Instagram story viewer> @watchbellabloom> Posts

Watch Bella Bloom 💜🌸

@watchbellabloom

9K

followers

0

following

💜 Until they understood WHY 🌸
Learning Bella’s world one day at a time
Helping others understand the “why” behind behaviors ✨
👇 Watch Bella Bloom

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

💜 Lesson of the Afternoon

Bella had never met this woman before.

She didn’t ask her name.

She didn’t say a word.

She simply reached for her hand.

What happened next reminded me that connection doesn’t always begin with conversation.

Sometimes all it takes is kindness, an open heart, and a willingness to meet someone where they are.

💜 Week 4: Joy Looks Different Too.

#autismmom #autismawareness #autismacceptance #nonverbalautism #specialneedsparent taken in Charlotte, North Carolina by @watchbellabloom

394k

1k

2 months ago

💜 Sometimes what looks like stubbornness is actually curiosity.

At first, I thought Bella was just determined to do things her way. Then I realized she had noticed something I hadn’t.

This week has been all about learning that the little things aren’t little at all. Sometimes the moments we almost miss tell us the most about how our children see the world.

✨ Join us LIVE tonight at 9 PM on TikTok (@WatchBellaBloom) as we recap this week’s lessons, share some of our favorite moments, and talk about what happens when we start looking a little closer.

#autismmom #autismawareness #autismacceptance #nonverbalautism #stimming taken in Charlotte, N.C. by @watchbellabloom

188

6

3 months ago

💜

For years, I thought every outing needed a plan.

A destination.

A schedule.

A timeline to follow.

Today was supposed to end at the park.

But Bella noticed the water… and instead of rushing her back to my plan, I followed hers.

What happened next reminded me that some of the best moments in life aren’t planned.

They’re discovered when we’re willing to slow down long enough to see what someone else is trying to show us.

💜 Week 4: Things Are Understood Differently Now

Part 1:
💜 Bella Taught Me To Slow Down.

This Afternoon:
💜 Bella Taught Me To Listen.

#autismmom
#autismawareness
#autismacceptance
#nonverbalautism
#communication taken in Charlotte, N.C. by @watchbellabloom

201

11

3 months ago

She didn’t say a word — she just came and got Mama. 💜

Bella took my hand, led me all the way to the table, sat down, and started communicating in her own way.

One thing this journey continues to teach me is that communication is so much bigger than spoken words. Sometimes you just have to learn how to listen differently. 🌸

Learning her world one day at a time. 💜

#autismmom #autismawareness #autismacceptance #nonverbalautism #specialneedsparent taken in Charlotte, NC by @watchbellabloom

183

3

6 hours ago

She had never met this woman before. 💜

Bella simply walked up, took her hand and started shaking it like she was introducing herself.

And the response?

“Well hi, nice to meet you.” 🌸

Bella is 7, autistic and nonverbal. Moments like this remind me that not using spoken words doesn’t mean she isn’t communicating or looking for connection.

Sometimes Bella reaches into someone else’s world in her own way — and every now and then, someone understands her right back.

No setup. No prompting. Just a little moment that happened all on its own. 💜

Learning her world one day at a time. 🌸

#autismmom #autismawareness #autismacceptance #nonverbalautism #specialneedsparent taken in Charlotte, NC by @watchbellabloom

248

12

16 hours ago

She knew what she wanted — we’re helping her build more ways to communicate it. 💜

During this session, Bella’s speech therapist guided her RBT through using snacks, choices and her communication device to practice requesting what she wanted.

What I love about sharing the process is that you get to see ALL of it — the successful touches, the prompting, the adjustments, the reaching, the vocalizing and the moments when Bella communicated in her own way before everyone could even get the steps lined up.

We’re not trying to replace the ways Bella already communicates. We’re helping her add more ways to make herself understood. 🌸

These are the beginning stages we’ll one day be able to look back on and see just how far she’s come.

