Check Out My Newest Guest Post From Author Dalisse Sequeiros PLUS Learn About Her New Book “Autism: My Invisible Backpack” & Enter A Giveaway! #AutismMyInvisibleBackpack
This post is sponsored by Dalisse Sequeiros. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.
Celebrating Neurodiversity: Honoring Your Child’s Unique Strengths
By Dalisse Sequeiros
I’m Dalisse, mom to two incredible autistic boys. Adrián is 11 now, and Guillermo just turned 5. And here’s the thing… I’m autistic too.
That triple diagnosis changed everything. The way I see the world. The way I parent. Even what I think success really means.
The day I started to think outside the box
Adrián was three years old. He had been lining up his train carts for forty-five minutes. Not playing with them, just lining them up in perfect rows. Adjusting them. Following a pattern only he seemed to understand.
He was nonverbal at the time, so I couldn’t ask what he was doing. All I could do was guess. I remember sitting on the couch, holding back tears, thinking, He’s supposed to be making train noises, not just lining them by size and color. Why can’t he just play “normal”?
Then something inside me changed. Maybe I was too tired to keep grieving what wasn’t happening. Maybe I had finally hit my limit after so many late-night Google searches about what he should be doing.
I got down on the floor next to him. Really looked.
He wasn’t playing wrong. He was conducting an experiment with colors, shapes, light, and balance. And lining them by wagon types and colors. Quiet brilliance was unfolding right in front of me.
My son wasn’t broken. I was just looking through the wrong lens. And yes, I had no idea what being a special needs parent really meant.
What nobody tells you about strengths
After both my boys were diagnosed autistic, I noticed most of the evaluations focused on what my children couldn’t do.
The eye contact they didn’t make. The conversations they couldn’t hold. The milestones they hadn’t reached. I used to open those “Your child at age 4” emails and feel my stomach drop. Eventually, I unsubscribed just to protect my heart and mental health.
I understand why assessments focus on challenges, but here’s what I wish someone had told me sooner. When you only focus on what’s missing, you miss what’s really there.
There’s research to back that up. Strength-based approaches show that kids who grow up hearing about their abilities, not just their struggles, develop stronger resilience, better self-advocacy, and a deep sense of understanding in who they are.
It makes sense, doesn’t it? How would any of us feel if every conversation about us focused only on what we couldn’t do?
The shift that changes everything
Stop calling them obsessions.
Your child talks about Pokémon for hours, days, or even weeks? The world calls it an obsession, a red flag, something to redirect. I call it expertise being built.
Adrián could tell you the release year of every Disney movie ever made. People used to call it too much. I called it potential. Numbers, dates, patterns. He could calculate and recall them instantly.
So I stopped trying to broaden his interests and started deepening them. We used dates to learn math, explore rhythm in music, even decode social interactions because yes, patterns live there too.
Try this tonight. Whatever your child is deeply into, spend fifteen minutes exploring it with them. Don’t redirect. Don’t correct. Just be curious. You might be amazed by what you learn.
The strengths hiding inside every struggle
My youngest, Guillermo, has meltdowns when the schedule changes. I used to see that as rigidity, a problem to fix.
Then one day, my husband Luis said, “He’s not inflexible. He’s consistent. Reliable. He knows what to expect and expects others to keep their word. That’s leadership.”
That hit me hard. How did I not see this before?
Meltdowns are not easy. They’re not. Some days, I’m just trying to survive the moment. But once we calm the chaos, I reflect.
Every challenge our kids face has a strength hiding inside it.
The child who struggles with transitions is detail-oriented and builds structure.
The one who asks endless questions is curious and brave enough to seek truth.
The one who is too honest shows integrity in a world that often rewards pretending.
I started keeping a list on my phone.
You can try it too:
• Needs routines becomes predictability for others
• Notices every detail becomes spots what others miss
• Very particular becomes holds high standards
• Sensitive to sound or texture becomes deeply aware and attentive
The challenges don’t vanish. But when you can name the strength, you stop fighting your child’s nature. You start working with it.
Document the wins
Take photos. Write down the funny things they say or do. Save the creative ideas, the kind gestures, the small victories.
