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THEHIPPYMOM,LLC

@thehippymom

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A hippy mom sharing stories about high support autism, single motherhood, herbalism and spirituality ✨
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People always ask, “How do you know what Jude wants if he’s nonverbal?”

Exhibit A: I tried to use the bathroom in peace.

Jude walked in, grabbed his AAC device, found the button, and pressed “jeep” over and over again until I acknowledged him.

No guessing required. 😂

His AAC device gives him a voice. This took YEARS!!! We started off with the pecs board. Jude now uses spelling and his aac device. I’m working with him to use three word sentences like, “I want… or I need …” Sometimes that voice is telling me he wants a snack. Sometimes it’s telling me he wants to go for a drive. And sometimes it’s reminding me that even a trip to the toilet is apparently a family activity.

Today’s message was simple: Jeep. Jeep. I. Want. Jeep. #nonverbalautism #nonverbalcommunication #autismcommunity #profoundautism #thehippymom by @thehippymom

I’m in a season of accepting my exhaustion.

Summers are not easy when you’re raising a child with profound autism. ESY started this week for Jude and although it’s been so nice to get a lil break and have Jude occupied in the summer program, summer schedules are so much shorter and I’m not getting much interaction with the outdoor world lately. I spend my mornings playing catch up with sleep from the night before since Jude has been regressing with his sleep again. That means days have been starting every morning at 3 a.m. and lately I’ve just been accepting that this is the season I’m in.

I feel depression hovering like a dark cloud and I do my best with my knowledge as an herbalist to take care of my needs. My apothecary, that was once my bedroom, is my safe haven. I light candles once I close the kitchen for the night and Jude’s asleep and the cats are fed. I brew a big batch of my blends. Right now I’m working with soursop tea for my inflammation because I’m having a flare up from stress and lack of sleep. Just remembering the basics are often the medicine. A warm cup of tea. Candlelight. Quiet. A moment where no one needs anything from me.

I’m grateful for my knowledge but even with that, nothing beats tangible community and I’m deeply saddened by isolation. This life is so lonely. I hate coming on here to always share this but it’s just what this season is. It’s what happens when you move across the map to restart your life. I don’t regret moving because it was the best decision I could have made for Jude, but I do grieve not having a village. Two things can be true at once.

If you’d like some herbal support too, I sell herbal blends specifically for the nervous system of caregivers. They’re all adaptogenic herbs that help the body adapt during stressful times. I don’t cure anything, but my blends are for the brokenhearted. For the caregivers. For anyone carrying more than people can see.
#thehippymom #autismmom #profoundautism #caregiversupport #adaptogenicherbs by @thehippymom

Two years ago I packed up my life in New York and moved to California with my autistic son to start over.

I had no roadmap. No village. Just survival, faith, motherhood, and a vision for something softer for the both of us.

Today our story was featured in VoyageLA and seeing everything written out feels incredibly emotional.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me, shared my story, ordered from The Hippy Mom, or simply reminded me I wasn’t alone during some of the hardest seasons of my life.

Full article linked in bio 🌿
#thehippymom #autismresources #crosscountryroadtrip #profoundautism #apothecary by @thehippymom

I’ve been attending IEP meetings for years and I’m STILL learning! Today I learned what SELPA stands for. 😂 A reminder that you don’t have to know everything to advocate for your child. Ask questions, get familiar with the terminology, and never be afraid to speak up. We’re learning as we go! 💙 #thehippymom #iepmeetings #autismadvocate #parentadvocate #specialeducationadvocate by @thehippymom

One thing I will never do is underestimate my son. Jude has significant support needs, but that doesn’t mean he lacks understanding, intelligence, or the ability to learn. I don’t assume what he can or cannot do. I introduce him to new things, pay attention to his strengths, and let him show me what’s possible. Sometimes he surprises me, and sometimes he reminds me just how much there is still to discover about him. Being completely nonverbal does not mean he has nothing to say. I will always give him the opportunity to show me who he is. 💙 #thehippymom #autismcommunity #profoundautism #nonverbalautism #autismmom by @thehippymom

