The Story Behind ‘Autism: Calming the Chaos’: A Personal Journey

The first time Adrián had a public meltdown, I felt like the entire world was watching me fail as a mother.

We were at a park, should have been joyful, playful. Instead, I was sitting on a bench with my 3-year-old son, both of us crying, while nobody could help us.

I didn’t understand what was happening. I didn’t know how to help him. And I felt so utterly, completely alone.

That park moment? That’s where “Autism: Calming the Chaos” was born……

Not in that exact moment, obviously. But that feeling, of being lost in the chaos, desperate for understanding, needing someone to tell me “this is what’s happening and here’s how to help”, that’s what drove Luis and me to write this book……

This week, as a thank you to our community, we’re offering the Kindle eBook version completely FREE (December 2-6). Because if even one family can skip that park moment I had, if even one parent can understand their child’s meltdowns sooner than I did… it’s worth it!

Get your FREE copy here (available Dec 2-6 only)

A Mother’s Love and Honest Struggles

Let me be real with you about something: I love my boys more than anything in this world……

Adrián, who’s 11 now, with his intense passion for history and trains. Guillermo, my 5-year-old, who sees the world through the most beautifully unique lens……

But loving them fiercely doesn’t mean parenting them has been easy……

There have been days when I’ve sat in my car after dropping Adrián at school, just crying. Days when the meltdowns felt relentless and I questioned everything I was doing. Days when I felt like I was failing them……

The hardest part? Watching them struggle and not knowing how to help……

Seeing Adrián cover his ears in pain at sounds I barely noticed……

Watching Guillermo become completely overwhelmed by changes to his routine that seemed minor to me……

Holding them through meltdowns, feeling helpless, wondering what I was doing wrong……

That’s the love that propelled me to write this book……

Not a sanitized, Instagram-perfect version of autism parenting. But the real, messy, beautiful, challenging truth of it……

Because I wanted other parents to know: you’re not alone in those hard moments. You’re not failing. Your child isn’t broken. And there ARE things that can help……

The Daily Moments That Became Our Guide

“Autism: Calming the Chaos” isn’t based on research studies or clinical observations (though those informed it)……

It’s based on our actual life……

Like the time Adrián had a meltdown at the grocery store because the fluorescent lights were buzzing at a frequency I couldn’t even hear. I thought he was “overreacting.” But he was in genuine pain……

Like the morning Guillermo melted down for 45 minutes because we took a different route to preschool. Not because he was being “difficult,” but because the unexpected change felt destabilizing to his entire nervous system……

Like the birthday party where Adrián (in his own party) retreated to a quiet room for 30 minutes, and instead of forcing him to “participate,” we let him regulate, and he came back ready to engage on his terms……

These real moments taught us what actually works……

Not theories. Not “shoulds.” But practical strategies born from trial, error, tears, and eventual understanding……

Every strategy in this book? We’ve lived it……

The calm-down corner we describe? That’s in our house. Adrián and Guillermo uses it regularly……

The sensory regulation tools? Those are in Guillermo’s backpack right now……

The scripts for talking to kids about meltdowns? Those are the exact words we use with our boys……

This book is our family’s lived experience, offered to yours 💙

Understanding What’s Actually Happening

Here’s what I wish someone had told me years ago: meltdowns are not behavior problems. They’re neurological responses to overwhelm……

When Adrián has a meltdown, it’s not because he’s trying to manipulate me or get his way. It’s because his nervous system has hit overload and the thinking, rational part of his brain has gone offline……

Understanding that changed everything for us……

Recognizing the Signs (Before It’s Too Late)

Over the years, Luis and I have learned to read the early warning signs:……

For Adrián:

  • He gets quieter than usual

  • His stimming increases (hand-flapping, pacing)

  • He starts avoiding eye contact even more than usual

  • His responses become shorter, more clipped

For Guillermo:

  • He starts covering his ears

  • His speech becomes more echolalic (repeating phrases)

  • He seeks out tight spaces

  • His movements become more frantic

When we catch these signs early, we can often prevent a full meltdown by:

  • Moving to a quieter space

  • Reducing demands

  • Offering sensory tools

  • Just… giving them space and time……

This is what we teach in the book—not just how to manage meltdowns once they happen, but how to recognize and respond to the signs before things escalate……

The Self-Management Strategies We Actually Use

Here’s the truth: you can’t stop all meltdowns. Sometimes the world is just too much, and that’s okay……

But you CAN give your child tools to manage their nervous system……

For Adrián, we’ve taught him:

  • To recognize when he’s getting overwhelmed (using a “feelings thermometer”)

  • To ask for breaks before he hits his limit

  • To use his calm-down corner when he needs it

  • To identify which sensory tools help him most (noise-canceling headphones, weighted blanket, dim lighting)

For Guillermo, we’re working on:

  • Visual emotion cards to help him identify feelings

  • Simple phrases like “too loud” or “need quiet”

  • Using his comfort items when overwhelmed

  • Understanding that big feelings are okay

The book walks through these strategies step-by-step, from Adrián’s perspective as a 10-year-old autistic boy, so kids can understand what’s happening in THEIR bodies and what they can do about it……

Why Adrián’s Voice Matters

One of the things that makes “Autism: Calming the Chaos” different is that it’s told from Adrián’s perspective……

With the help of my perspective as a autistic parent myself observing from the outside……

But mainly from a 10-year-old autistic boy explaining what a meltdown actually FEELS like from the inside……

Why does this matter?

