When LJ, CEO of LJ Global Communications, dropped by our podcast this month, the conversation lit up with stories of resilience, empowerment, and the transformative potential of children's literature. April, recognized globally as Autism Awareness Month, served as the perfect backdrop for this exchange, echoing the sentiments of inclusivity and education. Our chat traversed the birth of the Baker Series, books that champion the unique gifts of individuals with autism through the power of storytelling, while also diving into the nuts and bolts of self-publishing and the joy of seeing one's vision come alive on the page.
This episode reaches into the heart of advocacy and community support, discussing how small businesses and educational systems can play a pivotal role in nurturing environments where diversity is not only accepted but celebrated. As we navigated the narrative journey of the Baker Series, the discussion highlighted the series' mission to open minds and doors within the educational sphere, fostering critical discussions and bringing valuable resources to both schools and homes. The power of collaboration over competition became a beacon, reflecting the collective effort required to elevate the voices and experiences of those on the autism spectrum.
Stitching together a tapestry of shared experiences, the episode wraps with a focus on the community of authors and the impact of our stories. I share a touching personal anecdote about how a fellow author's work provided a mirror for my grandson's life on the spectrum, proving that our storytelling efforts ripple through lives in meaningful ways. In closing, the call to action is simple yet profound: engage, support, and continue the conversation, because the journey toward empathy and understanding is one we all share.
When LJ, CEO of LJ Global Communications, dropped by our podcast this month, the conversation lit up with stories of resilience, empowerment, and the transformative potential of children's literature. April, recognized globally as Autism Awareness Month, served as the perfect backdrop for this exchange, echoing the sentiments of inclusivity and education. Our chat traversed the birth of the Baker Series, books that champion the unique gifts of individuals with autism through the power of storytelling, while also diving into the nuts and bolts of self-publishing and the joy of seeing one's vision come alive on the page.
This episode reaches into the heart of advocacy and community support, discussing how small businesses and educational systems can play a pivotal role in nurturing environments where diversity is not only accepted but celebrated. As we navigated the narrative journey of the Baker Series, the discussion highlighted the series' mission to open minds and doors within the educational sphere, fostering critical discussions and bringing valuable resources to both schools and homes. The power of collaboration over competition became a beacon, reflecting the collective effort required to elevate the voices and experiences of those on the autism spectrum.
Stitching together a tapestry of shared experiences, the episode wraps with a focus on the community of authors and the impact of our stories. I share a touching personal anecdote about how a fellow author's work provided a mirror for my grandson's life on the spectrum, proving that our storytelling efforts ripple through lives in meaningful ways. In closing, the call to action is simple yet profound: engage, support, and continue the conversation, because the journey toward empathy and understanding is one we all share.
Hello, hello, and welcome to the Mommy on a Mission podcast where empowerment meets inspiration. I'm your host, mariana, a life coach and author, on a mission to help Latina women, and all women, to reach their impossible goals, one dream at a time. Join me on this incredible adventure as we dive into compelling subjects that will uplift, motivate and ignite your passion. Get ready to be inspired, empowered and never give up on your dreams. This is the podcast where we turn dreams into unstoppable missions. Are you ready? Let's go. Ready, let's go. Hello, hello, and welcome to another episode of Mommy on a Mission podcast, a podcast that empowers women to reach their impossible goals, one dream at a time. And I'm your host, mariana, and today I am being joined by this wonderful woman that I had the honor of finally meeting in person, ms LaFreeta Smith, also known as LJ. Lj, hello, hello, hello. How are you? I'm good, I'm good. How are you doing? I'm good, good.
Speaker 2:
So, lafreeta, before we get started, tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do. So, um, I am LJ, known as LJ, and I am the CEO of LJ Global Communications. Um, I specialize in community engagement because I do a lot of work. I believe in people giving back to their community. I also do small business collaboration. I'm a creator and organizer of what's called my in my local town, as the Lakeland is our business vendor market, where I put together small businesses for the purpose of co-working and networking together, and it's been going on for the last four months now and it is a success. Everyone seems to collaborate well, they're making connections and I'm all about small business because I am a small business and that's what I care about.
