowns he shuts down completely...no communication. We have a lab (not trained for therapy) and he distracts and calms my son down immensely. It’s as if he knows what to do during these times. If there is no self harm or destructive behaviors, my son prefers to be left alone...no communication, no touching, and no soothing. ABA has tremendously helped in correcting the self harm and destructive behavior. For the most part, he has learned different breathing techniques, and I have learned, through ABA parent training, that not reacting has been beneficial.
Pricilla, ur not a failure. We all love u!!! Ur a great mom to abbie!! Im sure she loves u!!! She loves both mom and dad.
Here here! All kids know which parent will be easier and they work that person HARD. It goes the same for therapists too. Many don’t realize that just because an autistic child or teen doesn’t make eye contact or speak it doesn’t mean that they can’t pick up on or play off others’ emotions.
Your spelling makes me want to die
We do about what you do for meltdowns. Remove him from the situation and hold him. Talk calmly which was hard in the beginning. Y'all are always so patient with her! Much love
I work in an Essential Skills classroom where we have kids with autism among many other special needs. I love watching your videos to learn other ways to deal with some of the behaviors I deal with, as well as other ways to talk to and work with kids with special needs. We often use the "no reaction" method and as long as the child isn't a danger to themselves or their classmates we let them just work it out on their own, which really seems to work better. Although, one of my coworkers has a very reactive personality and reacts instantly in a very strong way, and that almost always causes the situation to escalate for the child and the adult...not good!
I have a 12 year old daughter and she loves looking at old pictures of herself and that calms her during a melt down
My dad does the exact same thing- wave at people who aren't there. Must be a dad thing!
Sophie Eden my husband beeps and waves 🙄🙄🙈🙈
Abbie is absolutely beautiful. She has the most joyful spirit and it makes me so happy to watch her being happy and laughing
Love you guys 💜
You should add Maverick into her tablet... Maybe she'll request him and possibly avoid a meltdown.
Just a thought.
Love from Canada ✌❤😆
Canada yay us !
@Heather M Brown it doesn't technically make him one but theoretically lol
Sorry for spelling it wrong Abbie,I call her Abbs in my mind ❤️🤪
I cried a little looking into your dogs eyes. He looked as if he was so worried she was in pain and he didnt know what to do for her. She wasnt really in pain but she was so frusturated the dog responded as if she was in pain. It was so sweet it brought me to tears. What a good boy.... Give him an extra treat for that.
My client loves to throw & move around clothing to different peoples closets when they’re having a tough day. Love that you guys keep it so real! We love watching you guys💓
Oh, Priscilla. I just wanted to hug you and tell you what a wonderful mother you are. It is so clear that she loves you so much. She may have been having an outburst but that isn't a reflection of your parenting skills. I would have considered myself lucky to have a mother like you. You are not a failure.
We've all been there feeling like we're failures! Cilia, you are doing an excellent job 💜
Abby is awesome! Maverick is unconditional love! You all are so blessed!
She looked so happy during the car ride, her smile made my heart melt ! :)
We have been blessed in that Jeremy doesn't have meltdowns. To distract him when upset we to take a deep breath and count to 10. It helps that the shoes he waches mimic similar techniques. So when we find a character he enjoys 'becoming' we use that to calm him. The struggle I have are with my other 3 sons who are undiagnoised. One does have anxiety and I suspect all of them are on a spectrum. It surprises me that my obviously autistic son is easier to soothe then my other 3. Slowly figuring things out one day at a time.
Priscilla! You’re looking incredible! I’m so proud of the both of you!
Thank you!
Your family just warms my heart. You go through life happy while obstacles are thrown your way. What a blessing Abigail is to your family.
