“Do what makes your children and yourself happy. A lot of people are going to give you unsolicited advice and judge you, but I promise you that your child will think you’re the coolest parent ever… even if it comes with rules.”
Adriana Bouffard is a 27-year-old stay-at-home mom. She is raising two autistic toddlers — Izabella, 4, and Ezra, 2 — with her husband David. They currently live in the Virginia Village and Glendale area of Colorado.
As a parent, Adriana knows the challenges of raising kids. She says she had to learn to advocate for her kids, and that having other parents or adults judge her parenting was hard to witness.
Being a parent with autistic children, Adriana says she feels like children with autism get overlooked or that her family doesn’t get taken seriously.
“People with autism have the purest hearts and always want to make others happy,” she explains.
Doing what makes you and your family happy despite getting judged or receiving weird looks was the best piece of parenting advice Adriana says she ever received.
“The biggest joy has been the unconditional love our children give, hearing their first words even if it took three plus years, and always having your built-in best friends,” Adriana says.
Her biggest piece of advice is similar to the one she received — to do what makes your children and yourself happy. She says a lot of people are going to give unsolicited advice to parents and judge them. But she says, “I promise you that your child will think you’re the coolest parent ever…even if it comes with rules.”
As for family traditions, Adriana says they are excited for when they are able to start cooking Thanksgiving dinner all together. “My husband and I have made dinner every year since we got together,” she says.
Adriana recently got into baking and decorating cakes for friends and family on their birthdays. As a family, they love going to the museum and going fishing.
Being in Colorado, Adriana says her favorite thing about raising kids in this state is the ability to explore the wonders of Colorado. She adds she has met a lot of amazing therapists (SLPs/SLPAs, OTs, and PTs) that have made her family feel welcomed and safe. “Many states don’t have as many resources for autism support,” she says.
Rapid Fire Questions
Favorite date night…going to the Nature and Science Museum and grabbing a bite afterwards.
Words that describe your family…inclusive, kind, and outgoing.
Favorite genre of movie or television shows…comedy movies or watching cartoons like Blues Clues or Spidey and his amazing friends with the kids.
Favorite food…our entire family loves Chinese and Indian food. It’s definitely our comfort food.