I took a lil break from Instagram because the internet is not a safe place. I’m realizing I don’t want to share so much of Jude’s life with strangers anymore. I can still talk about my experience as his mother without giving the internet access to every part of our lives. #advocate #autismmom #internetsafety by @thehippymom

Starting over in California with my son has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life. We have no support system here. It’s just Jude and me, figuring out a new city together. As a single mother raising a nonverbal child with Level 3 autism, even something as simple as taking public transportation requires planning. I’ve been navigating my own anxiety around exploring LA because I’m the only person there to help him if things become overwhelming. Today, I decided we were going to try the Metro for the first time. I used ChatGPT to create a visual schedule, printed it out, and walked Jude through what our day would look like. And he did AMAZING. No meltdown, just a little boy enjoying his train ride. 🥹🚆 I’ve spent so much time worrying about what could go wrong that sometimes I forget what could go right. We’re both learning how to navigate this new chapter of our lives, and I’m realizing that building a life here means allowing ourselves to actually experience it. One adventure at a time. 💙 #thehippymom #nonverbalautism #profoundautism #visualschedule by @thehippymom

I manifested an antique sewing machine!!! I still can’t believe I found this beauty for only $30, and it’s solid wood! The only thing I need is a pedal, but since it’s an antique, I might have to do some digging on eBay to find one.

I’m so excited to be getting back into hobbies I enjoyed before motherhood. Not many of you know that I have a degree in Advertising, Marketing and Communications and took a few fashion design classes at FIT. Fashion and creativity have always been such a big part of who I am, long before I became a mother.

This thrift find meant so much more to me than you all know. It feels like I’m reconnecting with parts of myself I haven’t had the space to explore in years. 🥹🤎 #thriftfinds #antiques #thrifthaul #thriftingcommunity by @thehippymom

After nearly 10 years of advocating for my nonverbal son, I no longer walk into IEP meetings feeling intimidated. I walk in prepared, confident, and knowing exactly who I’m advocating for. Parents, please stop feeling guilty for asking questions, requesting accommodations, or challenging goals that don’t reflect your child’s potential. You are not being difficult. You are participating in decisions that directly impact your child’s future. Nobody knows your child the way you do. Take up space in those rooms. You belong at that table just as much as anyone else. ❤️
#thehippymom #autismadvocate #iepmeeting by @thehippymom

I’ve learned to take the emotions out of IEP meetings. Not because I don’t care, but because I know the real learning happens outside of those classroom walls. It happens at home when it’s just me and my son, exposing him to new environments, learning his special interests, understanding his triggers, and helping him build the skills to cope with them through gradual exposure. I’m preparing him for a world that doesn’t operate around an IEP. One day he’ll age out of the school system, and I want him to have as many tools as possible to navigate life beyond it. I still advocate, ask questions, and hold the school accountable, but I also understand that an IEP is a document that helps us access resources and support. It is not a reflection of my son’s full potential. I know he’s capable of so much more than what’s written on those pages, and I refuse to let anyone put a ceiling on what he can learn or become. #iep #autismmom #autismcommunity #specialneedsparenting #thehippymom by @thehippymom

Disabled children and adults deserve to be included in events too. Just because something is advertised as family-friendly doesn’t mean it’s accessible. We deserve more than overcrowded spaces, sensory overload, and limited accessibility. I refuse to keep my son isolated from the world because spaces weren’t designed with children like him in mind. Inclusion means making sure everyone has the opportunity to participate, not just those who can comfortably navigate the environment.
#thehippymom #nonverbalautism #profoundautism #autisminclusion #specialneedsfamily by @thehippymom

Proof of existence. Happy Friday community! 🧚🏽‍♀️#ootd #athleisurewear #thehippymom by @thehippymom