Sweet Charlottes

I constantly struggle with this, especially as I watch my own child struggle. INCLUSION, ACCEPTANCE, and UNDERSTANDING...isn’t what we all want? Isn’t that what the world is seeking right now? #inclusion #diversity #disability #inclusionmatters #autism #disabilityawareness #downsyndrome #specialneeds #equality #community #autismawareness #diversityandinclusion #education #understanding #acceptance #love

Ice painting! A great activity incorporating art, sensory play, and fine motor skills! The kids loved it! #preschool #preschoolactivities #learningthroughplay #children #earlychildhoodeducation #kidsactivities #playbasedlearning #sensoryplay #childrensart #learning #laughter #love #fun

He’s so ready to be all grown up and he wants to be just like his dad. How fortunate that he has an amazing role model. Like father, like son, and I couldn’t dream of it any other way. #fatherandson #fathersontime #dad #rolemodel #likefatherlikeson #son #fathersongoals #father #autismfather #autismdad #autismlove #fatherslove #love #myboys #myheroes #myheart

Ms. Lindsay and husband Chris are representing at the game today! Go Bills! #buffalobills #billsmafia #buffalo #gobills #joshallen #letsgobuffalo #onebuffalo #football #buffalony #buffalolove #buffalobillsfootball #stefondiggs #wny #love #buffalonewyork

A special night spent with beautiful and amazing people. Love our community and what happens when we all come together. Thank you! @collcomm.mission @feelingsrock @musicwithmisssararogers @buffaloautismproject @akronparentsofspecialneeds@littlebuffaloplay @danifitbuffalo @superheroalliancewny @girlscoutsgroup30539

We want to know!!! #sweetcharlottes #halloween #halloween2020 #trickortreat #halloweencostumes #halloweenmemories #funfriday #flashbackfriday #716kids #buffalokids #outdooractivitiesforkids #spooky #halloweendecorations #partyplanning #favoritecostume #wewanttoknow

One of my all time favorite dress up ensembles! The most beautiful Snow-white, ninja, firefighter that I’ve ever seen! What’s your little one dressing up as this year? #dressuptime #dressup #fancydress #halloween #costume #halloweencostume #fun #fancy #kids #imagination #letthemhavefun #letthembelittle

It’s in sharing our story that we can find support and are better inspired to support others. We love the community that we have found here and want to know more about you! Click the link in bio or message us here to share your story #specialneeds #specialneedsfamily #specialneedssupport #support #community #helpothers #makeadifference #makeafriend #friendship #compassion #hope

Let them be little. Let them PLAY! #earlychildhood #toddlerlife #learnthroughplay #parenting #playandlearn #education #playtime #earlyeducation #asweetstartpreschool #sensoryplay #momlife #messyplay #learningisfun #earlyyears #wherelearningmeetsplay

Sunday is a FUN day to recap our activities with the threes! A is for Apple and this craft was perfect for practicing great skills! They learned how to trace the letter A, how to appropriately hold and cut with scissors, practiced their grip by holding the marker, and counted the number of seeds! All learning should be this fun! #asweetstartpreschool... #earlychildhood #preschool #earlylearning #learningthroughplay #kids #playbasedlearning #earlyyears #parenting #toddler #children #playmatters #learning #play #kidsactivities #earlyeducation #childdevelopment #prek See more

Happy 21st anniversary to the love of my life and my very best friend. #anniversary #happyanniversary #husbandandwife #bestfriends #marriage #adventure #journey #ourjourney #life #lifeisgood #truelove #always #forever #nomatterwhat

It’s National Dessert day and what’s sweeter than someone being willing to share their cookie?! What’s your favorite sweet treat? #nationaldessertday #dessert #sweettreat #treat #cookie #letsshare #sharing #lovewithoutwords #lovedoesntneedthem #showyourlove #showyourlove #childrensbooks #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookauthor #autisminspired #autismfamily #autismlove

It is a stressful time and our little ones are just as affected as we are. They may not always know how to ask, but they are always looking to us for help. The best thing that we can do is to be an example of how to persevere during this difficult time. Acknowledge their feelings and concerns, take the time to reassure them, and give them hugs way more often. Stay strong, be graceful, be kind, and hold onto what you know truly matters. ... #raisingkids #parenting #momlife #motherhood #parenthood #positiveparenting #parents #family #kids #love #dadlife #parentinglife #consciousparenting #children #mindfulparenting #motivation #inspiration #strength #hope #perseverance

What can you do with all those apples you picked?? Have a taste test with your kiddos! ... We found this free printable from @keepingmykindersbusytpt What's your favorite color apple?? #sweetcharlottes #applepicking #appleseason #tastetest #freeprintables #preschoolfamilies #asweetstartpreschool #appleactivity #toddlerschool #homeschool

Flashback to a wonderful event! We asked How can you show love without words? Some of the answers were just priceless. Ask your babies, what would they say? What would YOU say? #lovewithoutwords #lovedoesntneedthem #showyourlove #specialbond #specialneed #specialneedssibling #siblings #friends #autisminspired #inspiration #myinspiration #mystory #yourstory #story #childrensbook

There is a memory I hold close to my heart during the time I was pregnant with Paul. My husband and I were spending our anniversary weekend away together. As we ate dinner I saw a young girl with Down syndrome and her family. I was so taken by her. I told Will, if my baby had Down syndrome I would be honored. I believe in some way, at that moment, I opened myself up to receive a promise God intended to give. Two weeks later, Dec. 23rd 2014, I received the call. My doctor was... very bleak and unsupportive about my son’s diagnosis. My words at the restaurant would echo in my mind during the subsequent 6 months. As much as I was filled with grief and fear, I knew this was my cross to carry. No matter the courage or well wishes that I received, I refused to be happy about my child until he was born healthy and all the awful things my ob/gyn said would happen, did not. Now, 5 years later, life is completely different then anything I ever expected. My cross that I bear is now one of my greatest joys. I have found that 80% of what my ob/gyn said about my unborn baby was false and filled with ignorance and bias. That which is true is handled day by day, with a heavy leaning on my God. It’s not always easy, and I understand that no child is, but those that have raised a child with a disability understand life in a completely different way. For me it is a blessing that I draw great strength from. There is a certain pride and strength that comes from being gifted to raise a child that is different from others- there is more living in the moment, more appreciation of simple things, more compassion for others, more distaste for social injustice, more acceptance, more joy in the day to day, more dreams and mystique about what tomorrow will bring, more strength to fight for what is right, life in general is just more. And I am more grateful and more proud then I could ever have imagined to be the mother of this boy.

Miss Shannon and just a few of her boys! #preschool #preschoolclassroom #education #educationcenter #educator #inclusive #inclusion #inclusionschool #prek #supportchildren #supportfamilies #learningthroughplay #laughter #love #fun

Grocery shopping!!! I’m not sure what the biggest accomplishment is here; his independently tackling a new life skill or me not passing out in the store! He dodged me every time I got close!... #heisdetermined #determination #goals #lifegoals #lifeskills #hesdoingit #brave #bebrave #inspiration #myinspiration #motivation #independence #myboy #myyoungman #autismmom #autismproud #autismlove #love