Speaker 2:
I'm also an autism advocate. Just yesterday, we had our big birthday party for our children's series, which is called the Baker Series, and a big part of my life is autism advocacy. My youngest son is on the autism spectrum. He has a cognitive spectrum disorder and I am also autistic myself. So one of the things that with autism, there's not enough education about it. There's not enough people that can recognize when a person has special needs. So I'm out there advocating for those, which is one of the many talents of children and adults on the autism spectrum, which is a big part of who I am. My heart, my soul goes into giving back to that community and you know small businesses.
Speaker 1:
And so that's the whole reason why I wanted LJ to come on the show today, because this is the month is April, the month of Autism Awareness Month, and so I actually have one of those books that I got for my grandson, because my grandson is five years old and he's also on the spectrum and I felt like your book was just the right thing that I wanted to give my daughter so that she could have it and share it with my grandson. So can you share with us the inspiration behind the Baker series and what led you to write a children's book? I know that you mentioned about your son, but tell us a little bit more, elaborate a little bit more on that.
Speaker 2:
So right now I have two fiction books out. I started in 2020 where I wrote a book about my family's experience in moving, buying and selling a home. So then I went into a second book which was all about women empowerment, and after I did that I said you know, these books are self-help books. They're motivational. I could probably write an inspirational children's book and I've always wanted to do a children's book because when I was younger and my kids were younger, I used to write children's books for them with their names in them, like included. I used to love that all the time they would laugh because they would hear their name and it would be good for them to hear their name. So I dabbled in that and when I did that, I was like you know, maybe I should publish you know some of my stuff, but with the way the market is with traditional publishing, it just wasn't possible. So when I found out about self-publishing a children's book, I said let me get on that, I'm going to do that. So I was able to do that and much more.
Speaker 2:
The Baker series came from the Baker part. I asked my husband. I said why don't we call him our son a nickname? And he's like what, what? What kind of nickname? And I said baker and he said baker. Why don't you call him baker? Because he likes to cook, he likes to bake, right? So everybody seems to be attracted to that part about baker in the baker series, so it intrigues them. So when I named it that, that got everybody interested in what the whole series was about.
Speaker 2:
So when we created it, we wanted to create it with real characters, um, not like cats or dogs or you know, things that are not real things, because autism is not about it. Cats don't have autism, um, you know, you know parents don't have autism. So it's like real people that are in that world should be representative of autism period. So I got eight characters to play. Just my husband joined in as the principal, so he had to have a place in the book. So I said you be the principal and you're like standing back and you know you don't have to do much, but you're representative Because long, long, long ago he used to be, uh, uh, a manager. You know, anywhere he went, he was the manager. So I said that would be a great character for you, um, taking charge of a school and being that manager. So, um, he, and he loves writing these books with me. Um, I'm so glad that he's like into these projects just as much as I am, because I'm excited about it and how has the book.
Speaker 1:
How is it spreading out now, Like, are you finding that a lot of people are getting their hands on your book?
Speaker 2:
So, with you know, any self-published book, you're going to have that excitement in the beginning and for me I knew that. So what I've been trying to do is trying to going back to that word collaboration if I can collaborate with, with as many like bookstores and get the name out there, because it's not about sales for me, it's about the actual series itself and getting that education out there. For me. It's fun. For me I try not to look at the spreadsheet, basically.
Speaker 2:
So you know, and it takes up to like maybe five years to even start making money on anything that you're doing. So I'm realistic in that. But as long as I'm having fun doing what I'm doing, I'm okay. If I'm bleeding money, you know it's like. So if people are, you know, buying a book here and there and you're telling everybody about it, that's my whole purpose for getting it out there is for everybody to know about it and most people they can't pay $20 for a book, but you know what the education behind it it's just as valuable as the book is for me. Um, I'll give my books for free and I've've done that.
