Autism Answer: A Lifetime of Adapting

 From our New Year edition of The Loop (Follow THIS LINK to read the full edition)

 

 

A Lifetime of Adapting
(also, adopting)
 

                                                             

I am not special, yet I am special. This is true of us all. 

My mom, Lynette Louise (The Brain Broad), steps into the lives of people around the world - via film, book, interviews, speaking engagements, and as a practitioner in our homes - and helps us explore the dynamics existing in this paradox: we can honor our special-ness while learning from others who have experienced it before us. 

Also, we can honor our special-ness while adjusting our behaviors along the way in order to thrive in existing environments. 

She herself has done this more than many. As a child she wanted to become a mom (or a missionary) to save children. As many as possible, at least twelve. She became a mom, but a hysterectomy meant adopting in order to become a mom to so many. Eight of us kids were legally hers, but she also invited others to stay temporarily along the way. Others who needed saving. Eventually she adapted that desire: instead, she wanted to help children, in order to stop seeing them as needing to be saved.

She had careers and businesses, they were successful in her mind so long as they were good for her and us kids. When they weren't, she changed them.

Everything mom chose to do incorporated her special-ness, as well as ours. But, also, we all had to transition and change to make them work in existing environments. 

Mom is now retired from her most recent work as a neurofeedback & BioPlay practitioner in homes around the world, but she still speaks and writes. 

(In fact, she will be speaking at the upcoming YOUniquely YOU women's retreat in Bermuda - April 23-26 2026)

But, she is retired. And this has led my wildly busy (some might say - okay, I might say - inexorably busy) mom to reinvent and rediscover.

As all of us in The Loop know, that has included spending more consistent time with my brother, Dar. Together they have worked creatively on communication and shared some videos with us. 

[follow THIS link to revisit our communication edition of The Loop]

For me, as mom's personal assistant, her retirement has given me reason to transition deeper into my writing self, which in turn has transitioned into diving deeper into my personal self. Who I am, who I want to be now that my children are adults and most of my family lives faraway. 

I am not special. People my age (in our 50s) are similarly engaged. If I narrow it down further, women my age who were stay-at-home moms who now have adult children, we become even more similar. Yet, my journey, my biology, myself is unique. 

As we move into this new year I hope everyone will find the type of courage and beauty I see in this paradox: We are not special, yet we are all special. Our struggles are not unique to us yet we do experience them uniquely. Hence, we have unique insights to share.

This, I think, is why I keep discovering there are places to go when we choose to leave where we are, and those places are prepared to welcome us. 

Sometimes this will mean adapting to a retired lifestyle, or adapting to a home with no small children requiring all encompassing focus; sometimes it will mean adopting new beliefs, adopting new habits, maybe even adopting children. I do not know where you are in your journey, but I do know there are others who have been similarly where you are, where you've been, and where you're going.

I do know transitions and transformations are in your life.

Because they are in all lives. 

Happy new year wonderful friends in The Loop!

I hope you are finding pleasure on your path. 

Hugs, smiles, and love!!

________

Tsara Shelton (X) 

 

Autism Answer: International Autism Docuseries FIX IT IN FIVE: Israel - a review

 

Lynette Louise holding her brain in Israel

People are talking about Israel. Many are passionate and opinionated.

I’m certain may of these people live in Israel or have spent a lot of time in that part of the world. I’m certain many know people who are living there.

I’m also certain many of these people have no idea, no experience, no ties to the place, yet are insistent on their opinions.

As parents, we’ve experienced this. As parents where there are uncommon challenges or disabilities we have especially experienced this.

This “people voicing opinions about our situation” thing,

These are things I’m thinking about after being given the gift that is season three of FIX IT IN FIVE with THE BRAIN BROAD – the award winning international autism docuseries that originally aired on The Autism Channel.

What a journey!

In season three we travel with Lynette Louise (The Brain Broad) and her crew to Israel.

One of the great pleasures in this show is the travel.

Season one – Kampala, Uganda

Season two – San Francisco, USA

Season three– Bet Shemesh, Israel

FIX IT IN FIVE is a special style of travel series because the show is ultimately about helping families with at least one member who is on the autism spectrum, who also has at least one other co-occurring challenge; it is a show about behavior and bioplay techniques that create positive changes regardless of culture or economic position. About the brain science that remains true and malleable regardless of religion or family history.

Hence, we are invited into a family home for five days. We are privy to intimate fears and hopes as well as daily routines. Traveling this way feels more real, more authentic, more like actually being in the place.