Seeing what the families with special needs children have to manage each day is amazing. It really helps me to appreciate what they have to go through. It also makes me want to hug my autistic cousin all the more (he loves it. Sadly he lives in Nova Scotia and I live in Ontario so we only see each other once a year). What a beautiful world we live in :)
Awe I just love Maverick! I love it when Abbie laughs, she has a sparkle in her eyes! ❤
Is there anyone else who watches the videos who doesn’t have anyone in their personal life on the Autism spectrum, but really appreciates watching FatheringAutism?
I think it’s great for anyone to watch because they are such a great family. They are all so genuine it’s lovely 😊
It’s always a joy watching y’alls videos
I think it is wonderful that Abbie is able to calm herself by petting Maverick. She did such a good job putting the dishes away. I recently found your vlog and I have learned so much about autism. You are a very loving family .
I agree I love their videos
I work at a group home with adults with severe behavioral and emotional, as well as cognitive disabilities. We definitely see people have behaviors like these and often the less of a reaction they get, the faster they quit. Unless it's a meltdown - that's a completely different situation. Love your blogs!
When the husband acknowledges that his wife’s “makeup is on point”! So sweet!
Thanks so much for teaching us how to help when you see a meltdown go down. Also, so glad you have an animal in the picture. I had a neighbor who trained ESA dogs for autistic individuals. Animals are so important in a child's life, the drop in allergies is amazing when you have pets and send your kids out to play. I have three mental disorders and my medication has been amazing, but more importantly I have a cat that sort trained himself to be my ESA animal. I have my own horrible days and if they lead to sobbing tears, he appears and sits beside me. He travels like a champ and acted as ring bearer at our wedding (they were clipped to his collar) and he walked me down the aisle and gave away the bride. You guys are amazing and I wish you so many more wonderful days as you tackle autism and believe me, a pet can be your greatest ally.
My 7yr old has a cat, Auggie, who comes and lays on her when she is having a meltdown. He has done it since he was a kitten ❤
I wish i was as knowledgeable as you guys are when my son, Clayton, was younger. I think if they would have diagnosed him earlier and didn’t see him as ED he wouldn’t have needed a care facility. When I seen Abbey throwing stuff around it reminded me of Clayton’s level 1 rage. We did try many things but I haven’t seen anything I used with him used by you guys. It would have been nice to be able to show all this to Clayton. Thank you for doing so much for your children and continuing to educate other people.
You guys are amazing parents! My kiddo does a lot of attention seeking things also. But she definitely stops a lot quicker when She realizes she doesn’t get a reaction from me!
Seeing maverick with Abbie was amazing. I know absolutely nothing about autism (which is why I watch these videos) but it reminded me of when I have a panic attack and have to be brought out of it. Dogs are the sweetest and I’m glad that made her feel better.
Can we talk about Marvrick?! He is so cute and loving when Abby are having a meltdown. He just lays there and stay there with them all. He’s like «I see you, and I gonna stay here till you are fine». Dogs are so amazing! My dog does the same if I have a Anxiety attacks or depression. And if Abby feels better you guys should let him be a part of it. I really love it when my dog just lay there with me so I know I’m not alone. 💙
I work with a wonderful little girl on the spectrum and non verbal. During her melt downs I give her big colored almost gem stones rocks. She puts her hands in and immediately is calm. Food also calms her or anything she can chew. This channel has helped me so much! I am such a big fan and look forward to watching your journey❤️
Love From South Africa
We have to stay on the perimeter when Bethany has meltdowns. She does not want to be touched and gets paranoid when we get too close and goes into either fight or flight mode! Talking to her makes it worse, too! Thankfully, she rarely melts down anymore! But just when we think she might never have another one she proves us wrong! She's 19. Hoping she eventually fully outgrows meltdowns!
I think this is one of the best videos you’ve done. It was the real thing. I know nothing about Autism and I’m very grateful you let me in your private world. Also when you explain how each child with Autism can act completely different I sincerely appreciate that. I understand better what parents must cope with.
Thank you, I appreciate that.
