The Spectrum Mom

The Spectrum Mom ​Welcome to our world - the good, the bad, the pretty, the ugly, the love, the stress, the anger, the acceptance. All that accompanies Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Everyone is welcome here.

Something new is joining our .spectrummom brand…. 🙈We’ve been slow on the development (we’ve got three young kids… what ...
10/21/2025

Something new is joining our .spectrummom brand…. 🙈
We’ve been slow on the development (we’ve got three young kids… what do you expect) - but new product, new excitement, new EVERYTHING is coming.
Our mission remains the same - promote Autism Awareness, Acceptance and continue working on products to HELP autistic children.
But we also had bigger dreams - if you know me, you know my sarcasm and dirty mind/mouth fuel pretty much everything 😜
Stay tuned ;)


Starting to go through some of the older designs and products we have still, here’s some of the tumblers, water bottles,...
09/28/2025

Starting to go through some of the older designs and products we have still, here’s some of the tumblers, water bottles, seat belt covers and shirts we have.

09/25/2025

Hey there! It’s been a little while and I promise we have some big plans and changes ahead.
I’m just logging on to say hi and let everyone know that we are still here and available to chat and show off what we have. Feel free to reach out or leave a comment, I promise they all come to us and we will try our best to answer when we can! (Life of a parent lol) For introduction my name is Nick, I’m Amanda’s husband and I thought I’d just share a little!

Let’s be clear my wife is the true hero and I want to take a moment to recognize all the work she’s done and I am genuinely excited for her to share with you all what we’ve been thinking for the future of this site and what more we can bring and offer! I am so proud of you! And let’s not forget our little man who inspired this whole adventure!

So growing up I’ve heard all sorts of stories and different highlights of what it means to be “Autistic” and what it must mean to be a parent. Well raising or caring for a 7-year-old child with autism can be both a rewarding and a challenging journey. At this age, many children are developing greater independence, learning social rules, and exploring their interests more deeply. For a child with autism, however, these transitions might look a little different—and that’s okay.

Every child with autism is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. But by understanding their needs, strengths, and challenges, we can create a supportive environment that helps them thrive.

Now I can sit here and spout out facts found in an oversized text book with words you’d only find in a scrabble match, but who does that help? I come from a psychology background, and work as a support worker helping clients of different ages with different developmental disabilities. I’m very familiar with this environment. However it’s completely different to live and be apart of it all from a parent side, step-parent in my case. I’d rather speak from the heart and my own personal experience.

What does it mean being a parent? Sleepless nights, a whole lot of coffee and Disney movies. But also all the joy of watching the little humans grow into people and seeing all the achievements and adventures they get into. Autism, comes across as a scary word, full of uncertainty. However what I’ve learned is that it’s full of beauty and adventure all the same! Is it scary? Well that’s a question that every parent should think before having their kid, regardless if they’re neurodivergent or not! In reality, it’s unknown, and yes that can be scary, but also exciting and beautiful!

Living with and loving a 7-year-old with autism means seeing the world through a different lens. Yes, there will be challenges—communication gaps, sensory struggles, moments of frustration—but there will also be joy, growth, and moments of profound connection. Now every parent is going to say “my kid is the best kid” and boast all the best qualities! My kids are no different, I’m one hell of a proud parent! My boy wakes up like everyone else and boy does he seize the day! He impresses me everyday with how much he’s grown. Little guy knows how to use my phone and tablet better than I do!! But the most beautiful thing about him is that no matter what is going on in a day you bet that he will find the joy in everything! Laughing and jumping around and always trying to make us laugh! I have learned a lot from him, and one major thing I think everyone should take away is to enjoy the little things! Hop along with your kids, sing the songs they love! Match that energy and see how beautiful the world is in their eyes!

What matters most is creating a safe, understanding, and respectful space where your child feels accepted for who they are—not who others expect them to be. Please remember, your child doesn’t need to be “fixed.” They need to be supported, loved, and empowered. In my experience I have seen that the most “improvement” can be found just by offering all the love to them! Be their safe place, it’s okay to feel scared of the unknown but don’t let it take control.

You’ve got this guys! Let’s spark some conversations, tell us your stories! And we will be back with more updates soon!

A short poem:

In Their Own Way

A quiet world, a softer tone,
They walk a path that’s all their own.
They see the stars where others glance,
And find the magic in a dance.

Words may come or stay away,
But in their eyes, whole stories play.
They feel the world both loud and bright—
A different view, a deeper light.

Not broken, lost, or out of place—
Just moving at a different pace.
A heart that shines in colors new,
A child with dreams as wide as you.

08/01/2025

To the mom rushing her child to ABA therapy while her friends are driving theirs to soccer practice, you’re not alone.

To the mom carrying around a PECS book, you rock.

To the dad who avoids milestone talk because his child is years behind, your child is perfect, just as he is.

To the mom embarrassed by her son’s screams in the grocery store, I was there too. Yesterday, in fact.

To the mom hunched over her computer at midnight, researching every possible therapy, your child is lucky to have you as his advocate.

To the dad who dreads taking his child to a restaurant, a park, or anywhere public, I know. It’s hard.

To the mom still mourning the dream of taking her son to the movies or baseball practice, it might not happen the way you pictured it, but it will happen.

To the dad who felt silly celebrating when his son said “buh” for bubbles, every tiny victory is worth a party. Pop the champagne.

To the mom holding back tears after reading another therapy report full of “no progress”, don’t give up. Hope still lives here.

To the dad who wishes his daughter would talk, me too. You’re not alone.

When you feel hopeless… when you wonder how much longer you can keep going… when it seems like no one sees you unless your child is melting down—remember this:
You love your child. You’re doing the best you can. And that matters more than you know.

If you feel like no one understands what you’re living, know that I do. And so do many others.

It’s okay to have bad days. We all do.

To every mom and dad out there doing everything they can to give their child the best possible life despite impossible odds—you’re amazing. And even if your child can’t say it… they know it.

[I wrote this 10 years ago. Still relevant]

Taking your Autistic child anywhere “out of the ordinary” is always terrifying and daunting.We took Nate and Bee to the ...
07/18/2025

Taking your Autistic child anywhere “out of the ordinary” is always terrifying and daunting.
We took Nate and Bee to the Listowel Agricultural Fair Parade tonight, and I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen Nate truly excited for a parade.
He was so excited for the fire trucks, the huge tractors and of course, the candy.
Sometimes it’s stressful, chaotic, frustrating and heartbreaking to think you’re “missing out” on the things other parents get to do, but there are truly beautiful moments 🩷


PSA -Get your (neurodivergent or neurotypical) kids a bouncy castle for your backyard.We got this for less than $400 off...
07/17/2025

PSA -
Get your (neurodivergent or neurotypical) kids a bouncy castle for your backyard.
We got this for less than $400 off Amazon. We saved up for a bit knowing we wanted this because Nate was just getting far too bored in our backyard.
Most ASD kids have difficulties with the small, gimicky/imaginary play toys that neurotypical kids can play with for hours. If Nate doesn’t get instant gratification or sensory satisfaction from something….. he’s NOT interested.
We are at over an hour of play with no asks for a tablet/screen 🙏🏻


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Listowel, ON

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