Treats by William - Made With a Pinch of Love

02/14/2025

In true William fashion his eyes opened at 5am on a special day and he dove into bed next to me.

At first it didn’t dawn on me why he was awake so very early. Then the “aha” moment hit!

Even Valentines Day holds promise of a small gift. A temporary feel good in a tumultuous life. 

I had him hang out a bit and watch some Paw Patrol before heading downstairs.

Before I could swing my legs over the bed I heard the call I’ve gotten so many times;

“MOM, you have to come see the beautiful Valentines Day sky!”

He held me stable while I balanced on the edge of the couch to get a good shot of the beautifully blended welcoming hues.

I will forever be in awe of his appreciation of our universe and its messages.

Take pause today to appreciate the little things we tend to take for granted.

That’s love!

A Happy Valentines Day to all ! 💗

02/12/2025

This morning we had what I like to call an Autism morning.

We work very hard to keep routine while interjecting a change here and there for growth experience.

However, on school days it’s important to keep it routine, calm with expectations granted for the best possible start to his day. It helps everyone.

At 7:45 Williams transportation called to say they’d be running late and asked if I’d mind taking him to school today. A minor change in the morning, that’s happened in the past, so no big deal .

I had an appt but with a little rearranging I could make both on time.

As I’m informing William of the change he is frantically looking for his 2nd favorite shoe.

A certain golden retriever, ahem Hazel, likes to “borrow” shoes. We searched EVERYWHERE!!

No where to be found !

He wanted to wear his cowboy boots. He cannot. That’s another story.

I texted his teacher about the situation and asked if he could wear the boots to school, take them off and have his socks on for today.

They’re in a small school, no lunchroom, carpeted, walk a couple doors away for a room change, put in lots of supports to help the kids thrive and have taken shoes off during breaks.

Administration declined.

Which meant if we couldn’t find the match, he couldn’t go to school.

We were already running late searching for shoe #2.

Being yet another change to the day I tried to find a 2nd pair of gym shoes for him.

I felt the stress rising and meltdown impending. The air in the house was thick.

I did find the other pair.

They weren’t the “ones”.

Didn’t fit right.

Hurt his feet.

The meltdown began.

In a last ditch attempt dad came up a typical hiding spot and that’s where it was!

Shoes changed, dogs secured, alarm set and running out the door we made it a bit late, but made it.

Williams therapeutic day school is amazing providing him the supports he needs to succeed through his next 6 years there. If it’s still going to be available to him.

This simple request being denied was surprising and annoying, to say the least.

It set him off to start his school day escalated, upset and frustrated.

I voiced my opinion to his teacher regarding admins decisions and said they put in so many supports for our kids success that denying this was ridiculous, imo.

We both made it through the day.

His was rough, as expected.

Sometimes even those who are supposed to understand and support the needs of Autism, don’t.

He was expected to miss a day of school over shoes. No, it’s not right.

Tomorrow is another day.

An e-learning day due to impending snow. Another annoyance, when school is cancelled before air falls from the sky. A subject for another day!

I no longer require him to participate in e-learning. After the stress, anxiety and meltdowns of Covid, unless the world shuts down again, there’s no way.

Just a day in the life of Autism.

02/09/2025

Be conscious of what you say and do.

Children are always watching, listening and learning from adults. Absorbing kind, loving actions is what they should be learning in order to create kind, loving adults.

They are much smarter and aware than they are given credit for.

They are observers. Especially William. Hes aware of what you think of him by your actions. Talk is cheap.

I’ve been down with a kidney infection for a few days. If you’ve had one, you know they’re miserable.

My husband immediately stepped into the Mr Mom roll.

He’s been waiting on me without complaint and lovingly demanding I go up to bed early or take a nap. “I’ve got this” he reassured me.

He cooked us dinner, took care of William and the dogs and put William to bed for me each night.

He took William to a movie today so I could try to nap and endured a row of 10 years olds having been dropped off without adult supervision.