We don't have a pet for my daughter to pet but we have a neighbor with a dog that our daughter is aloud to pet and relax with. It helps so much
As someone who is blind and has severe anxiety, I understand how wonderful a dog can make everything. My guide dog is also one of the most important things to bring me back down from a panic attack. I smiled so much hearing Dad tell Abby to pet the dog
Her putting the pan in the drawer had me dying. And the smiling & waving to nobody from the golf cart 😂
My best friends son has autism and when he was younger and had meltdowns she would sit with him and stretch his arms and stretch his legs and would have him breath while she did the stretches ... it really helped with him.
Abbie has such pretty skin and cute freckles, when I was her age my skin was sooo broke out and oily
I have a 14 yo w severe autism and I find the less I say during meltdowns or excessive behaviors, the better it goes. Now I say very little. He will tell everyone else to leave and ask me to stay - I think because it’s hard to process people talking “at” him mid meltdown. I really enjoyed this video of Abigail...I’m thinking of starting to have my son help put away dishes and it was helpful to see how it goes with her. Thanks for sharing that. She is so sweet. We do have one boxer dog that my son loves to pet (he says “Is nice! Is soft! Is fur!”) but the dog gets too anxious during my sons meltdowns to help him. The dog hides under the table! Maverick is so calm with her! -Tamie
I just wanted to say I am SO proud of this channel's growth and your growth as a family. I've been here since you guys were just hitting 10K, 94K now, I am so happy for your well earned prosperity.
Oooomg mini fangirling because I got a heart! You guys rule
Wow, wish I had seen this when my grandson was younger and had similar meltdowns. God bless you for sharing even the most difficult of times with us. I have no doubt it will help many who go through similar situations.
Im not autistic but i do have severe anxiety and panic attacks. For my panic attacks i do use my service dogs. She has tasks that she does for it but i do like her licking me for my sensory issues. That cause my anxietu and come with my 4 chronic illnesses
I’m just watching this now, when my son is having a meltdown, we got him a cat, a cat that comes when his name is called. I have him pet the cat until he gets more calm where I can effectively communicate with him. I truly love you guys.
Animals help with all types of disabilities and people. Animals love and don't judge.
Abbie’s laugh and happiness is contagious
I'm starting to develop a little problem. Vlog addiction. Your guys' stuff is so fun and uplifting and encouraging! We all have our version of a meltdown. Kaidale once took me out of a booth at Dunkin of all places. I got tangled up awkward and ended up in the floor.
I lie somewhere comfortable when I have one. Usually I can't speak after them so I'd rather not be around anyone for a while. But I've found that other people don't want to leave me alone after I meltdown, which only makes me more frustrated. I don't really know what to do about this.
Nathan Lawrence Have you tried explaining to them that after a meltdown you need some space? Tell them it's important to you to have a time out by yourself so you can relax and regroup. No offense to them, you know they care about you but you feel very frustrated afterwards when people crowd your space. That's what I would tell them. You're not trying to be insulting...you just would like some peace and quiet for a bit afterwards. That's all. I think you more than deserve that and have every right to ask them for that time for yourself. It's really a form of self-preservation.
Congrats on the weight loss, you guys look great🎉. I worked in Sp Ed for 25 yrs and saw many different forms of Autism. One thing that seemed to work a lot of the time was tone and volume of voice. It can be difficult at times, that is when you need to back up and take a deep breath. Priscilla you know Abbie loves you, I think she just knows how to push your buttons.
You guys are great, I love your vlogs😀
Every time I watch one of your videos it just surprises me how patience yall are with Abbie. I feel like it takes a lot of strength to stay that patience. So props to you guys. I don't think I could do that. I would easily take over just to get it done as fast as possible. When unloading the dishes and watching yall wait for Abbie and correct her and staying persistence with everything. Yall are great parents. I love watching your videos.
