Parenting a child with special needs presents tough challenges, and celebrity couple Aubrey Miles and Troy Montero know this only too well.
In fact, the couple has been raising awareness on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) since learning that their four-year-old daughter Rocket has the condition
Read: Filipino celebrities who have opened up about raising special children
On July 7, 2023, Aubrey shared a wide lens photo of Rocket surrounded by a sea of toys and various items scattered around the room.
She wrote in the caption,"Who’s complaining? [emoji] Go find your passion baby [rocket emoji].
Aubrey saw the disorder as her daughter's way of expressing herself and from which she can learn more about Rocket's turn of mind.
The photo also brought to light why Aubrey and Troy have not put Rocket in a room separate from them.
Aubrey reasoned, "If we do that then we have to stay with her in that room all day which will also separate our family bonding, daily house routine.
"We want to see her all day and observe her activities considering we don’t have yaya. Just sharing daily life with our kid with special needs."
Read: Troy Montero says daughter Rocket's autism has taught him and Aubrey Miles to be better parents
REACTIONS
Not surprisingly, Aubrey's tender post has struck a chord with loving parents in similar situation, some of whom were goaded to share their own experience loving their kids with ASD.
Here are some of the comments:
"Youre not alone [emoji] This has been a part of us as well. And, surprisingly, no one is complaining! In fact, theyre teaching us how to view life... that amidst chaos, we still try to persist and see life with more color. Hugs to all au-some parents!!!"
"Love this…. I also keep it like these… coz one day when they grow up.. they won’t play anymore at home, so we treasure these moments at home. It would look very messy to some but I just let it be"
"it wont be like this forever, so cherish the moments and the 'kalat' [emoji]"
"next time Ms.Aubrey magugulat ka na lang they know how to clean up and mg declutter ng toys nila [emojis] before my Ausume boy sobrang makalat din po then nakikita niya siguro po na after niya mg kalat inaayos namin before kami mg sleep now grabe po ayaw na niya ng makalat [emojis]"
"Family support is the best therapy for our Ausome kids"
STRESS MANAGEMENT IN SPECIAL-NEEDS KIDS
Meanwhile, Troy has become an advocate for "au-some parenting" as he calls it.
On August 5, 2023, he offered practical tips and guidance on addressing tantrums and meltdowns, accompanied by an Instagram reel that captured Rocket in distress.
Troy distinguished Rocket's meltdowns from her tantrums, which he said were often triggered by frustrations when she would try to do something on her own.
Troy said, "Many of us are familiar with the challenges of handling our child’s meltdown, usually triggered by feeling uncomfortable, unsafe, unsure, or confused in certain situations, like boarding a plane or being stuck in heavy traffic.
"On the other hand, tantrums, which are more common for us, tend to occur when Rocket is frustrated because things don’t go her way.
"These episodes can happen suddenly, even during routine activities. Like everyone else, some days are better than others.
"Have you noticed this with your child? With Rocket, tantrums sometimes happen while playing or trying to complete tasks, like arranging her toys.
"She prefers to figure things out independently and may resist help."
The Fil-Am actor went on to discuss the importance of patience and perseverance.
He continued, "At the end of the video, you can see her dumping out apples, which is not her usual bowl, but she’s already in a mood, and other things may bother her as well.
"As parents, we remain close by and offer support, even though she may not want us to interfere.
"Sometimes, physically helping her during these activities can prolong the tantrum."
Troy's emphasis on not intervening immediately to give her daughter space to explore and navigate new situations, no matter how difficult it would be for her, has proven to be effective.
He said, "Allowing her space to solve things herself tends to lead to calming down.
"Fortunately, these tantrums have become less frequent lately, which we believe is partly due to her ongoing therapy, improved diet with fewer sugary snacks, and potentially her cell therapy showing benefits.
"Patience remains crucial in our daily lives."
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