I don’t have to tell you the noise and throwing popcorn that ensued from that. But he tolerated it. Another lesson to be taught, tolerance.

It’s hard for me to have someone taking care of me, Im the caregiver, but under the circumstances, I relented to his kindness and care.

Before leaving for the movie, William covered me with his favorite guinea pig blanket, over a blanket already warming me, and said “ I don’t want you to be cold”. He took his Nanas blanket to the movie.

Although I’m his person and he’s used to me at his side at bedtime, movies, shopping, meals etc, there were no complaints about dad putting him to bed last night and today so I could go up to bed early.

I can’t remember the last time I was in bed before 830!

William watched his dad take great care of us and we take great care of him.

He’s becoming a mature, caring young man from the actions of those he spends the most time with. Thankfully.

He has a heart of gold and it shows.

Stella napped at my feet and Hazel up against the couch beneath me while I had a few hours of quiet time.

I’m truly grateful for my boys and watching William grow into such a mature young man.

02/03/2025

Happy National Golden Retriever Day!

Hazel and Stella are angels sent from Gypsy.

Although other dogs weren’t her bag, Gypsy knew William needed support, unconditional love and companionship.
He loved her so much .

The combination of their personalities is all encompassing.

Stella is loaded with expression, empathy, compassion and loves to snuggle anyone who will allow it when she feels comfortable with you. A true reflection of living on the streets.

Never knowing where your next meal will come from, fearing for your safety and so appreciative of the love she now receives.

Hazel is playful, energetic, full of shenanigans and keeps us entertained everyday.

The excitement she exudes the minute someone comes to see her is met with pure joy, bum wiggles and you are sure to be greeted with the nearest toy.

Stella is teaching Hazel that snuggles and closeness are not scary.

Hazel is teaching Stella bravery, how to play and to stand her ground.

After months of carrying them to the front sidewalk for a walk, they now get excited and run to the door, wait for their leashes and walk right out !

Going into the out is still scary at times.

Hazel pulls like a cantering horse and Stella startles at loud cars or strange noises but they’re now stopping to smell their neighborhood and seeing the sights knowing that they now have a safe loving home to return to each time.

They are helping us show William what unconditional love is and that no matter how your day was, they are always here to greet him home and show him love.

In the photo on the left, William had come home from school feeling sad.

I sat on the floor with him to talk when both Hazel and Stella stepped in to love on him and make him laugh.

Truly a gift from the universe to fill our hearts.

Thank you for completing our family!

02/01/2025

Hazel and Stella are not divas they are Tom boys with a zest for life and their loving home!! We love them clean, dirty, muddy, sneaky, funny, snuggly and excited about life! They deserve it!!

01/18/2025

Maggie May is back for another birthday celebration next week and she is again sharing our doggo goodie bags with 24 of her doggie day care friends!

Happy Birthday Maggie!

We appreciate you and will be celebrating your special day with you here at Treats By William!

**We make goodie bags and private label stamped treats for birthdays, gotcha days, weddings, realtor baskets, doggie walking services, businesses, parades to advertise your business, etc you name it we’ll make it happen!

For more information email us at :

[email protected]

01/17/2025

Recently William started calling me “Mama Bear”. Im not sure why but it made my heart melt.

The constant advocacy that special needs parents power through on the daily is not done for back pats. It’s done to give our kids the BEST possible life they deserve are capable of.

And they are capable!

We do it because we love them and see their potential.

I will ALWAYS be his mama bear and fight for EVERYTHING for him.

The behind the scenes isn’t discussed often but bringing it to light helps our special friends become understood, at least at a higher level, with some.

Some people think we create these blogs for attention for us. We do what we do for our kids and we hope to help another family to keep up the good fight along the way.

They deserve a dedicated parent and not all kiddos carry that privilege.

