It’s back to school season which means your social media feed might be flooded with cute kids holding up chalkboard signs. These photos give us their height and weight and hopes and dreams, but they also give us the illusion that every child everywhere magically adjusts to major change. Because that's exactly what the start of the school year is, no matter what the age or grade: a transition. A change. A shift from a summer of sleeping in to early schedules and routines. I may be reaching here, but does every child keep that same grin at day’s end when the exhaustion sets in? Is there not one kid who says, "This is hard, it's not for me. I don't want to go?" Because the thing is, there's no follow up to those first day photos. And if there is, it's usually a grade-A report. So here's what I know for sure: I take my first day photos a few days early when my kids are clean and things aren’t chaotic. I make ridiculous noises so they’ll look at the camera and bribe my son to stand still. Although I have children who are all cheers and no tears, the effects of big change show up in different ways like decreased appetites, and racing, anxious thoughts at bedtime, and undesirable behaviors or breakdowns. Don't let someone’s highlight reel fool you. There’s always a story that can’t be seen in a photo. (And any kid will smile for a skittle.) #firstday #motherhoodunplugged #autismmom #autismblog #kidswithautism #dallasblogger #neurodiverse #asd