February Friendship Challenge + Restaurant Wins + Future Peace of Mind 💛

February is here, and I’m leaning into love—especially friendship. Honor your friends this February with memory lane walks, reflection prompts, and a simple friendship challenge. A gentle, practical guide for autism families to start future planning—caregiver backup plans, what to write down, and one next step. Make restaurants more doable with autism-friendly tips: preview the menu, bring a restaurant kit, use breaks, and focus on progress over perfection and a new section: The Autism Passport Kitchen with easy recipes.

Love & Friendship Month: A Quick Stroll Down Memory Lane 💌

Christmas still needs to go back up to the attic… but my Valentine’s decorations are already up. Priorities. 😄
I’m ready for February—and let me tell you: love is definitely in the air! 💕

In Mexico, we celebrate “Día del Amor y la Amistad” (Day of Love and Friendship). So this month, I want to celebrate my friends… and I want to invite you to celebrate yours too.

Who were your childhood friends—the ones who knew you when life was bike rides, scraped knees, and big imagination?

What about your crazy teen years—who witnessed you transform from kid to teenager (and lived to tell the story)? 😅

Do you still keep in touch with any college friends—the ones who saw your “dating rollercoaster” era? 🎢

Then came the friends who showed up when you became a parent… and the ones who are still standing beside you today—in this season, with everything it carries.

So take a quick walk down memory lane. Take it all in. Take a big breath…

Okay—not for too long… because we have today. 😉

As February settles in, I hope you make time for friends, make time for love, and make time for the people who truly matter, 💛 because let’s be honest: we can’t put our friends in the attic with the Christmas decorations and hope they’re still okay when we pull them out next year. 😄
This month, let’s check in, show love, and keep the connection alive.

1. Who is one friend you’re grateful for in this season of life—and why?

2. What’s your favorite friendship “throwback” memory (childhood, teen years, college, early parenting)?

3. If you could tell one friend “thank you” today, who would it be?

4. What kind of friend do you need right now—and have you asked for that support?

Your February Friendship Challenge:

Pick one person and reach out today.

Text: “You popped into my mind today. How are you really doing?” 💬
Voice memo: “Quick thank-you for being in my life.” 🎙️
Invite: “Hot Coco/walk this week?” ☕️🚶‍♀️
Then hit reply and tell me: Who are you reaching out to? (First name only is totally fine.)
And if this message reminded you of someone, forward this newsletter or share it on social media and tag them. 💛

Restaurant Outings: Practice, Not Perfection 🍽️

I remember having a conversation with a mom who told me, “I can’t take my kids to a restaurant because they don’t know how to behave.” Her kids are neurotypical.

I asked her, “How will they learn if they do not get the chance to experience it?”

She looked at me with a puzzled expression. She knew I was asking from the heart—not from judgment. I was genuinely curious, and she said, “I don’t know.”

And honestly… I get it.

For many families, going out to eat feels “reserved” for date nights, girls’ nights, or business meetings. But families with neurodivergent kids deserve restaurant memories too—without feeling like we have to earn our place in public.

The truth is: restaurant skills are learned through exposure, support, and repetition. Not through shame. Not through “they should know better.” And definitely not through avoiding it forever.

If your child has apraxia, ADHD, autism, sensory processing differences, anxiety, or other needs—sitting still, waiting, tolerating noise, and navigating unfamiliar foods can be really hard. So instead of expecting perfect behavior, let’s focus on successful practice. 💛

Below are strategies that have helped many families (including mine) make restaurant outings more doable—and sometimes even enjoyable.

Future Planning for Autism Families: One Step at a Time

Not long ago, a friend contacted me asking for resources to help a man who had just lost his wife and was suddenly searching for full-time care for his young adult child with disabilities. He couldn’t provide the level of care needed and keep working at the same time.

That conversation stayed with me—because it highlights the question that keeps so many parents up at night:

What about my child’s future?
Who will take care of them?
Will they be loved and cared for like I care for them?

I can’t tell you exactly what your future (or your child’s future) will look like.

But I can tell you is what you already know:

The love and care you give your child can’t be duplicated.
Even the best family member. Even the most amazing caregiver. Even someone who truly loves your child…
No one will love your child exactly like you do.

And because that’s true, one of the most loving things you can do is this:

Start preparing.
Legally. Practically. Financially.
And yes—also for your own future care, too.

Now, quick note: I’m not an attorney, and I’m not a financial advisor.
But I have seen the blessings that come when plans are in place… and the hardships that come when plans are avoided because it’s too painful to think about “later.”

I’ve also seen what happens when a parent’s health changes and they simply can’t care for their child the same way anymore.

So I’ll ask gently, with love:

What is your backup plan?

If reading this made your chest tighten a little, I get it. This is tender territory.

But avoiding the conversation doesn’t protect us—it just postpones it.

So today, let’s keep it simple: one step. Not the whole staircase.

Because your child deserves to be cared for in every season of life—and you deserve the peace of knowing there’s a plan if life throws something unexpected.

“What if?” is scary… but “What if we prepared?” can be powerful. 💪💛

Reflection Questions (pick 1–2 to answer, or just sit with them)
When you think about your child’s future, what feels heaviest right now: housing, caregiving, money, legal decisions, or family dynamics?

If you had to name one person who could step in during an emergency, who would it be—and do they know that?

What’s one thing only you know about your child’s care that you should write down (routines, triggers, calming strategies, medications, communication)?

What would “more prepared” look like by this time next month—one small win?

If you’re willing, hit reply and tell me (short is totally fine):

What’s your biggest “what if?” right now?
What kind of support would help you take a first step: a checklist, a template, or a “what to organize first” list?
And if you know another parent who’s quietly carrying these same worries at 2:00 a.m., please forward this or share it on social media. Sometimes the most helpful thing is simply knowing we’re not alone. 💛

You don’t have to solve everything today. But you can choose one small step that makes “later” a little less overwhelming

📋 Your 5 Empowering First Steps (Start with #1 today)

• Step 1: Write a “Letter of Intent” (15–30 minutes)
  Document what matters most about your child: daily routines, favorite foods, calming strategies, communication preferences, medical needs.

• Step 2: Identify 1–3 Backup People (10 minutes)
  Name family, friends, or trusted contacts who could step in during an emergency. Share one key routine from your Letter of Intent.

• Step 3: Check Government Benefits Eligibility
  See if your child qualifies for SSI or Medicaid—these fund long-term care without spending down assets.

• Step 4: Explore Less-Restrictive Options to Guardianship
  Consider Supported Decision-Making (SDM), Durable Power of Attorney, or Health Care Proxy before full guardianship.

🛠️ Ready-Made Tools & Checklists (Free & Downloadable)

Letter of Intent Template: Routines, preferences, supports The Arc Center for Future
Future Planning Checklist: Housing, finances, transitions Informing Families Guide
Alternatives to Guardianship: Power of Attorney options Exceptional Lives Toolkit
Special Needs Trust Basics: Setup steps & trustee tips Autism Speaks Tool Kit
AARP Financial Planning Guide: SSI, housing, estate basics AARP Disability Care Guide

Crispy Quesadilla “Triangles” (stovetop or toaster-oven)

Outings, dinning and making friends is possible with a supportive organizations such as Tucson Spellers. Is there a similar group in your area? I am blown away by the experiences that can happen when non-speaking individuals can communicate through spelling or typing! Learn more!

We’d love your feedback! Let Us Know What You Think! Email [email protected]