So, it was extra interesting to me, a person who has never been anywhere in or around Israel, to have access to the third season. To spend time with Shmuel and his big, beautiful family in their small apartment home.

It does not take long to adore this family. The first episode (released and available on YouTube) is a two-part episode, but we are captivated long before we’ve even begun to feel fully settled in our seats.

Shmuel is a thirteen-year-old autistic boy with an energy that lights up the screen, and he likes being on screen! His thrill at getting to know Lynette, and her joy in getting to know him, is a delight to witness. At the same time the love and struggles of mom and dad – both of whom are impressively candid and significantly different from each other – reaches into our hearts, validating our own experiences while teaching us to understand new ones.

As a full fledged #FixitinFiver myself, I was not surprised by how easy it was to fall in love with this family. It has happened every season. I was a little surprised, however, to notice how different it felt having a dad on the show. Seasons one and two were single-mom homes, but season three is a two-parent family with six kids. I freaking loved it! The addition of dad, who struggles with such different things than mom, brings an energy that wasn’t present in previous seasons.

It also brought a new style of questions and answers.

The lessons that Lynette teaches the family, and us as an audience, are presented a little differently in this season, which was unexpectedly wonderful. Unexpected because I already loved the way the lessons were taught in the previous seasons, but the change was refreshing.

Because both mom and dad are teachers, the lessons on behavior, brain science, and bioplay, are presented in a more familiar for learning style. It’s not drastically different, but it’s different. 

Shmuel and his family practice responding differently to each other rather than scripting, in order to practice thinking differently and fostering a more real connection. They consider the concept of practicing social skills over academic learning. They are introduced to concepts that challenge traditions without disrespecting them. They adjust their behavioral environment. 

Environment is everything. We learn this brilliantly in every season of FIX IT IN FIVE.

Our environment is made of many factors. Some we can control, others we cannot. This is the beauty of what we learn with Lynette in this international series. We learn it and we watch it. We see, by being there in the home with Lynette and each family, how the consistent concepts are adjusted to suit different needs and desires; different challenges and goals.

Ultimately, this is a powerful way to grasp the core concepts in Lynette’s teachings.

Everyone is different - every family, every individual, every environment.

The people and places change; the core lessons stay the same.

Please, if you have any interest in autism, parenting, and/or Israel, watch season three of FIX IT IN FIVE with THE BRAIN BROAD. Episode one is available now and a new episode will be released on YouTube each Monday in Sept 2025. 

I won’t pretend watching will give you the right opinions to have about Israel or special needs parenting (wouldn’t it be neat if there was such a thing) but you will be more informed; less ignorant.

Along the way you will also be entertained, educated, and inspired.  

Hugs, smiles, and love!

Tsara Shelton (X.com) 

 

 

FIX IT IN FIVE with LYNETTE LOUISE aka THE BRAIN BROAD

Seaason Three: Israel  

 

 

Autism Answer: Parenting Propaganda

The four similar looking cars driving on the highway this morning made me smile. I was traveling behind them, windows open, hair down, music playing, and imagining the cars as my four sons. I imaged myself encouraging and cheering and loving them from my position behind them. I even felt obnoxious enough to imagine myself as the wind guiding them forward; together yet separate. 

But suddenly the car second from the front put on his turn signal. As he applied the brakes, slowing down to make his turn, my stomach lurched and I fought a sudden urge to cry. I'm fighting it now. 

The car at the front was now far ahead of us, the car that was leaving didn't change his mind--he left. The cars behind him skirted carefully but without concern around him on the shoulder. 

I wanted to cry out! "Come back! Stay with us! You can be your own car but don't go your own way!! We miss you!" but then I saw that the first car was almost out of my view and I felt my hope and fear pulled in his direction. "Wait! You're going too fast, too far! You have to wait for your brothers! We have to go get the one that got away! We miss you! I miss you!"

Honestly, friends, I held back a tear.
Honestly, friends, I had to get a grip.

Many of you know how I best get a grip. I tell myself a new story. 

So, I sat all four of my beautiful, strong, struggling, different, lovely sons down at a coffee shop in my mind. They were gabbing amongst themselves, laughing and teasing and living in the energy that grows when they are together and completely comfortable. Before they had time to remember the small cracks and jealousies in their relationships, the me in my imagination spoke up. "Okay boys," I told them, surprising myself with the conviction in my voice and surprising myself even more with the authenticity of it, "I have to say something. Please, don't interrupt."

