Description

Hey, What’s Up! It’s Tommy. Kailee and I are sitting down to recap the holidays and talk through what really happened behind the scenes, Christmas, New Year’s, family visits, routines getting shaken up, and the emotional weight that can come with all of it when you’re parenting a child with profound autism.

This year was a big one for us. We did something we haven’t done in a long time, we hit multiple family stops in one day. That might sound normal to some people, but for us, it’s a whole different level of planning, nerves, and “what if” thoughts. The good news, it went really well, and it reminded us that progress is real, even when it feels slow.

We also talk about a big change I made, I took a break from alcohol for the first time in a very long time, and doing that during the holidays came with some unexpected mental fog, stress, and emotional swings. On top of that, Kailee’s been dealing with hormonal shifts, and we got real about what it looks like to give each other grace when both people are struggling at the same time.

We get into Wyatt’s recent scans and why we’re encouraged. His core score improved, his energy numbers jumped big, and we’re increasing the frequency of appointments because the new method seems to be helping. We also talk about what we’re learning about sugar, screens, routines, and why “small wins” are not small at all.

This episode is basically a reminder that progress takes time, the holidays can feel like a pressure cooker, and you are not alone if you feel relieved when it’s over.

Key Takeaways

• Holidays can be stressful for any family, but autism adds more variables and more pressure.
• A supportive village matters, especially when family understands food triggers and flexibility.
• Some progress looks small, like waiting calmly in a waiting room, but it’s actually huge.
• Giving your spouse grace is not optional, it’s survival, especially during stressful seasons.
• Screens and sugar can create big behavior swings, and cutting back can help a lot.
• Wyatt’s scan improvements were encouraging, especially the jump in his overall score and energy.
• Consistency builds momentum, even when it feels boring or slow.
• Maintenance can be mentally tough, because you don’t feel like you’re chasing a big goal.
• You can stack wins one day at a time, and then realize weeks have passed and growth happened.
• It’s okay to feel grateful the day went well and still feel relieved it’s done.

If this episode hit home, share it with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone. One share can make a difference for a family that feels isolated right now. If you’ve got questions about scans, chiropractic care, routines, diet, or anything we talked about, email me. We want to talk about what you’re dealing with too.

Visit spectrumincamouflage.com for more episodes and updates.
Email: tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com\
Website: spectrumincamouflage.com

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