Female Expectations: Musings on What I’m “Supposed To Be”
As a woman, I feel I’m supposed to be: A natural babysitter. Good with children. A counselor. A nurse. A taxi driver. A house cleaner. Empathetic. Dressed properly for every occasion. A good hostess. A good cook. A caretaker of others. Pretty. Always smiling. Fit and thin. Problem-free/carefree. A planner and organizer. Agreeable. Not “too […]
Read moreSeeing Red
I often feel overwhelmed, like my problems and limitations are more difficult than other people. I get angry and frustrated that life isn’t easier for me. I feel like other people don’t understand why I’m so angry and because of this, I usually try not to express those emotions unless I’m with someone I trust. […]
Read moreFuture Planning
Planning for the future is neither easy or simple for anyone. I’ve been thinking a lot about the future lately. As we get older and our parents do too of course, it’s natural to start thinking about planning for the future because parents won’t always be around. Young adults need to be informed and think […]
Read morePutting It All Out There
Have you ever had the experience of telling someone that you have Autism? The reaction I sometimes get is that of “So you’re like Temple Grandin or Rain Man?” Often the conversation ends right there but sometimes they want to know what it is like to have Autism. I find myself trying to explain how […]
Read moreOut of Sync Woman’s Beach Vacation Journal
Day 3 Before Vacation: It’s a few days before I head out on a trip with friends to the beach. I’m almost done getting everything ready for my vacation. I figured out my budget for the trip, breaking it into categories like food, gas, entertainment and extras. Next up is organizing what I need and […]
Read moreFamily Love
You probably don’t know this but I have several nieces and nephews, and I’m incredibly proud of them. When they were babies, I wondered if any of them would have similar struggles to me as they got older. Not that this would change how I felt about them, but I know how much harder it […]
Read moreCommunity Connection
April is Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month. Connecting people with Autism to the community is an important part of having a meaningful life. Being human, I need to belong to a community. Community for me is a combination of physical location, people who are close to me, and people who share some common beliefs. Having Autism, anxiety […]
Read moreQuestion and Uncertainty
I was never very close to my grandparents either physically or emotionally. In fact I have never been close to someone who is old and sick. I knew my parents were both saddened and stressed out by their parents which left me with the impression that their parents caused more unhappiness then happiness. Due to […]
Read moreSolo Mission: February the Final Frontier
There are many things I’ve learned over the years and that I need to keep in mind. I’m focusing in a more inward direction this February. I find the below thoughts helpful and I hope that you find them helpful too. • Everyone has their own unique experiences. Others will try to give you advice […]
Read moreTaking Comfort in Science and Nature
As far back as I can remember I have had two things that I take comfort in, nature and science. For me they were a constant source of awe, joy and wonder in my life. I’m not sure I have the words to fully describe how I feel but I it’s like the world makes […]
Read moreHidden Pressures, Visible Explosions
I think that everyone I have ever met is under some sort of pressure. I think being under pressure for lengthy intense periods of time is not good for anyone. Speaking for myself, I find that I don’t handle pressure well. I personally think my difficulties are magnified by my experience with Autism. Autism colors […]
Read morePerfectly Imperfect Families
It would be wonderful if there was such a thing as the perfect family. The myth is that somebody, somewhere, has a perfect family and that person has no problems or, very simple, easily solvable problems. We see this myth in advertisements, television shows and magazines because it’s a common wish that everyone has for […]
Read moreBudget Basics
I think that budgeting is a cornerstone skill to living as independently as possible. It’s one of the first skills I put into practice before I moved away from home. Budgeting consists of two parts, the first part is getting the “big picture” of what your fixed expenses and priorities are. The second part encompasses the skills […]
Read moreBalancing Act
I like to think of myself as a thoughtful person but I struggle every day with how to use the money I have to live on. Like everyone, I have fixed expenses that I must pay every month like rent, car insurance, and food, plus unexpected costs. If I don’t pay my fixed expenses, there […]
Read moreOn the Move
Proper preparation and a leap of faith are needed in any big change. Moving out is a big change for anyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re moving into an apartment or a house with roommates, or living by yourself, moving is hard work. I was lucky enough to have family and friends who had moved […]
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