AHA MOMENTS

I wrote Aaron and Me: our journey on the spectrum, for several reasons: 💙 I wanted to show positive relationships between siblings when one has autism; 💙 I wanted to explain autism in a simple way that would encourage children to foster relationships with children on the autism spectrum; 💙 I wanted to show African American neurodivergent families in a loving and thriving light. We are…

By nature, by molding, I am a thinker. I analyze, postulate, and predict. This way of life has worked for me professionally. I have been described as a high achiever, accomplished, driven, “smarty pants”, a general go-getter. I have enjoyed a long professional career in the mental health field and seen as an expert in autism and autism related areas. Unfortunately, that doesn’t leave room for…

Do you struggle with rest? I’m not just talking about getting enough sleep at night. I am talking about complete psychological, social and spiritual rest, the kind that leads to a good night’s sleep. If you do, then join me for an open and honest discussion about why we struggle so hard with rest. While this is a zoom event, there will not be a recording of it. And this is the last time Intimate…

The more Moo and I spend time together, the more I ask myself, “How did I NOT see the ADHD in myself all these years? I remember my mom telling a story about me when I was in elementary school….”I came to school to see how you were doing. I didn’t want to disturb the class, so I stood at the door and peeked through the glass in the door. You were standing beside your desk, wiggling and doing…

“Ma, I’m Not Okay”

Our youngest son, Bryant, nicknamed “Moo”, came home for a quick visit the other day. He surprised me at work, which was a welcomed surprise. We sat and chatted for a while about the usual: school and finances. Moo has been handling his own money this semester…. Insert a scared mama face 😬. Look who surprised his mama! ❤️ Moo handling his own finances and budget was NOT his father, Paul, and my…

My family, whom I affectionately refer to as “Team Pruden”, has endured some tough losses in a short time: an aunt, a best friend, a father, and a brother. As a therapist, I KNOW the importance of grieving and processing sadness. I KNOW the importance of seeking supports and finding a new normal. However, these losses were quick, unexpected and tore metaphorical and literal holes in our…

Our youngest son, nicknamed Moo, moved into his own place 3 weeks ago for college. We made sure he had everything he needed and our village blessed us as well. However, there is one thing Moo needs: BUDGETING SKILLS! Moo outside his apartment. I realized Moo would need some assistance in this area months ago. But what was really telling was his statement during a recent conversation we had, “I…

Moment of Transparency: I love Jesus, I really do. But I’m a type A personality, so I’m not always obedient. I thrive off of lists, sticky notes, goals and “push through.” For the past few months, I have slowed down considerably. My slow down though, has been because of decreased desire. I THINK about doing things I normally enjoy or participate in, but the desire isn’t there. In my usual KP…

So….. I had a doc appointment today. I haven’t been doing the best as far as my meds and water, so I knew my numbers would be WAY out of wack. I made up in my mind even before my appointment that I would give myself 90 days to get myself together. My PA Nat is a cool chick. I let her know what had been going on with me and my family. She listened, took my hand and said, “Do you need me to do…

Hey friends, colleagues, teachers, mamas, executives, sisters, aunties, and the list goes on….. It’s ok not to be ok….. At this point in my life, I am not ok…. When did I realize something was amiss? To be totally honest, I cannot put my finger on an exact time. I can only tell you that from past experience, when I start saying, “I’m exhausted”, “I’m tired,” or “This is a lot,” that’s my cue…

My “Why” for autism advocacy…. In the first pic, I was a young mother of a six month old. My son Aaron had just been dedicated in church that day. We were so excited for him. Then a few months later, not long after his first birthday, Aaron’s speech DISAPPEARED. That began our journey on the autism spectrum. Aaron and I after his dedication, 1995. Aaron is now 26, happy and thriving. But I do…

Good morning! April is Autism Awareness Month. My name is Keischa Pruden, but most folks call me KP. I am the proud mother of an ausome son, a psychotherapist and an autism advocate. Join me this month as I share information about autism, special education and other related topics. Autism advocacy is my passion, especially for those parents, mental health professionals and educators new to…

“Ma, I don’t want to play football anymore.” That statement started a journey of inflection, reflection, honest conversations, healing, and restoration for Team Pruden. But to fully understand what I’m talking about, I have to share our experiences from the beginning…. Our youngest son, Bryant (nicknamed “Moo”), loves football. He has played the game since he was 7 years old. At one point, he…

Letting Go and Letting Be….

I’m practicing “letting go” and “letting be”…Let me explain….. Aaron started walking with me a few weeks ago. Then the weather got colder, I took some time off from walking, and I didn’t ask Aaron to continue. Yes, he’s autistic, but he’s also 26 years old. I decided I wouldn’t pressure him about walking and the health benefits. I just prayed and kept moving forward. This morning, Aaron…

This is us…. When you have a family member with ADHD, your life can be chaotic, conflicts can be commonplace, and your spirit feels drained at times. As a parent, you worry about your child’s future and prepare them as best as you can. As a child with ADHD, life can be fun, frustrating and confusing. You WANT to do what’s expected of you, but your mind is LITERALLY all over the place. You’re…

Parenting Children With Special Needs and Marriage

www.facebook.com/100000830014076/videos/2746509208720053/ We are thankful to have been given this platform to share our autism journey as well as relationship with others❤️💙