Just a few years ago Abbey didn’t know how to make her own schedule or plan things out. This has been a goal and she has done amazing with a planner and thinking about planning her day. Thank you Stephanie and Co for teaching this important lesson. You can see the confidence and power she feels knowing she can make daily choices to be productive or feel connected or even just choose down time. But she does better knowing what the day holds. Unstructured not always a good thing for her ( and for many people) so that being said- as long as she plans it I might have to help carry it out- this means I could wind up at a water park. Noooooo! Lol. #viralreels #reelsfb #viralvideos
Abbey has come so far in comprehending movies and TV shows. We would go to the movies and sit in the far corner and I would explain to her what was going on because the movie experience was hard for her to take in. But we kept working on this, and now she can express story lines, plots, and themes. Amazing progress in this area. Sonic 2 has been a great film example- not just because James Marsden is so adorable but also because the journey of the Knuckles character resonated with Abbey. He became good. @@hatsbyabbey##everydayautism##sonic2##jamesmarsdenPS shoutout to ##jimcarreyfor portraying a perfect Villain #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
Hope all had a nice thanksgiving. Remembering gratitude. As we always say - ‘Focus on what you DO have.’ Grateful for Abbey and her brother Ben. And my soulmate, Clementine. #everydayautism @hatsbyabbey #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
So thinking about how to get through a 12 hour plane ride I was very concerned. Didn’t want to do another overnight stop. Abbey needs space due to sensory issues. So the cheapest solution was to buy the middle seat between us. Cheaper than even buying premium economy seats. This gave Abbey the space she needed to move around. It made all the difference. Goodbye Paris! @hatsbyabbey #everydayautism #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
Making the most of rain and cold in Paris. Abbey’s done great with being flexible, and wearing this poncho was not pleasant for her sensory issues. But playing around and having fun helped. @@hatsbyabbey##everydayautism #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
Traveling with Abbey. On the way to Paris via train from London. This is her dream trip to see the Eiffel Tower and Mona Lisa at Louvre. The first real trip I took with her was in 2018 where was just the two of us. Life has gotten so much easier and she’s doing amazing with so many changes including the time change, crowds, foods, etc. and as always highly entertaining- calls me out when I ask a stupid question! Love it. And special thanks to Rick Halsted for this amazing upgrade on the train. A true angel. @@hatsbyabbey##everydayautism #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
Best tour guide ever. Thrilled to see a McDonalds and a Five Guys as well as Buckingham Palace. Lots of preparing for things to be different has helped with adjusting. Food being a tough one. But Abbey is up for the challenge. @hatsbyabbey #everydayautism #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
On the road with Abbey. Love her perspective on new things even though it’s hard at first- especially new foods and time change. Thanks to Mitchell Mullen for being amazing and hosting us! Also fab cupcakes from 45 Park Lane! #happyhalloween🎃👻💀 #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
The hardest part of travel is early morning flights- but we have no choice if we are going to adjust to time change. So we broke up this trip with a few days in Boston to visit family- to help with adjusting. We’ve worked very hard on flexibility with time. But being over tired can really affect her emotional regulation. Abbey so excited to go with great positive attitude- she’s so much better than me with her analogies! @hatsbyabbey #everydayautism #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
Thank you St. Nicholas center in Lake Charles Louisiana for the royal treatment - we loved our time with you and all you do for people with autism. Abbey felt like a princess- mom happy to carry the bags. @hatsbyabbey #everydayautism #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
So proud of Abbey and this moment. We have spent so many years trying to understand how autism affects her but to hear her put it in words is nothing short of a miracle. We had the privilege and honor of speaking at the Louisiana Autism Conference. She was a rockstar. Abbey thinks and talks in memories but has learned appropriate feeling words so we can understand what she’s feeling and thinking. More to come on this topic. @h@hatsbyabbeye#everydayautism #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideosFacebook
Only Abbey can get away with telling me I’m old and wrinkled. She is so sweet when she speaks her truth it’s never mean spirited and actually she makes me laugh. Link to scotch tape in my bio. #notanad @hatsbyabbey #everydayautism #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
So Abbey has certain patterns that I now understand. One of them is finishing the song that she is singing- being interrupted produces anxiety. It’s just the way her head works. So I accommodate always. And now she knows to tell me if I ask her to do something “when I’m done with my song’. (Kinda like how I am when I’m on the phone)😳 #everydayautism. @Abbey#hatsbyabbey #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
So Abbey was on some medications for autism. I have tried everything from Microdosing specialists, dietary interventions, and more holistic approaches. The tough part is I never really knew how it made her feel on the inside and due to her expressive language problem she was not able to express anything regarding how it made her feel. Then one day she turned 21 and wanted to go to the bar like all the adults. Lol. And shortly there after she was able to tell me that she loved wine because “it relaxes me.“ This was a huge leap as she had never been able to describe these feelings. So CHEERS! I’ll drink to that! @Abbey#everydayautism #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
Clementine speaks. Her thoughts on #LoveOnTheSpectrum. @hatsbyabbey #everydayautism #dogsoffacebook
I am Ben’s mom too! A glimpse inside my parenting style! #hatsbyabbey #havefunwithit #purdue #boilerup #classof2024 #grad
Abbey’s autism- diagnosed at 2, etc. lots of therapies over the years- parents try what works for YOUR KID!Abbey has come so #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
Reply to @moniquemoki focus on what you can do!‘Normal’ sets up a box that you have to fit in. Abbey still struggles and I #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
Trip comes to an end. In her glory despite freezing cold pools not heated (and no discount from #royalcarribean). She calls me #viralreeels #reelsfb #viralvideos