Speaker 2:
So, you know, just to get it out there.
Speaker 1:
So with that sales, you know it's, it's on a. The book right is to bring out more awareness about autism. What is it that you hope that people will when they read the book? You know what kind of awareness do you want them to have about autism?
Speaker 2:
It comes in many shapes and forms. Not everyone is going to be the same color, not everyone's going to be the same size, not everybody's going to be the same level. There are different types of people on the spectrum and that is why we try to showcase every single talent that each one of our characters has in different parts of our books. It's not about having the character just be. You know, everybody's going to be universal. And for me, when I go out and I see someone, everybody has talents, everybody has things that they're really good at. But the only way that that can come out is if somebody showcases it and makes, brings it to light to other people. And for me, people on the spectrum, they don't get enough, they don't get highlighted for the things that they're very talented in because people think that, oh, you don't look autistic. Or they say things like that and it just, you know, it does something to me.
Speaker 2:
I'm like, well, what am I supposed to look like? Or you know, I'm a person that's very multi. I like to multitask, I like to be organized. That's very multi. I like to multitask, I like to be organized, I like to do everything, and when I say everything, I'm like a one woman show on everything and I'm afraid to ask for help sometimes because I can get rejected on it and that's why I pull back a little bit. And that's one of the things I have to learn, you know, on my end is that I can't do everything. That's one of my things that I have to learn, and most of the characters in the book. They learn that they can't do certain things, but then they rise to the occasion when it's time to get it done and if they work as a team and that's another word teamwork is important. So I want to stress that.
Speaker 1:
You know, in the books and we're doing that with every book- Well, and have you already started, like I'm pretty sure you're introducing it to the school system, the public school system, trying to get it into their libraries?
Speaker 2:
going into that, yeah we get a lot of people that will ask us have you introduced your books in the school system? And some of the channels are a little bit difficult unless you're collaborating with somebody. Personally. I find it, you know, yeah, I'm a school teacher, but how can you help me get my books in to the school? So I want to be able to collaborate with as many schools as possible, because I think that I have something, you know, worth sharing with a classroom of, you know, non-traditional and special education students.
Speaker 2:
So I'm going to do story time, I'm going to do all these things, but, um, there has been roadblocks, but for me, roadblocks mean opportunity, right, so, to do it differently. So I'm, I'm working on that right now. I always see room for improvement and something I heard last week at the summit stop listening to react, but listen to educate and learn and receive that feedback so you can improve yourself. So I'm doing that now, cause I I'm one of those I don't know, but every time somebody come at me like, well, you know you need to sit, I do the pause and then you know I want to say something you know. So, um, but I'm real quick.
Speaker 2:
What, what, what, uh, but, but I'm practicing on my husband right now. So, because he tends to do that, he'll say a lot and then I'll be like, ok, I'm just going to hold it back. And sometimes he is correct because he's from the outside and he cares about what I'm doing and he's happy about all the things that I've done. So I need to be able to take criticism or take suggestions on different things that I need to do. So I just write them down and if I can execute them, I execute them. If I don't, I ask for help. And that's just the way it is. You got to start listening and I'm going to start listening Because right now it's not working for me. The school system thing is not working for me the way that I've been doing it, and you know I can take any suggestions that you know come my way now.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, no, and you're right, I gosh the.
Speaker 1:
So the summit that LJ is referring to is on April 6th and 7th. We attended the fourth annual Book Publishing Academy Summit and there was a lot of great speakers that were at the event that were just dropping so much golden nuggets on us and, just like you when I heard about, you know, embrace the negativity. You know accept it and learn it, use it. Don't sit on it and dwell on it, but rather use it in order for you to continue to grow, because not only do we want the positive, but I think it's needed that we hear the negative as well, or that we receive the negative, because it's what's going to make us grow. The positive stuff is great, but it's the negative part that is the learning lessons that we use if we use it correctly or if we take advantage of it in a better way. And another thing you know, because I had mentioned about how the sales and stuff are going and I was just curious because that was another thing that was mentioned to us as well is when he said stop selling. And it's like, well, wait a minute, if I don't sell, I don't make money Right selling. And it's like, well, wait a minute, if I don't sell, I don't make money, right. But it's stop selling because you want the more you can give out, then you'll start receiving something different. And I think it goes both ways, for, like even yourself, you know, giving out your books, putting it more in more hands, that way it opens up those doors, those opportunities to get in exactly where you want to get into, and I think that would be what's going to help you too.
