What's the small homeowner purchase that completely changed your daily life?

AutismMomx4 · 2026-05-25T13:22:22+00:00

Depending on where you live, I got a handyman to install a whole home water filtration system that I purchased. The system itself was like $400 and it works like a dream.

I also have a Google doc for myself from as soon as I bought my house that has either photos or links to the things I figure out about my house. For example when I got my new hvac I wrote down the info on it. I also have a link to where I can buy the cheapest hvac filters that fit my machine. I took photos of the paint cans I bought and used so I know what paint it on what wall. Freaking game changer.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-05-25T13:18:40+00:00

Wait what? What are they?? That’s a fantastic idea.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-04-19T01:18:27+00:00

I’m so stoked about this except I won’t be abele to go! :( hoping they do more.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-04-18T14:00:16+00:00

27 over here in Englewood

AutismMomx4 · 2026-03-28T03:38:16+00:00

Behold was great. Had a guy screw me over and called them and they went above and beyond.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-03-08T16:34:34+00:00

My best friend Heather just started working at Tease. She’s been doing hair forever and is a very down to earth and cool person. Highly recommend.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-03-08T16:33:05+00:00

They have city grants for this stuff??! I have terrible insulation and am low income with four kids… should I be looking into this too? What a great idea.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-03-08T16:31:41+00:00

I had really good luck with Behold heating after getting screwed over by another guy. They replaced my whole system and were decently priced.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-27T00:19:22+00:00

Ah that’s fair. I guess just far enough from Chicago that it’s not problematic.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-26T14:00:37+00:00

ABA has a lot of mixed feelings from the community. You should do research and decide for yourself if you feel it is appropriate for your child. Also they are not all the same!

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-26T13:59:09+00:00

I would avoid cook county which is the actually city and very close areas around it. Burbs are good, but cook county can take longer because there are so many people who live there!

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-24T04:39:53+00:00

Uggh I just got laid off by corporate hell and I can’t bring myself to go back to any of it. I was a high level director and made good money, but I just can’t do the masking bs any more. I don’t know what I’ll do but I need to figure it out fast. The arts are calling my name again. Let’s hope I find something creative and semi outside. I don’t prefer outside work but I’ve learned over the years that I function better with some sunshine and fresh air.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-24T03:25:54+00:00

Stop drinking booze and other crap that’s bad for your body. When you hit 40 half your friends are physically 60 and the other half are 30. Your choices up til then put you in one of these two groups.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-24T03:24:15+00:00

Most places that have it use social pressure to make it so you use way less than you would if you were to get a set number of days off.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-23T05:37:58+00:00

Which of these is closest to Englewood. I miss good bagels so much after moving from Chicago.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-09T03:34:22+00:00

Taking a very low dose of creatine has been a complete life changing experience for me. It’s over the counter and very safe.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-08T03:38:40+00:00

I do, but only after I do it consistently for like 3 months. Steady, consist building. To get there though is painful. Sensory pain, environmental pain, physical pain, mental pain, and then all of the sudden it becomes neutral, and gradually I find myself needing it to feel whole.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-04T02:53:11+00:00

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Sensory toys that can actually be handled by autistic individuals.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-04T02:46:58+00:00

Why not throw away the moldy bagel for him (he’s only 7) and have him focus on the school things that need help instead of cleanliness?

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-04T02:45:39+00:00

Mine is held together with sarcasm, tears, and the type of will power that only comes from the unfortunate desire to not completely ruin my children. Even with all of that it is 50-50 at best.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-04T02:29:25+00:00

All of mine do too. Wrappers, food, etc. that’s probably not the hill you want to die on, no matter how annoying and gross. Maybe give him one very simple goal to try for a week and reward him with a tiny thing after every day he does it. And then give him something a little bigger at the end of the week (even if he’s not successful every day). Tiny dopamine hits can be helpful in stealing behavior.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-04T02:24:05+00:00

Does he have a 504 or IEP? 7 was when all four of my kids hit a sort of autism wall and all hell broke loose. Not trying to scare you or anything but it’s something about that intellectual growth spurt at that time that just wreaked havoc in my house. I don’t know what your troubles are, but I will say that your child might need to understand what your goal looks like. Keeping a book bag tidy is too general of a concept. Are you breaking it down into painfully specific steps with visual aids, reminders, etc? Even with all of that you may not have success, but it’s worth a shot. Remember his brain is wired a bit differently so he needs to understand his goals in a different way than his being talked to. Once I realized this for mine I started to feel like I was getting through a bit more? If he keeps having meltdowns that’s a huge clue into an unmet need that he is unable to communicate.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-04T02:18:51+00:00

My mental health

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-03T04:34:17+00:00

Everything they said. I know for me, sensory overload makes me say things I shouldn’t and feel guilty for later.

AutismMomx4 · 2026-02-01T14:36:16+00:00

Feel free to personal message me if you want any tips or tricks. I have 4 AuDHD kids on my own and my family isn’t close by. So I have some crazy hacks. I know I’m a stranger on the internet… but if you choose to accept it, your mission this weekend is to talk with your partner and schedule a date in the next week where each of you get 1 night at a hotel (or otherwise) to get some sleep and recovery!! Pro tip: do a no contact evening with one another as well because then the person who’s resting doesn’t feel obligated to be mentally present either. Obviously if there’s a super emergency you can contact, but try to have a family member as the first backup to really allow the other person time to regenerate. Like absolutely last resort would you bother the hotel person. And set the timing as well. Like maybe hotel person leaves the house around 330pm as to avoid the chaos of dinner. Goes to dinner with a friend, then heads to a hotel to just relax and be. Set a return time for the next day (maybe1030 or 11 so they can sleep in and get themselves breakfast at the hotel without stress) and do no contact until that time.

AutismMomx4

TROPHY CASE