Every year each special needs kiddo has an IEP meeting. Independent Education Plan, so they are set up to be taught they way they learn. As it should be.

It’s hours of paperwork for dedicated teachers and various therapists. They have my highest regard for their dedication and how much they care for our kids.

They don’t just walk into a classroom and teach. They mold our child’s future for when they’re out of the classroom and going into the world.

Every 3 years, our kiddos have a re-evaluation to see what services they still need, or need added, are they ready for a try to transition to mainstream school etc.

This involves weeks of parents, student (if possible) and teachers/therapists filling out dozens of forms/assessments/questionnaires with hundreds of questions. Some “check the box” some essay.

You see your child’s life laid out in black and white in front of you. Things you see every day but put in the back of your mind to just survive each day.

You see their achievements and their developmental delays all spelled out in black and white.

Sadness hits you where you see they are far behind their neurotypical peers but the baby step achievements they’ve made make your heart grow. You know how extra hard they work to get there.

It tugs at your heart and gives you the push to keep going.

We receive the final report to review at least 3 days prior and share with our advocate, if you’re lucky to have one.

Page 41 is where I left off tonight. 20 more pages to go, a discussion with our advocate and the 2 + hour meeting next Tuesday.

William has come so far with just 2 more years of high school and then 4 years of a transitional program at the same school to prepare him for a job, possibly independent living and more life skills.

So very proud of his progress and how he powers through the most difficult times of his life.

A little insight into the behind the scenes of life for a special needs child 💕

01/15/2025

This Valentines Day, doesn’t your faithful doggo deserve a show of appreciation for their undying dedication?!

Find our 9oz Combo Valentines Heart Treat Boxes at :

The Painted Tree, Naperville, C-9

The Nest, 11306 Southwest Hwy, Orland Park

Krema Coffee Roasters - Plainfield and Lockport

Wags 2 Wishes Resale Shop - Plainfield
*Where 30% of all of our product sales go right back to support the pups waiting for their furever homes!
(Our Halloween and Christmas stock is 30% off here with a July 2025 exp date - get them while there’s some left !)

As always visit our other locations as well:

PETS, ETC Caton Farm and Rt 59, Plainfield

Pixie Pups Dog Grooming - 2011 Essington, Joliet

Can’t make it in - WE SHIP -

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01/14/2025

Autism has its own timeline and with each Autistic individual, the timeline is different.

William has come very far with many things in his life, with the right people and supports.

Autism doesn’t go away.

You don’t “grow out of it”.

It takes a village of commonality with supports to guide him into his own greatness.

We advocate for our special needs family members for every possible support and strategy to guide them to being the most independent that they can.

A while back I posted about an app that we bought for William to help him with finances.

It’s called Greenlight.

He is impulsive and has a hard time making spending decisions wisely.

Often times it’s an in the moment, feel good, to buy something even if it will end up in a corner, never used.

Setting him up for success is our goal.

We’ve set the app up with an agreed upon allowance amount and chores throughout the week.

Taking out garbage when needed and to the front on garbage day. Cleaning his Guinea pig cages several times per week. Completing his laundry from wash to putting them away, etc.

He can earn more for additional tasks requested when completed.

He’s not only earning and learning about money management, he’s learning about responsibility.

Any monies he receives whether from allowance, birthdays, Christmas etc is split 50/50 between checking and savings. That ratio will be adjusted as he acquires more financial responsibilities.

He’s been so excited to watch his savings account grow.

William has a $14,000 savings goal so he can buy a truck that he wants.

With every week when he sees the balance pop up, he gets excited and says “I’m getting closer to that $14,000!!”

It’s a long way off but it’s great to see him learning to have goals, plan for them and stick to them while learning to be responsible spending the money he DOES have to treat himself.

Aware of his limits, he was able to buy a Lego set without my assistance!

01/06/2025

As we grow near the end of an eventful Christmas break, we are squeezing in as many adventures as we can.