Speaker 1:
From what I was hearing you is, that's going to be one of the strategies in order to get the book into the school systems. And which is interesting, because I interviewed two ladies earlier and one of them is actually a teacher and she has a child who is autistic, and so I was sharing with her about your book and she says, oh, I want to get my hands on it, let me get it, you know, because her son is 11 years old and she goes, and so she's a teacher and I was like, yes, if I can get her to read it, and maybe that so your books might be in this Texas school systems before the Florida school systems. So but you're right, it's all about that collaboration and I think that's where a lot of people miss the mark sometimes is not wanting to collaborate with other places because of that thing that we hear all the time. It's that competition, you know, and the thing about it is is that there is a space and a place for everyone If you just join forces in order to do it.
Speaker 1:
I know that you work because both of us have worked closely with Janine, who was our book publishing academy coach, who kind of like assisted us and helped us to get our dreams, our visions, our stories out there. What was it like for you in the writing process? Were there any challenges or joys that you encountered when you were creating the Baker series?
Speaker 2:
One of the things I enjoyed writing it, but one of the challenges I had with you know, going back to you know budget and trying to bring something alive and to the public. It took me two years to write the first book, um, you know, and complete it. So it was like you know, I I got this wonderful project but I can't release it for a while because it's not finished and it can't be finished because of the limitations I had. You know, finding a good illustrator and finding a good formatter and editor. And when you don't have the money to do it you know I know Janine says that's an excuse, but when you really think about it, you know you have to have find, find a way to get it out there. And I did. It just took two years to do it before I could even get that first children's book out, first children's book out.
Speaker 2:
But now that I've gotten the second one to the second one, I have gotten better about, you know, the timelines of the writing and then the illustrating. Um, I mean we almost didn't have all our books ready for the party yesterday. Uh, because we were. Yeah, because we have two different platforms that we publish our book on, which is IngramSparks and Amazon, and we had to get the right copy in order to distribute the books. And when we found out that Amazon looked better than the Ingram Sparks, it was like, oh my gosh, but Amazon, they wouldn't give me the prime discount for them. So I said, well, what are you going to do? But you have to do what you have to do when you're at a deadline. But, yeah, one of the many challenges is knowing what the timeline is to get everything out there that you need for your children's book, you know, and having the graphics be correct, the format be correct. I mean, just uploading the book was difficult.
Speaker 2:
The second one, and I don't understand why. The first book, I had it, you know, bam bam, bam. Once I had everything in front of me. But then the second book, there were all these last minute things, so you never can tell with each book how long it's going to take you to get it to a complete project. Um, and the third book is written, but we just got to do the illustrations, which we haven't started yet. So we got plenty of time. But we always say that and then something happens and you know, but we have to plan and we got a plan now we know don't cut it so close.
Speaker 1:
Like a week before your party and we're trying to get books, getting like 50 books and you can't get them here on time, so it reminds me of what janine said when she had her book launch yeah, that her books got there, what like hours before the event, because it was just like so many things happening and going on. But it happens to all of us, right, right, and so it's like what do we do with those things? Because a lot of people will get discouraged, right, if you know, when things happen, and last minute things, that unexpected things are going to occur, and then we freak out, we panic, and then it's like forget it I don't want to do this anymore and then you stop.
