Shannon has two children and lives in Wellington

What do you do to relax?

Drink coffee, watch favorite shows, paint

What else would you like to tell us about yourself?

I am a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), working with children with autism since I was 18.

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

I enjoy reading about similar family situations and the education programs in the community.

Which has been your favorite Connecting for Kids resource?

Facebook

The bad habit I picked up...

being a typical parent using negative punishment instead of positive reinforcement. Knowing the outcomes of both. Knowing I can do better but stuck in parent mode not therapist mode.

What I worry about most…

is my child struggling in school and throughout adulthood. Making the wrong decisions, and continuing to argue and fight his way out. I worry for his safety to make responsible safe choices for himself and others. He likes to be super silly, inappropriate to gain a laugh but usually it comes off awkward and annoying. I don't want to see him struggle with social cues. He’s developing attention seeking behaviors that are aggressive to himself or his parents and disruptive to the environment. I worry for his ability to tell himself no, to control his reactions.

I get embarrassed when...

my child is having behaviors. Anywhere, in any form. I am a trained RBT, a paraprofessional, and a behavioral therapist. Nothing is more embarrassing to me knowing I am trained in this line of work and I cannot seem to help my son. I know there is an emotional component to it, a parent/child connects. I can’t seem to get over that.