Calmer
One of the many benefits of keeping a journal with Mikey was the opportunity it provided to help him label his emotions.
This one was a bit more abstract, but often, we would have a photo for reference. Michael could look at the photo and see his facial expression. He could label if he looked happy, excited or calm.
Since we didn’t have a photo on this day, Mikey drew a smiley face. Works for me! If he’s happy, I’m happy.
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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