Tim Colter

Zookeeper • Father of two • Nature and animal lover.

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

Can't stop laughing at the cat thinking he can grab the bacon on the screen 🤣

[S P @spearson1961_p]

Autism from a family’s perspective: 5th Birthday Celebration

My grandson doesn’t like the birthday song. But when his team from the ABA center did sign language, when they sang it, he loved it!

He is 5 years old today!

We drove to the Tennessee Aquarium to see all the incredible creatures.

His favorite is the Stingray. (See first post on my profile page.)

He also likes otters.

I was amazed at some of the sensory based exhibits. We are so thankful to whoever it was that got them displayed.

I noticed that others not Autistic were enjoying them too!

Five years…

There is a song titled “Beautiful Disaster”. The title describes my grandson.

He is physically beautiful, he is adorable in every tender aspect of his personality.

He is profoundly autistic. Yet shows intelligence in being able to unlock just about any mechanical device known to man.

He is curious. He is highly energetic. He is ambitious to learn. He is impatient. He is daring. He is fearless. He is caring.

It’s not an easy road. It’s actually a very difficult one. But it’s his journey and ours. Together as a family we celebrate him.

Happy Birthday my little lovebug! ♥️🎉🎈

[S P @spearson1961_p]

Autism from a family’s perspective: Built up Tension

I think this is one of those things that creep up on you before you realize it.

The daily grind of keeping the routine in place so that they (your autistic loved one) stays regulated. Because when they are not in “fight or flight mode”, their brains open up more to development.

Then, remaining calm when they do have a meltdown means, once again, pushing aside the fact that you are ready for your own version of a meltdown too!

Because the sooner they get back to “our version” of normality then everything goes much better.

But the day still keeps going on…that turns into weeks and months of “pent up emotions”.

Then it happens, someone says something and boom! You have had enough!

You say something that is interpreted wrong. Or comes out different than you meant it to. Ouch!

Now you feel like a complete failure. Because you are trying so hard to keep it all together!

When people see a child melting down in public while their parents remain calm or unaffected by it. They have no clue to how much self control and discipline that takes!

Yet…I fully understand how hard it is on others.

When my daughter was growing up she never misbehaved in public and she wouldn’t have dared to either. I believed a well behaved child reflected on good parenting.

My grandson and his Autism changed all that for me. I no longer judge others.

I see a parent trying their best to remain calm and get the heck out of there asap!

[S P @spearson1961_p]

Autism from a family’s perspective: Pets

This beautiful 8 week old Golden Retriever has been added to our family.

Her name is Shadow. Because Golden’s are very loyal to their person and family. The name just fit.

The ABA center was able to utilize my grandson’s therapies and incorporate a bit of puppy preparation. Such as walking the “fake” dog, feeding it, petting it, etc.

So that by the time the puppy arrived we were better prepared.

Doing that, made the process of acclimating much better. But not without challenges.

Changes in the most safest space of our environment is extremely difficult for children with Autism.

We knew we were about to change his safety zone.

Yet, bringing this beautiful fur baby into our home is as much for my grandson as for us.

She will eventually be a service dog in terms of emotional support. But always and foremost a family dog.

Welcome home Shadow. ❤️

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@LaineyShanks @buitengebieden Cant even count how many times I've watched it , do you have any pet ?

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@lauramancapv @buitengebieden It's beautiful to see and I can't even mention how many times I've watched it , do you have a pup ?

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@harmenjanssens @buitengebieden I can't even mention how many times I've watched it 🤣 do you have a dog ?

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@Ambere2918 @buitengebieden He surely needs it lol 😂, you got a dog ?

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@AliciaIGutierr1 @buitengebieden They're so beautiful, do you have any ?

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@TheLolaJacobs @VintageCards2 Adorable arent they, do you have a dog ?

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@SheriS6913 @VintageCards2 They're quick too adjust because of their pure heart and genuine love , do you have a pup

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@SusanBo73257231 @VintageCards2 They're so adorable I must say , do you have any dog?

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@ProfJohnson91 @250YearsAgoLive Exactly. Adams willingness to defend even those unpopular with the public says a lot about his commitment to fairness. I’m curious to see how John Paul Jones fares he certainly has the ambition and talent to make a name for himself against the British.

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@ProfJohnson91 @250YearsAgoLive Care for a follow?

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@ProfJohnson91 @250YearsAgoLive That’s a fair point. The Letters of Marque certainly add important context, and Adams’ defense of Hopkins makes the issue more complicated than it first appears.

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@bertaespelta @majosevn Eres tú en tu foto de perfil? Me encanta el lugar donde te la tomaste; además, te ves adorable.

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@ArocamMercedes @majosevn A mí también me pasa mucho y está claro que no soy el único 🤣; por cierto, soy Tim.

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@5260Ros @majosevn Me he fijado en que seguimos la misma página y en que te encantan los libros y la arquitectura; ¿te gustaría que fuéramos amigos?

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@anoiram55 @majosevn Me he fijado en que seguimos la misma página y que te encantan los perros; ¿te gustaría que fuéramos amigos?

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@MontseRibot @majosevn Me he fijado en que seguimos la misma página y que eres un amante del fútbol; ¿te gustaría que fuéramos amigos?

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@AnnaRos77352042 @majosevn Exacto 😃 Algunos pensamientos necesitan un poco de tiempo para asentarse antes de cobrar verdadero sentido. Estoy disfrutando de la conversación y de conocer tu forma de pensar.

[Tim Colter @timothycolterss]

@CarmeVilana @majosevn Eres tú en tu foto de perfil? Creo que te ves adorable.