Because when autistic kids read this book, they see themselves. They understand “Oh, that’s what’s happening to ME. I’m not weird. I’m not bad. This is just how my brain works.”……

And when parents, teachers, siblings, and grandparents read it, they finally understand: “Oh, THIS is what my child/student/grandchild is experiencing. No wonder they respond this way.”……

Adrián helped us write this book. His insights, his experiences, his voice (even for the time when he was non-verbal), it’s all woven throughout……

That’s what makes it authentic……

Building Understanding Through Our Story

When we decided to write this book, we made a choice: we would be honest. Even about the messy, hard parts……

We don’t sugarcoat meltdowns in this book. We don’t pretend they’re easy to navigate. We don’t offer miracle cures……

What we DO offer: ✨ Real understanding of what meltdowns are (and aren’t) ✨ Practical strategies that have actually worked for our family ✨ Compassionate guidance for supporting your child before, during, and after overwhelm ✨ A perspective that treats autistic traits with respect, not as problems to fix ✨ Hope, because understanding changes everything……

For the Kids Reading This Book

When autistic children read “Autism: Calming the Chaos,” they learn:

  • What’s happening in their body during a meltdown

  • That meltdowns don’t make them “bad”

  • Practical strategies they can use themselves

  • That they’re not alone, other kids experience this too

  • That their feelings and experiences are valid……

Several parents have told us their kids return to this book again and again, especially after a hard day. It validates them. It helps them understand themselves……

For the Adults Reading This Book

When parents, teachers, and caregivers read it, they learn:

  • The difference between meltdowns and tantrums (game-changer!)

  • Common triggers and how to identify YOUR child’s specific triggers

  • What to do (and what NOT to do) during a meltdown

  • How to support recovery after overwhelm

  • How to build prevention strategies into daily routines……

Plus, there’s an entire section specifically for parents with guidance, tips, and strategies for supporting your child’s emotional regulation journey……

This Week Only: Our Gift to You

Luis and I believe every family deserves access to understanding……

That’s why this week (December 2-6), we’re offering the Kindle eBook version of “Autism: Calming the Chaos” completely FREE……

Download your free copy here – Available Dec 2-6 only

(You don’t need a Kindle device, the free Kindle app works on any phone, tablet, or computer!)……

This is our thank you to this incredible community that has supported us, shared our books, and trusted us with their stories……

If cost has been a barrier, now’s your chance. Download it. Share it with your child’s teacher. Send it to grandparents. Pass it along to anyone who needs to understand meltdowns better……

Let’s spread understanding together.

Beyond This One Book: Our Complete Journey

“Autism: Calming the Chaos” is just one part of our family’s story……

We’ve written an entire series based on Adrián and Guillermo’s real experiences, each book addressing different challenges we’ve navigated:……

📚 Autism: Calming the Chaos – Understanding and supporting meltdowns (FREE this week!)

📚 Autism: Confidence Starts Here – Building self-esteem and celebrating differences

📚 Autism: A New School Year – Managing transitions and back-to-school anxiety

📚 Autism: My Invisible Backpack – Understanding masking and emotional overload

📚 Party Time for Adrián – Navigating social events with confidence

Each book includes: ✓ Stories based on our real family experiences ✓ Beautiful hand-drawn illustrations ✓ Practical strategies you can use immediately ✓ Bonus sections for parents and educators ✓ Downloadable resources and tools……

FREE Resources for Your Family

Beyond our books, we’ve created tons of FREE downloadable resources to support your family:……

Access all our free resources here

You’ll find:

  • Meltdown prevention checklists

  • Visual calm-down strategy cards

  • Emotion identification tools

  • Social stories templates

  • Sensory regulation guides

  • And so much more, all completely free……

Because we believe support should be accessible to everyone……

The Community That’s Walked This Journey With Us

Writing “Autism: Calming the Chaos” wasn’t just about our family’s story……

It was inspired by every parent who’s messaged us saying “I thought I was alone.”……

Every teacher who’s asked “How do I help this student?”……

Every grandparent who’s said “I want to understand my grandchild better.”……

Every autistic adult who’s shared “I wish someone had explained this to me when I was young.”……

You’ve all shaped this book.

Your questions. Your struggles. Your victories. Your wisdom……

This community of families, educators, therapists, and autistic individuals navigating this journey together, that’s what gives this book its heart……

What Parents Are Saying

“This book is super helpful to any parent with an autistic child… beautifully illustrated, makes it more interesting to read and absorb the information.” — Phil_AE

“My daughter recognizes Adrian in the illustrations already! It has allowed me to not only use the techniques ourselves as a family during a meltdown but to also understand other kids when they have one.” — Andre Cassis

“A lifesaver for understanding my grandson’s autism… The practical tips for handling emotional crises have given me the confidence to know what to do if a meltdown occurs at home, park, school everywhere.” — Gloria (Spain)

“Well-written book, well-illustrated, easy to read, and as someone with a neuroscience degree, I appreciated their understanding that it’s not the fault of the kid… very empathetic.” — Yair Aizenman……

These reviews mean everything to us because they tell us: this is helping families. And that’s why we do this work……

From Our Family to Yours

That park floor moment I told you about at the beginning? It doesn’t haunt me anymore……

Because now I understand what was happening. Now I know how to help. Now I have tools, and so does Adrián and Guillermo……

Writing “Autism: Calming the Chaos” was our way of making sure other families don’t have to feel as lost as we once did……

Every strategy in this book is something we’ve lived. Every insight comes from real experience. Every word is written with love for our boys and hope for your family……

This week, it’s free. Not because we’re running a promotion, but because we genuinely believe every family deserves access to understanding……

Download your free copy here (Dec 2-6 only)

Share it. Use it. Let it help you the way writing it helped us……

And if it makes a difference for your family? That’s all the thanks we need 💙

With love, understanding, and solidarity,
Dalisse & Luis
Loving Pieces Books

📧 Stay Connected:

💙 Have you read Calming the Chaos? What resonated most with your family? Share your story with our community, we’re all learning together.