Learning her world one day at a time. 💜🌸

#autismmom #autismawareness #autismacceptance #nonverbalautism #specialneedsparent taken in Charlotte, North Carolina by @watchbellabloom

127

3

a day ago

Turn-taking can look simple — until it’s a skill your child is still learning. 💜

This was Bella’s RBT’s second day with her, and this Play-Doh activity introduced turn-taking in a way Bella wasn’t used to.

I left the natural audio because I wanted this moment shared as it happened — Bella having her turn, enjoying the Play-Doh, and then navigating what happened when her turn ended.

This is where she started. If they work on it again, we’ll get to see how that starting point changes over time. 🌸

Learning her world one day at a time. 💜

#autismmom #autismawareness #autismacceptance #nonverbalautism #specialneedsparent taken in Charlotte, NC by @watchbellabloom

29

1

a day ago

We’re both learning a new way to communicate. 💜

During this AAC practice, Bella’s speech therapist wasn’t only teaching her — she was teaching me how to model the words, recognize what Bella was showing us, and reinforce her communication in the moment.

It wasn’t perfect or instant. There was prompting, repetition, frustration, and trying again. But that’s part of learning something new.

I loved watching those little connections begin to happen while I was learning right alongside her. 🌸

No rushing. No expecting her to know it overnight.

One request at a time.

Learning her world, one day at a time. 💜

#autismmom #autismawareness #autismacceptance #nonverbalautism #specialneedsparent taken in Charlotte, N.C. by @watchbellabloom

179

5

2 days ago

She never said “open,” but her message was perfectly clear. 💜

Bella opened the freezer, chose the popsicle she wanted, closed the door, and brought it over to me. She sat beside me until she was ready for help—then placed it in my hand, made her opening gesture, and pushed it toward me.

Bella is autistic and nonverbal, but nonverbal does not mean she has nothing to say. Her hands, gestures, movements, and actions all help her communicate.

If you’re new here, welcome to the Watch Bella Bloom village. Follow along as we learn Bella’s world one day at a time and help others understand the “why” behind it. 💜🌸

#autismmom #autismawareness #autismacceptance #nonverbalautism #specialneedsparent taken in Charlotte, NC by @watchbellabloom

133

3

2 days ago

She asked me to play without saying a word. 💜

Bella covered her face, ran to the couch, and hid beneath the pillow. Once I joined her little game, the smiles and laughter kept growing—until Mama got a kiss.

Nonverbal does not mean she isn’t communicating. Sometimes the invitation is in a movement, a look, a playful laugh, or a pillow pulled over her face.

Follow along as we continue learning Bella’s world one day at a time. 💜🌸

#autismmom #autismacceptance #nonverbalautism #autismfamily #specialneedsparent taken in Charlotte, NC by @watchbellabloom

195

7

2 days ago

She didn’t need to be pushed. She needed time to feel safe. 💜

The carport had become Bella’s comfort zone outside. This time, she gradually moved beyond it—toward the side of the house, barefoot into the grass, and eventually farther into the open driveway.

She explored acorns and sticks, whistled, returned when she needed to, and chose to try again. I stayed nearby and allowed her to lead.

To someone else, these may look like ordinary steps. To me, they show trust, confidence, and meaningful progress—on Bella’s own terms. 🌸

Follow @watchbellabloom as we continue learning Bella’s world one day at a time.

#autismmom #autismawareness #autismacceptance #nonverbalautism #specialneedsparent taken in Charlotte, N.C. by @watchbellabloom

46

2

3 days ago

Baby Bella. 💜🌸 She was such a sweet, good baby. Looking at this tiny face and thinking about the beautiful, funny, determined seven-year-old she is today has Mama all in her feelings.

So much has changed, but she has always been my beautiful flower who expresses hope and new beginnings😇
Bella’ Rose Marie. 🌈🌹 by @watchbellabloom

36

9

3 days ago