My ASD Child

  Introduction: The Invisible Ripple Effect When one child in a family is autistic, the entire household feels the ripple. Life becomes a constant balancing act—between attention and fairness, structure and flexibility, peace and chaos. Parents find themselves stretched thin, trying to meet everyone’s needs while holding the family together. The autistic teen might need extra time, therapy appointments, emotional support, or crisis management. Meanwhile, siblings—who love their brother or sister but sometimes feel overlooked—can experience jealousy, guilt, or resentment. Parents may feel torn, guilty, and exhausted, trying to maintain balance in a home that often feels emotionally uneven. This chapter explores the delicate ecosystem of family life with an autistic teenager—how to nurture the sibling bond, protect each child’s sense of security, and preserve your own peace along the way. The Hidden Emotions Beneath the Surface When parents think about sibling relationships i...

The Car Ride Home: A Familiar Story You pick your teenager up from school and can tell instantly that something’s off. Their backpack is half-zipped, their jaw is tight, and you get the one-word answers: “How was your day?” “Fine.” You ask about homework. They snap, “I don’t know!” A few hours later, they’re in meltdown—yelling about a group project, refusing to do homework, or shutting down in their room under a blanket. From the outside, it can look like laziness, defiance, or overreaction. On the inside, though, your autistic teen may be carrying a full day’s worth of invisible stress : sensory overload, social confusion, fear of failure, and constant pressure to keep up. This chapter is about that load—and how you, as a parent, can help lighten it without sacrificing your teen’s growth. Why School Is Extra Hard for Autistic Teens 1. The Social Minefield Hallways, group projects, partner work, “turn and talk”—school is built on fast, intuitive social interaction. Autistic...