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Name: Laura

Do you work outside the home?
I am a stay at home mom and student.

What do you do to relax?
I spend time with my family (preferably outdoors). We like exploring new places and parks, and going to restaurants.

I also enjoy watching sports and HGTV since having children has completely deleted my attention span for in depth stories and hour long dramas.

What benefits has Connecting for Kids brought to you and your family?
For my family, CFK brought resources and contacts for agencies to help us. CFK held Family Discussion Groups that seemed like they were designed specifically for us with our current issues. The organization provides a safe and very friendly environment to learn, play and socialize.

For me, CFK provides sanity. It is a community of parents just like me who can almost perfectly relate to our struggles. This is invaluable in a world where I suddenly felt like an outcast and bad mother. I have made connections that have talked me down from the proverbial ledge on the worst of days and celebrated with me on the best.

Simply having a mother or two (in this case, CFK has several within easy reach) to talk to about struggles, confusion and frustration is so wonderful. Friends with no knowledge of these issues are nice, but it's not the same as someone who is walking or has walked in your shoes. I no longer feel isolated and insufficient.

The best thing about parenting a child who struggles...
 It has opened my eyes to a world I never knew existed. As a mother, I am so much more sympathetic. I had never heard of sensory disorders or occupational therapy. I sympathize with parents of children who struggle and I tell my story to anyone who feels like he or she is the only parent in this situation. 

The hardest thing for me to learn was...
He is not a bad kid.  He is not a bully. I am a good mother. I had to learn that this is his battle and I am his coach and not a player. I constantly have to remind myself these things.

The worst thing about parenting a child who struggles...          
Isolation. Bad situations are unavoidable, even though we try. When my son acts out, it always seems like he is the only one. It seems that every other child can sit still, play nicely... whatever the case may be. So, he is isolated (I think), and so am I as the parent of "that kid." It really breaks my heart to think he may feel isolated or ostracized.

We'd love to know if you have any go-to resources such as blogs, websites, or books that we can share with other parents. 
216-UH4-KIDS. This is the number for the UH Rainbows Autism Diagnostic Clinic. 

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