She smart she understands everything you guys say to her you guys are an awesome parents n she seem like a happy lil teenager she adorable
Regards to what do we do as far as meltdowns go my son is 16 yrs ASD ADHD conduct disorder my daughter is 14 yrs ASD ADHD Tic Disorder disruptive mood Dysregulation disorder OCD all we can do is ignore the bad Reward the good prevent the self harm and violence ~~Not easy~~ when 1 teen loves to sing hum tap n scream and the other teen is noise sensative and cant stand the singing taping screaming even with noise cancilling head phones maybee we need a new head set for her
Get the bose headphones
Thanks so much will look for them xx
We use animals, too. Our dogs have been a gift. They calm me, too! :-) Wrapping in a weighted blanket always worked well when the twins were little. But animals are the BEST. Also, I'm glad you recognize the emotion behind the behavior. Sounds like you guys are on the right track. Priscilla, you are NOT a failure. It's not you. It's autism. And it's so unpredictable in an ironic sort of way. I'm always amazed at how tidy your house is. You do an incredible job. You guys are great parents. I remember the throwing days. We still have meltdowns but not as many.
i may be a year late but i just sat here smiling for ten minutes after watching Abbie smile and laugh like that.
That made me cry when Priscilla said abigail hated her, im so sorry that must hurt you so much. Maverick is helping her to create something safe for her to be distracted i would agree that will help her alot. I am praying for you all💜
Priscilla you are awesome mom. Never think that you are doing a bad job. Love you ❤️ You made me cry again lol
It was so touching to see that Maverick was able to calm Abbey down a bit. Thank god for these amazing dogs.
Most animals are good with being therapy animals for people with disabilities.
True I'm 16 and have severe autism and also have vision impairment
Way easier now = less independence later. My daughter is almost 27 n I am having to teach life skills that should have been learned when she was younger. Attention seeking behavior is so hard for me to ignore, so hard. We have to re-teach ourselves how to parent in their world...whew!
We also use our dog or set him on the piano and let him play works very well music seems to sooth and relax him every time
awww when Priscilla said Abby hates her it was sad but that's just such a normal thing for a mother of a teenage girl to go through! My mom is currently parenting 3 teenage girls and yeah, often we act like we hate her and we don't want her around and we're unnecessarily mean to her! It's something that almost every teenage girl does unfortunately!
My daughter pets her stuff animal when she is very anxieux hope i wrote it ok wish de could have a maverick have a great day🙂
It's just like little kids don't react or give audience to bad behavior. Awesome parenting! Love you guys
Definitely one of the best vlogs yet!!!! Love a happy laughing smiling Abbie!!!! And such a sweet way to calm her down with Maverick!!
When I was in middle school I helped multiple boys on the spectrum who I cherished deeply. Normally things I used would be edible reinforcement for calming down, and tons of hand holding and tight hugs. I was about 100lbs and only a little over 5'1 back then and still managed to get those to help with the 200lbs 6'0 kids I was working with. Always a bit of a struggle but normally I'd manage to make do with physical touch and soft voices no matter how bad it happened to be. Love you guys! 💝
I appreciate your vlogs so much!! You have given me so many helpful ideas! You are a blessing to me. Opened my eyes to better understanding Autism!! I cherish the simple things in life through Abbie's eyes. Thank you!! Enjoy your weekend!! We are having a heat wave in N.J.!!
I found your page while researching something with autism. I am now a subscriber Abbie is so beautiful. I have 2 daughters 8 and 6. My 8 year old is autistic and this just warmed my heart. I recognized so many similar things between Abbie and my daughter Amiah pronounced amaya. Amiah is verbal but only when she wants to. She can't have a conversation. I'm rambling I just wanted to say that you and your wife and son are an amazing family. I showed my husband your channel and he enjoyed watching as well. Keep up the great job.
With my grandson, we use deep breathing and " blowing out the candle". Also he loves Beauty and the Beast movie and sharks movie sometimes settles him down
My sister has autism and down syndrome. My parents dogs were always her best friends. I think y'all got everything right on point to be honest!!!