Hello from Southern Ontario!
My name's Jen, and I'm the 45 year old NT mother of 14 year old autistic triplets- one boy, two girls. Needless to say puberty is going on in our house! My kids were diagnosed early, and for a while we were pretty popular with specialists as it was so odd to have 2 girls diagnosed in the same house. I've become increasingly frustrated with the lack of good information about girls and women on the spectrum over the years, so it's been very exciting for me to make contact with other women over the last little while. My kids are all over the spectrum to say the least, and they are all wonderful, intelligent, beautiful and interesting people who I'm lucky to have in my life.
Right now (aside from everyone surviving puberty), I'm mainly concentrating on high school and planning for adulthood issues. I'm a strong believer that everything needs to be tailored to a person's individual needs, so it's an 'interesting' process right now. Our community resources and services could be a lot worse, but they could also be a lot better (and they will be, if I have anything to say about it).
I'm very much looking forward to getting to know people here, learning from everyone, and hopefully supporting those who can use it. This is a great site- I was so excited to learn that it was starting up, and I've been following the podcasts all along. Thanks for putting it all together, as it is a wonderful resource.
Wow, Jen, and you're still standing! I eager to compare notes with you about kids in puberty. I have a son, 12, who recently began his journey, so to speak. He is in some ways quite mild, in some ways severe, comorbid bipolar. My NT daughter, who is 10, is showing signs she isn't far behind my son.
Welcome jen!!!
I'm from Southeast Ontario!! **waves**
I know my mom and I are having a tough time, because while there's starting to be a little bit more information about ASD women, it's mostly about childhood and the teen years. ("Girls Growing Up on the Spectrum") Yet, there's not a lot to help adults, both the autistic woman and the parents.
Not to mention not a lot of services for more "higher functioning" autistics.
Anyways, I'm glad to see you here!! Welcome!
Hi jen!
Wow, triplets!
Savannah Nicole Logsdon-Breakstone Director of Advocacy 
Thanks for the welcome everyone! Yes, Sharon- at some point I WILL win the lottery. At some point the odds have to work out that way :-) And I've got huge plans to donate everywhere, because I will win BIG. At the moment I'm leaning towards buying an island in the Caribbean and taking everywhere I know there for a week- it's cold here today :-)
Corina- hello to you too! I love Eastern Ontario- my sister lived in Kingston for years, and I've had lots of friends in Ottawa. I always kind of wished that I'd gone to Queens, but I went to Guelph instead :-)
Califmom- I'm thinking of starting a topic on puberty, but just looking at where to put it. I'm still navigating the forums.
Savannah- Wow triplets...that was kind of our response as well, coupled with a blank stare of shock. It definitely was not the life that I was expecting, but it's good.
Nice to meet everyone :-)
Hi Jen!
Hi Jen!
Hi Jen!
I thought maybe you were used to three voices at once :)
Welcome to AWN; a truely warm and wonderful place for anyone dealing/coping with spectrum issues...
I too have a child going through puberty; she's 12, being evaluated to AS and ADHD but so far all we have is Bipolar. Doc wants to get her stablized on her mood meds then see whats left so to speak before we go into the next diagnoses.... so with that, and puberty, I feel your pain, and your struggles and also the wonderful little surprizes that we get now and then.
Thanks for joining!
Hi Elle- thanks for the welcome! And good luck with your daughter- I've got some bipolar friends, and I know that it's not much fun. I hope that they can find the right meds for her- I know what a huge difference they can make. The diagnosis process for anything is always such a process.
And yes, I'll be very happy when puberty is over with :-) I love my kids, but wow- it sure is interesting, to say the least!
Jen, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am so looking forward to your posts & all that you will share with us.
Triplets in and of itself = unique, but then you add in the fact that all 3 children are on the spectrum (2 being girls!) -- hmmm?? I'm thinking you should play the lottery, and I believe I'd like to go in halves on that ticket!