You can even create a digital album on your phone called “Our wins” where you keep moments that remind you of your child’s growth, kindness, or creativity. It’s a simple way to hold space for gratitude, especially on the hard days.
The truth I need you to hear
Focusing on strengths doesn’t mean ignoring challenges. My kids still go to therapy twice a week. They have IEPs. They still have meltdowns. We work on skills that don’t come naturally.
But there’s a big difference between helping your child grow and trying to make them less autistic.
One says, “You’re amazing, and we’ll help you navigate the world.”
The other says, “You’re wrong, and we need to fix you.”
What I’d tell myself five years ago
That day on the floor with Adrián and his trains was the beginning of everything.
I’d tell that younger version of me, “Stop mourning the child you expected. Start seeing the one right in front of you. He’s magnificent in ways you can’t see yet.”
The same brain that finds grocery stores overwhelming is the one that will notice beauty in the smallest details. The same rigidity that makes transitions hard will one day build unshakable integrity. The same intensity that feels like too much will move mountains.
Different isn’t less. It’s just different.
In our book Autism: My Invisible Backpack, a children’s book that comes alive through Adrián and Guillermo’s eyes. A book that helps families name the invisible baggage our children carry and gives us tools to help with the load: empathy, honesty, creativity, persistence. It reminds them that these tools make every journey beautifully unique.
Take a sneak peek of the book:
That’s also why my husband and I created the Loving Pieces Books series. Stories that celebrate neurodivergent characters living, learning, and loving exactly as they are. Books where being different isn’t something to overcome, but something to embrace.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Written by Dalisse Sequeiros
Ages: 6-12 | 87 Pages
Publisher: Loving Pieces Books (2025) | ISBN: 978-8409767816
Publisher’s Book Summary: Autism: My Invisible Backpack is a heartwarming story that follows two autistic brothers, Adrián and Guillermo, on a mountain hike. Along the way, children discover that everyone carries an invisible backpack filled with feelings and thoughts, sometimes light, sometimes too heavy to carry alone.
Through this powerful metaphor, kids explore four common challenges —masking, hyper-empathy, literal thinking, and emotional overload —while also learning that therapy can be a safe place to unpack and rest.
With simple language, hand-drawn illustrations, and practical tools, this book helps children and families:
✔️ Recognize emotional overload and name feelings
✔️ Create mask-free zones to feel safe and authentic
✔️ See therapy as a trusted space to share openly
✔️ Celebrate moments of being truly seen and valued
A supportive resource for families, educators, and therapists, this story brings comfort, connection, and real strategies to make the autism journey feel lighter.
PURCHASE LINK
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dalisse Sequeiros is a devoted mom raising two incredible autistic boys. As a passionate autism advocate, she understands both the joys and challenges that come with parenting autistic children. Dalisse thoughtfully creates books for children ages 6–12, offering stories that celebrate their strengths, differences, and unique ways of connecting with the world.
Her mission is to offer resources that foster understanding, empathy, and confidence, helping autistic children feel seen, valued, and empowered. With every story, Dalisse hopes to create meaningful moments of connection for families navigating the world of autism.
She cherishes every milestone and dedicates herself to promoting acceptance and belonging through her writing.
For more information, visit www.lovingpiecesbooks.com.
TOUR SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Book Review of Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Friday, October 31, 2025
Instagram Post about Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Monday, November 3, 2025
Book Review of Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Guest Post about Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Guest Post about Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Book Review of Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Friday, November 7, 2025
Book Review of Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Monday, November 10, 2025
Book Review of Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Author Interview with Dalisse Sequeiros
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Author Interview with Dalisse Sequeiros
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Author Interview with Dalisse Sequeiros
Friday, November 14, 2025
Book Review of Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Sunday, November 16, 2025
Instagram Post about Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Monday, November 17, 2025
Guest Post about Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Instagram Post about Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Instagram Post about Autism: My Invisible Backpack
NOW TO THE GIVEAWAY!
Enter for the chance to win one of 10 paperback copies of Autism: My Invisible Backpack by Dalisse Sequeiros. Plus, one lucky grand prize winner will receive a complete set of books from Loving Pieces Books!
Autism: My Invisible Backpack: Book Giveaway
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