Speaker 1:
But that's not the thing. The thing is that we have to embrace everything that happens in order for us to just continue to move on. I mean, the show must go on. It's like they say right, you still have to go, and whether you have the books or not, or whether you have your product or whatever, you have your vision. Don't have it quite yet, but it's just getting it, that information, out to people and and just selling it in the way of promoting it so that they can buy into it, and then, when it does come, it'll be almost like they say, it's worth the wait. You know sometimes and and um, and that's what we hope for, in any case, that we do. So what's? What upcoming projects do you have, because I do know that you also have a YouTube channel.
Speaker 2:
Yes, so that YouTube channel is has my son and I. We do a lot of cooking recipes. He loves to cook. We're in the process of recording some more. We're going to do it like a different platform of different things. Um, we're just trying to sort out the schedule now. Uh, with me having so many things going on and, um, my son's like when's next time we're cooking? I'm like, uh, I love it, but uh, I have so much fun with him. He you know when we cook things and he he loves food, so you can't tell him anything about food.
Speaker 2:
He loves food and every day is something new with him something that he wants to try or do or something like that, and I love to eat, so it's a win-win for me. But with the YouTube channel and the book series, we plug in the book series every once in a while. When we have a book coming out, try to oversell it. If someone wants to buy it, they'll buy it. They know what the website is. They can check out the websites. We get a lot of website traffic with the book series. What I'm trying to do, and the ultimate goal, is to make it a TV series, a cartoon TV series, so with adults represented. Adults are being represented in real life TV shows right now on the autism spectrum, shows right now on the autism spectrum. I would love a cartoon TV series to represent our characters and different things and we'd be sitting at that table and right now my husband's already saying I'm going to be part of the writing crew. I'm like, oh, here we go, you're going to have the whole place quit. That is my ultimate goal.
Speaker 1:
So you're going to become the next Mr Rogers. The way he advocated for change and embraced it, you know, and he did right, like he had this way of bringing awareness to all kinds of things and he fought, like the school systems, in order to be able to continue to promote education and differences and different awarenesses and stuff. And so I mean you're going to be the Mr Rogers of advocating for autism in your books and I can just totally see that and I can totally see your vision that's going to go out there and I'm excited. I can't wait for that to happen, because I know that it's going to happen.
Speaker 1:
You've made a lot of things happen, so much so that you also not only did you win an award for your very first book correct, the second book, yeah, the second book but you also won the is it the Y Drake Nelson Award. And that was for all of the things that you're doing to make the community aware of autism and all of these things that you're doing to collaborate with different organizations and so forth. And how do you feel about receiving that award?
Speaker 2:
Well, that that was. It was unexpected. I didn't expect to go there and be crying. I told my best friend, I said it was a cry fest this weekend and she showed, and I showed her the videos and she was like that's my bestie, that's my bestie she doing it, keep going, keep going.
Speaker 2:
You don't realize what you're doing until someone puts it in front of you and everybody's always watching you. So don't ever think that what you're doing, you know, is not being, you know, watched. It is Every good thing that I've done in my life I do it on purpose, so it's like it comes natural to me. It's like it was embedded in me. It was just something that you know I'm honored to have been, you know, chosen for that award because, you know he was such an inspiration to me. He was motivating every day. It didn't matter what was going on. Every day he was on social media. He was, you know, inspiring everybody. You know, it didn't matter what was going on in his life.
Speaker 2:
And you know I'm honored and I couldn't stop crying that night. I don't think that was a dry eye. Yeah, yeah, I know it was like. I'm like are you serious? You seriously giving it? You know, and I know how much he meant to Janine and everything, and for her to present me with that award was like you know, what did I? At first I was like what did I do? You know it was like, but now I'm understanding why. You know I received it and you know I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing and you know it's, it's just in my nature, you know.