William has visited Legoland on a field trip with his therapeutic day school and requested a trip back over break.

It’s really an incredible place!

The Lego creations on display match a museum of carefully placed artifacts.

From African safari animals to the detailed streets of Chicago, Navy Peer highlight the dedication and hours of creation involved in each structure and showpiece.

Willam chose dad to ride the pedal operated carnival ride with him. That made my heart happy! Their closeness grows by the day.

The thousands of tiny bricks and mini figs covering 2 floors with opportunities for imaginations to soar and construct with creativity made our visit even more fun.

Together, we sat at a Lego table and took instructions from Williams incredible imagination to create a scene no Lego kit instructions could provide.

Mom, please make a bed and another balcony using this or that specific shape.

Dad, can you find 3 pieces that look like this?

We worked together, no screens or phones, and enjoyed time together as a family.

Autism opens your eyes to a different, incredible world seen through the lense, heart and mind of incredible human beings, if you let it 💕

Before heading home, we ended our day with a delicious Mexican meal at Casa Margarita. The young man loves fish tacos!!

Muy bueno!

01/04/2025

12/29/2024

Joining the general public with Autism is quite different than a typical family.

It’s delicate and carefully considered and planned.

Where we spend their childhoods trying to teach our typical children to manage in the world, we learn to let our Autistic children teach US about theirs.

They teach us where they are comfortable, what makes them shine and when to leave. But we only learn by having the courage to try new things.

There are so many events we’ve taken a pass on because, well, it just wasn’t the right time for him. We know him well.

As William works with many therapists and learns about himself, he’s able to tell us when fun turns to overwhelm and when he’d like to try something new.

After watching him enjoy Wicked, it dawned on me that we had never thought to take him to a stage play.

There’s always the potential of overwhelming volume and crowds.

William was willing to give a stage play a try and what a better time of year and story to bring him into yet another world of opportunity.

A Christmas Carol.

I watched him sit quietly with focus and laughter while actors glided across the stage telling a story of renewal and overcoming past trauma.

Showing forgiveness, acceptance and one’s realization of changing behaviors through healing the past and visualizing how it affects the present.

He absolutely loved it and wants to see others.

Another successful adventure opening up opportunities for future outings.

We will never give up on showing William the world, its truths and listening to his ques.

Never give up on your special kiddos.

Their emotional growth and acceptance may take baby steps but they’ll get there in their own way, in their own time.

12/28/2024

Our language of love is service, my husband and I.

We don’t require fancy dinners, evenings out, showering each other with gifts or compliments.

We joke and tease and pass each other with an unexpected hug, gentle pat or fleeting back rub.

Hilarious memes are shared and we laugh at each others quirks and off color jokes.

Our household is run like a fine oiled machine.

Each having jobs and taking them on equally and without complaint and ready to give more when the other is spent.

Quiet evenings at home watching a favorite show and going to bed early far outweigh loud venues and crowds.

Some call it old. I call it “been there, done that” comfortable.

There are no trackers on our phones for lack of trust.

We have no room for drama, conflict or hatred.

If it finds us, we process, take action and quickly es**rt it out of our lives.

He is quiet man, in some circles, who’s dedicated to supporting and loving his family through thick and thin.

He is reliable, trustworthy and even tempered.

He guides William through life learning how a good man treats a partner and family while teaching him patience, directing frustrating projects with him and takes William into the world.

We are very blessed, William and I, and we both know how lucky we are.

It’s been one of the best Christmases we’ve ever had. Filled with so much laughter, love and acceptance.

I’ve made some rough choices with partners in the past, however, those experiences taught me important lessons about what love really is, led me to my best friend and taught me how to appreciate a truly good man 💕

12/25/2024

We want to wish our Treats by William family a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays !!

Your support, love and kindness to William and our entire family is appreciated more than you know!

Peace, love and happiness to all in 2025 💕

12/24/2024

Join me in wishing this amazing young man a VERY Happy 16th Birthday !!!

