100 Ways To Encourage A New Mom

This weekend I went to a baby shower for my cousin. It’s her first child. As I was sitting at the shower watching all of her family and friends support her, it got me thinking… How do moms support each other when a child is initially diagnosed with Autism?  Do we support one another, feel sorry for our friend or avoid the topic all together?

Thinking about the stories families tell us everyday, a common theme comes to mind… Isolation.  We’ve seen it over and over again.  Families receive the news that their child is diagnosed with Autism, and slowly their friends begin to drift away and family members seem to not know how to support their loved ones.

TheGypsyMama.com posted a great article on 100 Ways To Encourage A New Mom.

I think most of the ways to encourage each other on the list could be used to support moms and dads whose children have just been diagnosed with Autism.  They’re all good ideas that just make sense.  Some of the best ways, IMO, are:

• Bring chocolate.
• Don’t tell her to call if she needs anything, just drop by and help with everything.
• Take the big kids out for a play date.
• Tell her she’s a hero.
• Bring her food in disposable dishes so she doesn’t have to deal with washing or returning them.
• Don’t tell her to carpe diem.
• Cry with her.
• Laugh with her.

(The first idea alone could have helped me when my son had colic for the first six months!)

There are two ways we can use this information:

1) If YOU are the one feeling isolated, send this article to your friends, neighbors, and loved ones. Consider highlighting the things that would help you the most.

2) C’mon Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s reach out and help others!  If you know someone that is struggling, remember you were once there with your children and needed that meal already cooked, a shoulder to cry on, and a good laugh to keep your sanity. Support each other. You all can make a difference in someone else’s life!

Read the full article from TheGypsyMama.com here.

Tags: autism, autism diagnosis, autism parent support, autism support, featured, mother support

Category: Autism Parents