I sipped my organic imagination coffee and looked for a moment at each one of my boys. Then, with a breath and a tiny quiver, I told the the truth. "Ever since there was more than one of you I have wanted, more than anything, for you to have strong brother bonds. Because my relationship with my sister has been such a blessing for me, and because my selfishness as a mom has me wanting you to stay together, my desire for your brother bond has tinted everything I do." 

Even in my imagination I wanted to stop. I wanted to leave it there--a truth shared can be enough. I could tell myself that I told them, that I didn't need to take the extra step and let them go. 

But I love my boys too much. I love my life too much to start hiding and justifying again. So, I continued speaking. Softly so that they would lean in and really listen. I knew I might not be able to say this again. "Everything, boys, has been tinted. And in some way, tainted. Because my want, my desire, is exactly that: Mine. It's not right or wrong, but it isn't fair either. Because as your mom I have so much power. So even though it was always with love that I colored your lessons and games and conversations with brother bond propaganda, it's still true that it was propaganda."

My boys sighed and smiled. In my mind, my boys looked lighter and--interestingly--closer to each other. It helped me gather the strength to reiterate, "You are lucky to have each other, and you are lucky to have the bond you have. But you are not required to have that bond. You are not 'less than' or 'making bad choices' if your lives take you in new directions. If you're world becomes full of new relationships that leave less room for each other. I want you to know that, though I'll probably always tint my conversation with the beauty of brother bonding, I am forever willing to see and celebrate other beautiful bonds you boys choose to highlight. I love all of you so much. The turn signal and brake pedal and steering wheel is with you. And I want you to use them your way."

I felt a smile grow and knew I meant it. Coming back into myself--away from the coffee shop of my mind into the car on the highway--I looked at the son who sat beside me in the passenger seat. I reached over and tousled his hair, pulling him out of his own imagination and enjoying the smile he offered me before turning back to the window, staring out and imagining his own stories. 

It's so important to let our loved ones know that we love them and that we will be there for them. That we'll tousle their hair and let them wander the contents of their minds while we drive. 

But also, that we'll let them go. That we love them so much we want to see who and what they'll discover on their own. 

I had no idea when I drove to the grocery store today that I'd be swallowed up by this imagining and lesson. I had no idea that I'd discover something about the truth of parenting propaganda; how it can come from a place of absolute love and even encourage beautiful things while also having the power to taint absolutely. 

But that's the gift of freedom. Unexpected imaginings and lessons that can safely be shared and celebrated. 

My sons deserve that gift. 

And, I admit, I really, really, really hope they'll often want to celebrate it together. 

Hugs, smiles, and love!!
Autism Answers with Tsara Shelton (Facebook)

*Author's Note: Take a moment to enjoy this amazing song my son wrote! You'll see that the parenting propaganda works. My sons do have a really fabulous and beautiful and strong brother bond. Parents are powerful! And the brother bond is a nice thing that my sons are lucky to have. However, because my desire was so all consuming, it's also true that they feel slightly trapped by it sometimes. Encouraging brother bonding is something I will always say yes to, but that's different from what I've done. I've always painted our days and lessons and games with the belief that brother bonding was necessary and right and an absolute must. That was my mistake. That's what I'll try to do different.

Autism Answer: Labels and Love #LoveWins

I'd like to share two short stories with you, friends!

Two short stories about my seventeen year old son. Two memories where we discuss labels and love. Two moments where it was clearly demonstrated that as we grow up and discover who and what we are, labels can be fun, but Love Wins.

Story One: 

My son took a deep breath and nervously told his friends he was gay. When he told me about it I was proud of him but also confused about something.

"Why didn't you tell us first?" I wondered.

"Oh, mom," he laughed, "I don't have to come out to you guys! You love me no matter what. It's not something I felt like I'd have to sit you down and tell you. I knew my friends would have to process it, and that some of them wouldn't be okay with it. I never worry about that with my family!"

Well. Huh. That's a pretty awesome reason!

Hugs, smiles, and love!!
#LoveWins

Story Two:

My seventeen year old son asked me yesterday, "Hey, mom. What are we in this family? Democrats or Republicans?"

I answered with ease, "Well, you're a man so who you are is up to you. You don't have to choose based on our family. Anyway, in this family we don't pick a label. We talk about issues and decide what our beliefs are without checking in to see what "Democrats" or "Republicans" or "Libertarians" or "Independents" would tell us it should be. Does that make sense?"