Speaker 1:
So it's a bigger calling, right, because I think, when I know that, as a woman of faith, I always believe that, you know, god provides a purpose for us and we're to fulfill that purpose and when he wants it fulfilled, he's going to open the means, the ways, the avenues, he's going to open the doors, he's going to provide all of the things that we need in order for us to get that message out, and I think he chooses the people that he wants for specific things you know in life. And so it's no surprise to me that you received such an honor of receiving that award, and I think that you are an amazing person. I follow you, I watch you and it was just incredible, you know, being able to meet you in person, because I know that we communicate all of us do by way of our group chats and stuff because of the Book Publishing Academy. But what I loved about the summit and that it was live and that it was in person is that we all got to meet each other and embrace each other and celebrate with one another. Like meet each other and embrace each other and celebrate with one another, like everyone was truly there to celebrate one another and to really encourage and lift each other up, because all of our books there's stories and meanings behind all of them, right Like mine, with dealing with domestic violence. Hilda, too, her and her domestic violence situation. Domestic violence Hilda, too, her and her domestic violence situation. Like, I just finished reading her book La Guerra de Dios, and it was like it was such a powerful book that I read and then to also have a copy of your book and to know that we are all part of this community of authors that are cheering each other on.
Speaker 1:
And that's what I love about the Book Publishing Academy is that we cheer each other on. When one of us are going through something, we're there to kind of like push each other to move forward and keep going forward. And that's what it's about. It's about having that community and I say that a lot, especially with the audience that I tend to speak to is that we need to continue to build our community in order for us, because it's like you said earlier, we can't do everything by ourselves. We need help, and that's the struggle that we as women have is that we don't like to ask for help, and I think men do too, but I think women on a different level or a different reason. It's because we don't want men do it, because sometimes for them it's about pride, like, oh no, I'm not going to ask for help, you're not going to do this. But women, I think we don't like to ask for help because we don't want to be a burden on somebody else, like we don't want to inconvenience anybody.
Speaker 1:
We don't want to, you know, disrupt what they've got going on, and I think and that holds us back. But in reality, in both cases it's very necessary because that's how we grow together and that's how we promote each other's messages. And and just like when I had my book launch, you sent me your book and it just so happens that the person that won your book cause it was one of the giveaways was my daughter, who my grandson is five years old and autistic, and he's the one that ended up with the book. And I was like, yeah, you know so, and and he loves it, he loves the book, he loves the care. You know he just he sees it and he points and you know, and he he goes and gets things for himself and stuff, and so that is just to let you know, lj, that your book is doing exactly what I believe you want it to do, and that's not only bring awareness, but also allowing the child to know that there's someone is like me unique individuals and we've got to learn how to embrace that. And it's helpful for me too, because it's different when you're a parent and is a grandparent.
Speaker 1:
None of my children were on a spectrum. I'm not none of them, and my grandson is the first encounter. Not only is it my grandson, but I've got a cousin who's in the education system, who also has a son that's autistic. So this is new for our and it's like, it's almost like when a woman is pregnant. You're pregnant and all of a sudden, all these pregnant women come out of the woodworks because everybody's pregnant and that's just how it's been. Like my grandson is autistic, my cousin's son, and then like how it's been, like my grandson is autistic, my cousin's son, and then like I got friends, you know, and it's like where are these people come from? Where were y'all? And it's one of those things, but I love it. So, lastly, what role do you think literature and media will play in promoting empathy and inclusivity, particularly for individuals with autism and their families?
Speaker 2:
Well, we just need we have podcasts, we have television shows, we have, you know, all this media. One of the things that I don't see is well, what I do see is a lot of the repeat stuff, like stuff that's not appropriate for certain age groups, things like that. They need to kind of move that out and bring in new information, new things, new things that are appropriate, and kind of reprogram everyone's behaviors, because every time we see the same stuff being recycled on television, even in these movies and TV shows and stuff, we see the same thing over and over, so we're not going to react any differently if we keep seeing the same behaviors. So I would like to see a different platform for all these new movies that they're putting out and different behaviors and age appropriate stuff on television that the generation now is being subjected to. Stuff that was 10, that was happening 10 years ago, is still. They think that that's entertainment and it's not. It's not.
