Ingrid is the mom of two from Cleveland

What do you do to relax?

Exercise, read, knit/crochet and spend time with my husband

What else would you like to tell us about yourself?

I work part time at the YMCA and I just started substitute teaching at several districts. I also volunteer with our therapy dog, Lucky.

What benefits has Connecting for Kids brought to you and your family?

We have gotten such great advice and information as well as support of fellow parents and caregivers who "get it"!

Which have been your favorite Connecting for Kids resources?

Other families and caregivers have been so helpful!

The area where I have grown the most...

I feel I have grown the most as an advocate for my child. I think back to the first IEP meeting and I was CLUELESS! Now, after research and education (and a great team), I feel so much more confident and capable!

What I worry about most…

I worry about my son's future. I know every parent shares this worry. My son is an identical twin, but his twin is "typical". I hope that they can learn from each other’s experiences, even more, because they are great team already!

I get embarrassed when...

I have to wrestle my child away from a situation in public. Puberty is rough and impulse control is not my son's strong suit. It's often hard to explain to a young girl that my son wants to smell her hair!

Do you have any recommended resources such as blogs, websites, or books that we can share?

I really enjoy the Autism Daddy blog because his son is the same age as my son. I often read it and think "yes! Us too! I feel the same way!"

Is there anything else about your journey that you would like to share with other parents?

It has been an adventure and I am so grateful that we can all have a sense of humor about the struggles we've faced!