My son poked my cheek and responded, "You're adorable. I just want to know if we agree with Jon Stewart most of the time."

I laughed and gave him a hug. "Again," I said between giggles, "It's completely up to you to decide if you agree with him. But I definitely think he's funny!"

We chatted a little more about labels, and (of course) ventured a bit into the myths and beliefs on autism. We talked about the spectrum of sexuality, pointing out labels and examining assumptions. 

We didn't agree on everything. 
But because love is more important than labels, we sure had fun!

Hugs, smiles, and love!!
Autism Answers with Tsara Shelton (Facebook)

Labels can be fun but, always, Love Wins!

Autism Answer: Me And Malaea In The Waiting Room--What Happiness Looks Like!

This is what happiness looks like!

My youngest niece, Malaea, and me!

This is what happiness looks like. Sitting with my youngest niece in the dentist's waiting room. Talking about the strange uncomfortable feeling of the freezing in her mouth. Doing the work of distracting her from hurt while my sister is with her sister, because it's her turn. Behind the white wooden doors my other niece is holding her mom's hand in the dentist chair. 

Keeping our moods light and happy while her face feels weird and kind of scary. Taking a selfie with her to show her that she looks great and is going to be okay. 

Being there. Being there and loving it. Doing the work and loving it. Getting on the floor and following her lead while keeping my grown up eye on the goal and somehow encouraging her in that direction. Aiming for fun and lessons as distractions from the strange feeling of numbing and the missing of her mommy. 

This is what happiness looks like. Being there. In the moment. In the moment with a goal that shapes the moment but is less important than the moment itself. 

Waiting rooms and car rides and walks to the park and dinner time. Those are the moments.

And this is what happiness looks like!

Hugs, smiles, and love!!!
Autism Answers with Tsara Shelton (Facebook)

My mom, The Brain Broad, is playing with my other niece in this picture!

Autism Answers: Manipulating Moments that Make Us Happy!

Many of us are enjoying the summer holiday right now. Kids are out of school and life is less structured and we're doing our summer thing. 

In my family the "summer thing" is always figuring out how to get as many of us together in one place for as long as possible without spending money we don't have. Quite a trick!

But being the magicians we are (aka people who know we must do this, that there is no alternative) we always figure something out! 

I drove from our town in Texas (near Waco) to my mom's town in California (near Los Angeles) the other day. We're here!!! My sister and her girls are coming over in a few hours!! There will be so many of us under one roof sipping oceans of coffee and surfing waves of laughter!!!!!! 

I love all the moments we contrive every summer. All the moments! 

But I'll tell you a secret. 

My favorite moments are always the ones that happen when my sons manipulate a way to get all four of them, and me, doing something "just us". It's such a feeling of joy and connectedness and "everything's right in this world" that I can barely stay in my skin! Not only the part where I'm surrounded by my four beautiful boys but also the part where they manipulated it to happen. 

The part where they want it too! 

I don't care how old you are, how happy you are, how healthy you are, what color you are, what size you are, what religion you are, what political party you're a fan of, we ALL like to be wanted and loved. 

It's powerful to remember that.

When you're at a loss. When you're wondering what to do for or with a loved one, maybe during the long summer months of vacation, fill that void by actively contriving a scene where they know they are wanted and loved. Make it obvious! Don't be shy! Tell them, "I want it to be just you and me for a while, can we go to the park? Or go for a drive and listen to your favorite song? Or walk to the coffee shop and sip our favorite drinks? Or see a movie at the discount theater?" 

It doesn't have to cost money and it doesn't have to take long, but it does have to be sincere. Take a moment to sincerely want nothing more than a little time with the folks close to you. 

The memories and moments and connections and honesty and love that happens in these small purposefully contrived and manipulated moments, especially when made consistent, are enough to create a lifetime of fondness and good habits. 

(Now I've gotta figure out how to create a lifetime of wanting to work hard. My boys and I still kinda struggle with that one!!!! tee hee!)

Happy summer friends!!!
Hugs, smiles, and love!!!!!
Autism Answers with Tsara Shelton (Facebook)

This is a picture of my sons I took yesterday at the discount theater after we manipulated a moment that had us going there alone. Just me and my boys. 
It was, as always, a moment that will last many more moments!

