New Year’s Resolutions
“I can’t believe another year has come and gone,” commented a mother of a ten-year-old with autism. “Although I know I can’t control everything in my daughter’s life, I do want to do what I can to make these years count.” Another parent said she wanted to make some new year’s resolutions so she didn’t let another year slip away. “As the years go by, I realize I am still helping him too much with little things like getting dressed. It is usually easier for me to do things for him, but now that a new year is here, I want to Make some resolutions that can make a difference this year for me and for him.”
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Because of the complexity of autism, it is easy to be overwhelmed with all the target goals and strategies that need our attention in order to maximize the potential of our friends with autism. At the same time, unless we make and keep some resolutions, the years zoom by before we know it. So, as a new year dawns, have fun reviewing the past 12 months, and make some resolutions to brighten up the new year. It might be easier if we focus on three basic areas: Health, Helper, and Happiness.
HEALTH: Make a resolution to help your friend with autism move more. Everyone can benefit from being more active. Swing, bike, or walk around the block. Rake leaves, push the vacuum, and swiff the floor. Take the dog for a walk or go out to get the newspaper. Push a cart around the grocery store and help carry in the groceries. The goal is to just keep on moving.
HELPER: Think about getting a buddy or two for your friend with autism this year. Make arrangements for a college student, a retired teacher, or a neighbor to spend time with your friend several afternoons a week or on Saturday mornings. This buddy system helps in two ways. First, it expands horizons for individuals with autism of all ages by giving them a chance to spend time with more than just family members and teachers. Secondly, the buddy system allows family members a break to take care of personal business. Many individuals with autism have difficulty making new friends, and they often find it difficult to transition away from their regular routine. This buddy system helps with all these issues.
HAPPINESS: Pick any of these resolutions that will help enhance the quality of life for your friend with autism and those around him. Lighten up. Forgive and forget. View live as an adventure. Bust boredom. Search for and enjoy the silver lining in any clouds that rain on your life.
So, best wishes for you and yours as we kick off another year. We will resume our daily podcasts on January 2.
Note to FAQautism.com listeners and readers: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
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