Autism Parenting Tips: Unexpected Milestones

I Got Kicked Out of My Own Shower (and Somehow That’s a Win) This morning, I got into the shower thinking I might get a few quiet minutes to myself. Bold assumption. A few minutes later, my son showed up and very confidently informed me that he wanted to take a shower and that I should, in fact, get out. Not because there was an emergency. Not because he needed help. Just because he decided it was time. My first reaction was, “Wow. The audacity.” My second reaction was, “Wait… this is actually a big deal.” A year ago, this would never have happened. Showering was something to avoid, delay, or replace with staring at a phone for an impressive amount of time. Today, he independently chose it. Yes, there is another bathroom. Yes, my moisturizer routine was tragically interrupted. But I had a clean kid who made a healthy choice all on his own. That didn’t happen overnight. It came from a lot of repetition, patience, and me casually reminding him, “You usually feel better after a shower,” while wondering if any of it was sinking in. Turns out… it was. It was a good reminder that growth rarely shows up on schedule. It shows up inconveniently. While you’re wet. And holding a towel. Encouragement matters. But not all encouragement looks like praise or applause. Sometimes it looks like stepping aside and letting someone realize they’re capable. So yes, I lost my shower. But I gained proof that something is working. What kind of encouragement seems to land best for the people you’re supporting right now?