Speaker 2:
You know, make fun of people that are disabled. That's not funny. Okay, um, you know, and I don't want to say anything bad about rain man, but you know it's it's still being made fun of to this day and I'm like that's not funny. He had an ability and his brother is taking care of him. I mean, he may not be able to take care of himself, but that doesn't mean that he can't be a part of the world and they treated him badly.
Speaker 2:
So there's a lot of representation of people that are disabled and you know, on the spectrum. You know people that are not identified as being on the spectrum are getting bullied. Shouldn't be happening. They shouldn't be portraying things like that. Everybody should be learning how to react to certain situations, how to program themselves to be empathetic and have passion for those that may be different from them and may not act the same way or react the same way.
Speaker 2:
If you see a parent in a grocery store and they're having a hard time with a child, okay, you don't know whether that child is screaming because acting up, or they're overstimulated and the parent doesn't know what to do. There needs to be more education when it comes to not just the parent and the family, but also the people on the outside of it that are looking in and thinking that they know what's going on. They don't, and I've seen a lot of people be just very rude to people because their child you need to get your child quiet or whatever, because their child you need to get your child quiet or whatever and maybe that parent is a new parent and doesn't know that their child is on the spectrum and needs a certain amount of comfort and training. And, you know, having the media like this being an influence, I think they should do better with what they're showing us on television and that's the bottom line I mean for me Absolutely.
Speaker 1:
And confession time, because I will have to admit that once upon a time I was one of those people I was naive, to I would say, being on the spectrum of autism and stuff, that I would be one of those parents that I would see a kid acting up and I'm like, oh my God, they need to get the chancla and spank that child and, you know, get after them. And I I realized later that that that wasn't the attitude to have it came. It was a reality check for me when I did start becoming aware of the autism of you know any type of disability out there. Now, I was accustomed to see Down syndrome. I was accustomed to see you know other type of disabilities, because when you're in school back in the day, they called it special ed and they just kind of clumped everybody together.
Speaker 1:
You know, whether you had a learning disability, whether you you know, whether because it was dyslexia or anything like that, and I was familiar with a lot of those things because my sister was dyslexic and was clumped up Like they just grouped everybody together and not know what to do. So I was quick to defend my sister, but when it came to disruptive behavior, in my mind it was just that that child wasn't being disciplined or they weren't being educated.
Speaker 1:
And then now that I'm a grandmother of a child with autism, who does who's nonverbal and so who just speaks out, it was like hey, girl, you can't be assuming that everybody is not gonna, you know, react that way. Or whenever I'm out there with my grandson and you know he's throwing himself or whatever, and I see people and now I'm the parent look, don't look at me Like I'm having a hard time with my grandbaby. Uh, instead of you know offer help, criticize him. You know. So the grandma in me comes out. We criticize them. You know. So the grandma in me comes out. You know I want and I'm going to be honest. You know, if we're going to keep it real.
Speaker 1:
You know I used to be one of those people and I had to learn very quickly that I could not. That's not my place, that's not who I'm supposed to be. I'm supposed to extend the help and educate myself, and that's what I've been doing is educating myself, learning also now with my daughter. You know help to help her. You know, learning different ways of how to react and how to help and stuff like that. And of course, you know and and they just want to be treated normally or they just want to be treated the same as everybody else, and I can see that for my grandson too, and so my daughter does that. But see, the grandma on me comes out Like, if my son, grandbaby girl leave my granddad, if he wants chicken nuggets, he's going to get chicken nuggets. And she's like, well, where am I chicken Girl? This ain't about you. You weren't about the wrong stuff. Okay, this is about my grandbaby, you know just that.
Speaker 2:
I can't wait to be your grandma.
Speaker 1:
But so I mean. So you made a valid point. You know you made a really valid point, and one to alert all of us and wake us all up, and that's just to. We need to be educated, we know we need to learn and, like I said, when I was talking to the other mothers that I had on the show before, I was asking them you know what's one of the biggest things that they wish would be out there? And they said, you know that they wish that there was more support group systems out there.
