2025 Resolutions

A new year is here, and that means it’s time to set some fresh goals! As many of you might know, I don’t just make resolutions for myself; I also create goals for each of my kids. Supporting a child on the spectrum means always focusing on the future and figuring out how we can make their lives even better.

Let’s start with Drew. This year, we want to help him learn how to gracefully accept losing. The good news is that he’s eager to play more with his siblings and even some other kids. The tricky part? He’s the youngest, so winning doesn’t come easily for him, and we’ve seen quite a few little tears and meltdowns when things don’t go his way. At first, I was just thrilled that he cared about winning—something that has yet to capture his older brother’s interest—but now it’s clear that we need to help him manage his feelings about losing so that everyone will want to keep playing with him.

Now, let’s talk about Damion. This year, I want to encourage him to get more active. Since he’s a preteen now, I’ve noticed he’s playing less and less spontaneously. Like many kids his age, he’s leaning more towards laid-back activities. Plus, sports haven’t really caught his attention, and the Special Olympics activities he participates in aren’t at an intensity level that breaks a sweat.

 I know how important it is for him to have some daily movement and cardio in his life, so if spontaneous play isn’t happening, it’s time to add some structured workouts to his routine. My goal is to mix in some fun family sports activities at home along with everyday workouts. This way, we can tackle both of the boys’ goals together!

So, in a nutshell, one cares about winning too much while the other doesn’t care about winning at all. Although it’s certainly easier to set the same goals for everyone, I find that my life enjoys a bit of irony. But I think this also highlights just how wonderfully unique kids on the spectrum can be. I hope 2025 is a great and productive year for both our family and yours. Happy New Year!