Autism Answer: What our Love Creates

My entire family is filled with story addicts and movie freaks. We write, act, sing, direct, edit, discuss, and decipher story ideas, song lyrics, and movies with passion. We share big dreams for the kind of fortune that grows when you know you're making your mark on the world. When you know you are nourishing your ideas by crafting them into stories you can share with the universe. 

A film written and directed by my mom, The Brain Broad, and starring my family. 
 (I play Sherry, the neighbor with the pink beehive hairdo!) 

A STORY

I was hugging my sons so, so, so, so tight the other day as we watched San Andreas in the theater, celebrating Declyn's birthday. 

We gasped and laughed and tapped each other on the leg and nodded enthusiastically at things we knew each of us was thinking. It was, without question, a fantastic experience!

As the credits rolled I aimed my smile toward my two youngest sons. I was about to say something about how awesome it was to be with them, or ask if they liked the movie, or let out some other form of verbal celebration for the intensely delicious swirl of emotions I get anytime we do something together, when Declyn interrupted my random comment. 

Pointing up at the screen he said, "Soon that'll be your name up there, mom, when producers finally make the movie you wrote. Can you imagine how proud we'll all feel that day?"

I hugged him and kissed his cheek and nodded. There was no verbal celebration big enough for how proud and humbled and touched and grateful I was feeling. 

I love my sons.

I love how they love me.

And I love what our love creates. 

Hugs, smiles, and love!!
Autism Answers with Tsara Shelton (Facebook)

Me singing a song I created. This is how I tell the story of my life. It's true, and it's intentional!

Autism Answer: Celebrating Declyn

When I ask Declyn what he wants for his birthday he always says the same things. "I don't need anything." "It's about the heart, not presents." "Let's spend time together, don't spend money." "I want everyone to be happy for my birthday." Stuff like that. When I asked him that same question a couple of days ago he added, "It's a day to celebrate me, not buy me things."

So today, on Declyn's fifteenth birthday, I've gathered a few short Facebook posts (from the past year) about my youngest boy! I hope you'll join me as we celebrate him!!!

_______________________________________________________
ME: Don't worry about it, Declyn. That's normal at your age. 

DECLYN: Mom, did you just call me normal!?

ME: Oops! Sorry!

We had a bit of a giggle.

DECLYN: Our family wouldn't know what to do with normal. 

ME: You might be right. We'd probably stand there stunned, and be like, 'I dunno. Poke it with a stick.'...

We had a bit of a bigger giggle.

Then, Shay walked in. 

SHAY: Hey you guys, it's not healthy for anyone to laugh at anyone. (My sixteen year old looked at us, disappointed.) And anyway, if we met someone normal Dramma (his grandma, my mom) would just adopt them so she could help them heal. 

We had a big hearty delicious coffee spewing belly jiggling laugh!

Happy Saturday friends!!!!
Hugs, smiles, and love!

___________________________________________________


This morning my youngest son was playing with my ponytail and saying, "Mom, sometimes I want things that I just can't have."

I was kind of annoyed, because I had a lot of work to do and I was CERTAIN that he was about to say something about wishing I would go to the store for him. My youngest son has a bit of a passive/aggressive side! I waited a sec, took a breath (breathing in comfort, breathing out annoyance) and asked him to tell me what he had in mind. What was he was wanting that he just couldn't have? 

"You know, like I want Canadian candy-bars and Grandpa. But I can't have them."

I'm so glad I took that breath. For his sake. 

Then, I took one more. For mine.
Hugs, smiles, and love!

_________________________________________________

"Darn! I look good today." ~My Son, Just Before School
He was right, too!
Hugs, smiles, and love!!

________________________________________________


"I can't really go out with my girlfriend anymore because her parents are a little bit racist. I'm feeling sad." 

My son said this to me today. I felt sad too. 

And then I remembered to go into the world and continue to insist on change and acceptance. I remembered to get busy exploring ways to do this, and enjoying conversation with my son about how we hope the world will evolve. 

Because my son is better than perfect, and his girlfriend will be missing out on some serious wonderful. 

Also, I don't want us to feel sad.
Hugs, smiles, and love!!

__________________________________________________________

I invite you to "LIKE" our Facebook Page, Autism Answers with Tsara Shelton.

There I continue to share stories, insights, and updates from all of my sons, and all of my fabulous family members!!

Happy birthday darling Declyn!!!!!
Hugs, smiles, and love!!!
Autism Answers with Tsara Shelton (Facebook)

 Singing "Sober" by P!NK with Declyn!!

