Buddy One and the Washing Machine Misadventure Because every great hero has an origin story… and a patch. Every kid has that one toy they love a little too hard — the one that’s always nearby, always slightly grubby, and completely irreplaceable. For Jimmy, that toy is Buddy One — a vintage My Buddy doll…
Dear Jimmy, Look How Far You’ve Come A Grade One Reflection There’s something about the last day of school that makes you pause — like standing still in the middle of a storm that’s finally passing. Grade one is over. And Jimmy? You made it. You made it through early mornings and long days. Through…
When Coffee Comes With a Side of Sass: Jimmy, His AAC, and a McMessage Loud and Clear Some kids write essays.Some give speeches.Mine makes his point with a cheeseburger button — and only when he feels like it. Let me paint the picture. It was early evening, and I decided to slip out for a…
Splash Pads, Communication, and a Little Bit of Inclusion Magic I’ve been thinking.(Dangerous, I know.) Every summer, our local splash pads fill with laughter, chaos, and soaked kids running wild — just as they should. But while most children shout, laugh, and yell “MY TURN!”… there are others who can’t. Not because they don’t want…
Dust Bunnies, Guilt, and the Great Summer Floor Crisis Let’s just put it out there: housekeeping has never been my strong suit. Sure, I can do it. I know how to sweep, mop, scrub, and organize. But when a new idea hits me — like launching a blog, designing a printable, or mapping out a…
Mom’s Summer Survival Wordsearch Book Because sometimes, surviving summer takes more than sunscreen and snacks. This one’s personal.Like, deep-breath-in-the-linen-closet kind of personal. I’ve officially started working on a brand-new wordsearch book:Mom’s Summer Survival Wordsearch Book.And yes — the title says it all. This isn’t just another low-content project. This one is for me… and for…
When Sleep Is Optional (Apparently) Little Wins with Jimmy – Monday Edition Jimmy’s a pretty predictable guy when it comes to sleep.Bedtime? 7:45 PM — like clockwork.Wake-up? Somewhere between 6:30 and 7:00 AM.He grabs his buddy, marches up the stairs, and settles in like a pro. No fuss, no drama. I know how lucky I…
Playground Wins: A Free Printable Toolkit for Real-Life Families Some days, the goal is simple: just get to the playground. But when you’re parenting a neurodiverse child, “simple” often comes with a whole list of steps, emotions, and real-life detours. That’s exactly why I created this toolkit. The Playground Wins Toolkit is a free visual…
Before the Toolkit: A Real-Life Playground Test with Jimmy There’s been this idea sitting in the back of my brain since the first nice day of spring: Take Jimmy to the playground. That’s it. That’s the whole thought. But if you’re raising a neurodiverse kid, you already know it’s never just the playground. It’s planning,…
When Spaghetti Makes You Cry (and Not Because of the Oven) Today? Rough. I’m trying to launch Little Wins with Jimmy — a project that means the world to me — but snag after snag has tested every ounce of my patience. I’ve been short-tempered, annoyed, and teetering on the edge of burn-it-all-down mode. It’s…