At some point, autism moms stop carrying purses and start carrying what is essentially a mobile survival kit.
Because when you parent a sensory-sensitive child, you learn very quickly that being “prepared” can make the difference between a smooth outing and a full public meltdown in the Target checkout line.
So if you’ve ever wondered what’s inside an autism mom’s bag… allow me to introduce the chaos.
Snacks. So Many Snacks.
Not because we’re crunchy moms with aesthetically packed lunch boxes.
Because hanger is dangerous.
And because sometimes the exact snack your child likes is the only thing standing between peace and complete emotional collapse.
Honestly, I carry snacks for everyone at this point.
The kids.
My husband.
Myself.
Because hangry parenting is also very dangerous territory.
Bonus points if there are:
- crushed crackers
- melted fruit snacks
- and an applesauce pouch rolling around at the bottom.
Headphones
One thing about autism moms?
We do not leave the house without headphones.
Restaurants are loud.
Stores are loud.
Life is loud.
And sometimes a pair of headphones can turn an overwhelming situation into a manageable one.
So yes, there is a 97% chance there’s a pair of headphones shoved into my bag at all times.
Random Sensory Toys
You know those tiny fidget toys you swore you’d never become the parent carrying around?
Yeah. Same.
Now I have approximately 14 of them scattered throughout my car, purse, cup holders, and jacket pockets.
Sticky hands.
Pop tubes.
Squishy things with unidentified lint attached to them.
And the thing nobody warns you about?
They get SO disgusting.
Every single squishy sensory toy somehow ends up covered in:
- dirt
- dust
- hair
- cracker crumbs
- and mystery sticky substances
Then you try to wash them off, thinking you’re helping…
But somehow they come out EVEN STICKIER and more disgusting than before, which honestly doesn’t even feel scientifically possible.
Chargers. All the Chargers.
Because if the AAC device dies, WE ALL DIE.
Okay maybe that’s dramatic.
But not really.
If you know, you know.
So now I carry:
- lightning chargers
- USB-C chargers
- mini USB chargers
- portable battery packs
Basically every charging cable for every device ever created.
At this point my bag looks less like a purse and more like the electronics drawer everyone has in their kitchen.
And somehow… the one charger I actually need is still never the one I grab first.
Emergency Comfort Items
Every autism mom has that one random item her child is emotionally attached to.
A stuffed animal.
A toy car.
A rock.
And heaven help us if we leave the house without it.
In our case, there’s a good chance I’m carrying at least one bear at all times.
But our current “emergency comfort items” situation has taken a slightly different turn lately… because right now August is apparently emotionally attached to my products.
So every morning I’m suddenly searching the house for:
- my cleanser
- moisturizer
- dry shampoo
- mousse
Because those are somehow his prized possessions now.
Very convenient for him. Extremely inconvenient for me at 6:30 in the morning trying to get ready for work.
Receipts, Appointment Cards, and Pure Exhaustion
Somewhere in my bag there are:
- therapy appointment reminders
- old receipts
- probably a church bulletin
- and approximately 14 unnecessary items I’m too scared to remove in case they suddenly become essential.
And underneath all of that?
An autism mom who’s doing her best.
The Things We Carry That People Can’t See
But if I’m being honest, the heaviest things autism moms carry usually aren’t in the bag at all.
It’s the constant planning.
The hyper-awareness.
The mental load.
Thinking ahead.
Preparing for transitions.
Watching for triggers.
Trying to make the world feel safe and manageable for your child.
It’s exhausting sometimes.
But it’s also done with so much love.
At this point, my bag contains:
snacks, headphones, chargers, sensory toys, emergency bears, crushed crackers, mystery sticky substances, and approximately 47 items nobody else would EVER understand the importance of.
And honestly, it’s fine…
I’m basically Mary Poppins, y’all.
August, Always 