Autism Answer: The Flower Project

My youngest son turned in his flower project today. For decades every ninth grader in our small town (even my best friend remembers this from her own ninth grade here) has had to turn in The Flower Project. 

The Flower Project: Explore and discover and pick and press sixty different Texas wildflowers. Record the date you picked the flower and put it in a photo album along with a tag naming it. This is for a huge portion of the last semester's Biology grade. 

I've helped three of my four sons with The Flower Project. My oldest son moved to California at the beginning of ninth grade so he didn't have the project. I'll admit, I was happy about that. It's a challenging project! Sixty different flowers is a lot of flowers! 

And yet, I'll grudgingly admit, my boys and I have learned a few things while working on The Flower Project. 

First, holy moley Texas has a lot of gorgeous wildflowers! I mean.... seriously!! 

Second, when you come across a large grouping of yellow flowers that look the same-- take a closer look. True, many of them are the same, but there are groupings of different yellow flowers as well. Now, look closer. There are tiny red ones and itty bitty fluffy purple ones! Oh, my! Look even closer.... see that orange speck? See that it has petals? It's another flower! Although it's true that you've found a group of mostly the same yellow flower, if you take time to peek and prod you'll see that within it are other friends. Many similar in appearance and others not at all the same! And now....

Third, move onto another grouping of flowers. These ones are blue and seem to want to take over an entire field. But, wait! What do we see here? All kinds of completely new flowers--white, orange, yellow, and pink--that didn't even exist only two miles away in the yellow flower patch! Once again we are treated to an entirely new neighborhood of flowers living together. Oops! Don't disturb that bee! And ... yikes!! We just saw a copperhead snake! It would seem that our neighborhood of flowers live in collaboration with creatures that sort of scare us. That's okay because we can accept the danger of the copperhead and appreciate it's important existence while we step nervously back, heading toward the relative safety of the country road. 

Fourth, while we walk in nature and listen to its sounds, while we take in its scents and breathe in its freshness, we waken and excite new sides to ourselves and our children. Sometimes the new side is silent. Sometimes it's vocal. Sometimes it hums and moves with more confidence, and sometimes it pulls forth a quieter grace. Always, it's nice to know this part of ourselves for a bit. 

Fifth, when we think we've found all of the flowers we possibly can, though it's nowhere near sixty different kinds, we look again a few weeks later. Oh my! It's all different now! Some of our yellow and red flowered friends are still here, and some have gone away, but now we are greeted with brand new purple and pink and orange and white flowers! And now we also remember to be careful so we don't disturb the copperheads. They live there too, and they can kill us. Though they have better things to do and we'd like to leave them to it. We're seasoned explorers now and have communicated an understanding with our dangerous new friends. We didn't write up a contract exactly, or talk to each other with words, but we communicated our needs and have an unspoken agreement. We don't intend to hurt each other.

Sixth, although the work of pressing and labeling and learning about each flower seems tedious, it's also interesting. We learn a bit about when we can go find that elusive red flower we've been looking for, and where we'll most likely find it. We feel surprised to learn that it's the tedious work that can often bring enlightenment to us as flower finders, but also to others who haven't had time to find flowers. To people who are not in the business of doing The Flower Project. Without the labeling and pressing and studying, we would have little to show them. There is suddenly value in taking the time to do the tedious work. Because, we want to share what we know. 

Seventh, like the flowers we've found we are more beautiful and interesting when we surround ourselves with diversity. We blossom at times and let our friends blossom at other times and always we are all equally part of the same connected thing. The Community. The World. The Universe.

Eighth, even though I've been part of The Flower Project for a few years now I still don't know or remember or care what the names of the flowers are. It's enough for me to see and know and learn that there are so many different kinds and colors. But some people (including one of my sons) love to know the names and habits of the individual flower families. And in this way, we are different and good for each other. I'm nourished and he is nourished and we're all nourished in different ways. 

Much like the flowers we're studying. 

My youngest son handed in his flower project today, and it's the last one we'll do. I'm mostly relieved. It's a lot of work and worth a huge chunk of the biology grade. It's nice to have it over with! 

But, also, we've gotten a lot of lovely things from The Flower Project. 

And so, though I'm glad to never do it again, I'm also glad to know that ninth graders will continue with this lovely tradition. 

Thanks in part to The Flower Project, for the rest of my life I will take time to peek at and appreciate and learn from the flowers!

Hugs, smiles, and love!!
Autism Answers with Tsara Shelton (Facebook)

I found these folks hanging around our yard. I guess they like it here!