Speaker 1:
Because there isn't, they feel alone, they feel isolated, they feel like they don't have the proper support or help, even from the community itself, um, and they feel like they're limited. They can't go out and do a lot of social engagements with people because of the, the fear and the factor that their child, if they're overly stimulated or if they can't communicate or they blurt out some stuff that they're going to be looked at and judged. And when I heard that, it made me feel this small because I, like I said, I at one time was one of those contributing factors, not knowingly right, just assuming, and that's not fair, and so now I feel a lot of sympathy and empathy because of that. And so I think what you all are doing, and especially you, lj, what you're doing with the book and with the Baker series, I think it's a wonderful thing and, like I said, I think it's one of those things that are going to really open up people's eyes and really help them embrace autism and learning more about what autism really is. And, like them, you know, I really commend you a lot for all of the work that you're doing, because I also believe that you know I was telling the other ladies too.
Speaker 1:
You know I was telling the other ladies too I love that they use a piece of a puzzle, because all a piece of that puzzle that are helping not only children. Yes, I love that, you know, and I have my little puzzle too, because it's, you know, and to me that just means that we're all part of this bigger picture for these children and, for now, adults, you know, that are growing up with like such as yourself. You know, yes, you have autism and but you've embraced it and you're utilizing it to promote and to advocate, and I think that's just a wonderful thing. So, lj, I just want to say thank you so much for being on the show today. Thank you so much for sharing your time with us today, and just you know, and I'm looking forward to all of the great things that you're coming. So any last minute words that you'd like to share?
Speaker 2:
Well, thank you so much. These platforms are very important and any podcast that I go on I try to educate and keep people aware of. You know, including everyone, and what you know educating yourself, educating yourself. You're not in the world alone. There are many different types of people and you have to adjust and live in this world. So educating yourself as much as you can is the most important thing in this world For me.
Speaker 2:
I love the fact that you took that first step. You're doing exactly what I was saying earlier, and if millions of people would do that, I'm telling you, this world would blow up. I mean, it would be so great, but we have a lot of work to do so and I'm going to keep going and keep going, god willing, on this earth as long as I can. And you know, hopefully, my kids will, you know, keep doing, they keep doing things once I'm gone, you know, and you know my books, our book series, will, you know, continue to thrive and all these things, and you know I'm leaving a legacy, yeah, so I want to continue it.
Speaker 1:
So absolutely amen to that amen. So, lj, if anyone wants to get in contact with you or if they want to get their hands on your books, how can they do that?
Speaker 2:
So my website is wwwlafritasmithcom. If you go on there now, my second book is available. I have a special offer. It's two for 25, both my books together, just in honor of the first anniversary of the Baker series. So if you want to go on there, it expires at the end of this weekend, so you better get on that website and get it. So two for 25. But the third book will be out April 2nd next year.
Speaker 1:
So look out for that. Thank you so much, lafrieda. Thank you once again. So, for all of you who are listening, if you found value in this show, please share, like, but leave me a review on Apple podcast, rate me on Spotify and you can find us on all different platforms. I just want to say thank you so much once again for being on the show and just for dropping a lot of wisdom onto us today, and I think because of that, so many of us are going to learn and we're going to all become advocates for autism. And so, in honor of you, have all of her links in the show notes. So if you all want to get that book and get your hands on it, I will have it.
Speaker 1:
I will see you all next Saturday on the Mommy on a Mission podcast. If you are hearing this message, you've listened to the entire episode and for that I want to say me gracias from the bottom of my heart. If you would like to dive deeper into today's message and would like to connect with me, send a DM on Instagram at HolaMamiOnAMission, or Facebook at MamiOnAMission. You can also find me at MamiOnAMissioncom. I hope you've enjoyed this new episode and if you did, it would mean the world to me if you would subscribe, share this podcast and leave me a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Tune in next week for some more words of motivation, inspiration and encouragement. On Mommy on a Mission.