Eleni T. Wehner, Author💖ROSCOE & IVY (Pre-sale NOW)

I 100% get it. For me, I'm calm & understanding when I need to be, but in times of excess stress, I'll have meltdowns. When it's particularly stressful for long periods of time, I'll develop cystic acne or intense eczema breakouts. It's very isolating.

Not a story, but I came here to say you're a great parent. I have been through countless hours of absorbing my autistic children's emotions. It's difficult to sit there, seeing them struggle, feeling like you can't help. But, being there for them physically & emotionally helps tons in the long run.

My whole family is autistic and this is why we rarely travel. We have 3 kids, ages 10 and under. We all like our own beds, need alone time throughout the day, have our own wind-down routines etc. I hope your meltdowns happen less frequently on your vacation!

You're doing the right thing. You are showing him you are his safe space and he can trust you with his problems. This is what many parents don't understand - if you listen to the small things now, your child will come to you with the big things as he gets older ❤️

Edit to add: This is also an "autistic person problem." I'm extroverted, but I don't like being caught off guard by social interactions that I didn't anticipate - especially when I'm focusing on a grocery list.

In a world where AI is seemingly everywhere, it brings me joy to see all of the beautiful, creative artists on #kidlitpostcard day!

Gah! I LOVE this style! 😍

This is brilliant!

A drawing by @WORRY__LINES, saying “TOO MUCH GOING ON”. Each word is presented separately and has a simple handdrawn outline of a person above it, with lots of different overlapping coloured shapes drawn as overlays on top of the person to evoke a sense of overwhelm

A day in the life of an autistic person…

TOO MUCH GOING ON by @worry__lines

Thank you!! 😘😘😜

I've been going thru a similar version of this. Everything has been a mess the past few weeks (car issues w/ both vehicles, all the kids have been sick, visiting family out of town etc). I've had a few massive meltdowns bc I've been so overwhelmed, but there's nothing I could do about it. Hugs!

That narrative is a huge reason why I started writing kidlit for autistic kids/families. We're just...people.

Agreed. We're the family that always has kids over. When given their computers, they will watch YouTube or similar for a little bit, but 90% of the time they are running around, having Nerf battles, playing tag. They can be loud & silly-I don't care. Kids play when they have the space to do so.

ADHD Memory: I forgot the code to my house Other person:You've lived here for 3 years, how could you forget it? Autistic Memory: But in 3rd grade, you said your cousin's name is Kyle Other person: Who TF are you? Credit: Unknown

This is me.
I know friends' siblings' birthdays from 25 years ago, but I didn't realize I put a box of envelopes in our fridge yesterday.

PS: It doesn't have a creator on the image. If anyone knows who it is, put it in the comments!

Right?! I don't even have any in my home 😂

It depends on what I'm eating. If it's savory (non-dessert foods), the "spoon" part is about 1.5 inches long and oval shaped. However, I get particularly giddy when I eat desserts with a little tiny spoon where the spoon portion is about .5 inches

Stop trying to please people that already don't like you. Instead embrace the idea of being the most annoying person in their lives.

Tuesday

I think many autistic people are into parallel play because it accommodates the need for one's own space at their own pace, while being in the company of others they feel safe with.
Group gaming, reading parties, and art & LEGO studio are this way and they are all popular among autistic people.

SIR CALLIE AND THE WITCH’S WAR: Now Out In Paperback In the third installment of a fantasy series, a twelve-year-old nonbinary knight-in-training, a reluctant crown prince, a young witch, and her troubled twin brother struggle for their kingdom in a …

Book 3 came out in paperback today!

esymessmith.com/2025/07/30/s...

I can't begin to imagine the amount of emotional battery that takes. It's gotta be so hard bc he's at a which is such a vulnerable/difficult age, and then you have to be on whenever he wants to open up. I have a soft spot for pre-teens/teens, but I know it'll be a roller-coaster to raise one.

I'm sorry, that's very difficult. When my 2 oldest kids were young (under 5 years old), that's how my situation was, too. I honestly think I have PTSD from those years. Big hugs ❤️

Now that my older kids are 8 & 10, I'll tell them the 4 y/o's meltdowns are stressful, but that's bc said meltdowns are stressful to my big kids, too. I remind them they both had meltdowns like the youngest, too, & that we need to give 4 the same patience & love they both received

As a fellow AuDHD mom, I'm *fairly* honest. I'll tell them, "I'm feeling overwhelmed right now. Can y'all play nicely together for 20 minutes so I can rest?" If they ask WHY I'm overwhelmed, I don't ever say it's bc of them. Instead, I say there's "a lot going on", "our schedule is messed up" etc

Thank you! My sleep is very irregular, too. I will sometimes go to bed at midnight and then wake up at 4am. Then, I will pass out at 9pm and sleep until 10am. It's crazy

A photo of a doe. It is just a blackened, shadowed doe figure due to the street light behind her. The street lamp has 2 triangular beams of light coming out of either side.

I was awake at 4am this morning and saw my friend, Doe. She looked at me for a bit, then went back to eating grass. I don't know anything about photography - those 2 light beams coming from either side of the street lamp were happy accidents.

This is one area of my life in which I had learned to mask. My emotions get so big that it's embarrassing for me at times. For example, when I found out a specific pre-k teacher was leaving, I sobbed uncontrollably... in front of everyone at the preschool. I'm lucky that ppl accept me (mostly).

Thank you! I've dyed my hair several colors, too! Right before Covid, I had all of my hair bleached, then purple dye on top and rainbow underneath. BUT, post-lockdown, my first gray hairs began. I'm now determined not to dye my hair until the gray has taken over- no more bleaching at that point 😂

This is, unfortunately, too relatable

Awww! That's wonderful! Congratulations to your friends 🥰 And thank you! Danamarie Hosler illustrated & I adore her use of color! Yep, they are available in the UK! They're published through Barefoot Books, which was started in England back in 1992