I feel as though we’ve snapped our fingers and 16 years have vanished into space!

I remember his first steps, or should I say sprints, where we should’ve known that the chase would be on for years to come!

William has climbed the most difficult mountains and reached the top with perseverance and tenacity. In spite of his challenges , he attacks life with excitement and a zest for fun and learning.

His strength, inquisitiveness, kindness, sense of humor and intelligence far exceed that of most 16 year olds.

William, you deserve all the great things that life has to offer and we can’t wait to see where life takes you!!

WE LOVE YOU!! 🥰 💕 💙

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! 🎉🎂🎁🎈

12/22/2024

There are people who come into your life unexpectedly and bring a light that shines through your heart.

William is Autistic and plays Miracle League Baseball.

A sporting organization created for the special abilities community to be able to participate, like everyone else, have fun and create acceptance.

They have buddies to walk/run side by side and help them through the game.

Although William has become quite good, he needs a 1:1 for guidance and security.

He’s had various buddies over the years, including dad and I, alot of which are well meaning teens who don’t quite understand how to connect with Autism.

Last year when Evan joined the buddy team William not only gained an attentive team mate but also a friend.

They clicked from day one.

Evan is an incredible young man who accepts William for who he is and requests to spend time with him.

There are no words to describe how grateful we are for this unexpected, or is it, union.

Our families have connected and we’ve done a couple of activities together, last night being one of them.

Evans family suggested we get together for dinner for Williams birthday and were so understanding and accommodating to his needs.

When there is so much unhappiness in the world, look for the good and let it guide your path.

12/20/2024

This morning was not only met with a gentle blanket of fresh white snow, but a magical holiday excitement.

It’s not often I see William wake with such excitement and anticipation but today is special, as are the upcoming days.

It’s ugly sweater, party day at school and they’re celebrating his birthday.

His sweater, for him, is far from ugly! Nothing is ugly that sports a car of any kind!

He chose a Snickerdoodle “Nothing Bundt Cake” with extra frosting to share with his classmates. 🤤

I am enjoying my last half hour of “me time” before our holiday break and looking forward to the many fun events we have planned to spoil William for his 16th Christmas Eve birthday over the next 2 weeks.

The days go by slowly, but the years fly by.

He’s growing into such a fine young man . We are so very proud of him and his accomplishments this year.

He is to be celebrated, and that we shall!

12/16/2024

Teaching kids budgeting and saving is easy for some and a difficult task for others.

The Autistic brain fires differently so teaching these things takes time and patience.

When impulsivity, lack of the understanding of the meaning of money and the need for a material “thing” for a temporary feel good hits, there’s no stopping them.

If William has $1 in his wallet he’ll figure out a way to spend it!

I’m determined to help at least one person learn to save for the future and properly spend the extra they have.

I found “Greenlight”.

The app is great.

I have an account to be able to fund his checking and savings where he can watch his money grow.

He has his own debit card which he’s over the moon about!

He earns 5% on savings and 1% on checking. Our adult bank accounts earn .5% , if we’re lucky!

He gets paid when he works our business and we created a list of chores he needs to complete to receive his allowance. His money is split 50/50 between accounts.

The need for spending right now is only for toys or video games so once he’s needing gas money, life necessities etc we’ll split it 80/20.

It does have a fee to us and I don’t mind! It’s working!!

We had such a successful week!! ALL chores completed for the week, plus extra!

Chores can be scheduled by day, weekly etc.

His chores consist of taking out the household garbage as needed and then the weekly cans for pickup.

Guinea pig cages need cleaning 3x per week on designated days - negotiable if something comes up. No assistance.

Completing his laundry start to finish with minimal complaints 😉.

Clean up after himself after playtime.

William can earn extra for completing extra requests.

When I add his allowance or paycheck, we do it together so he can watch the balance go up.

He’s actually wanted to pay for our family meals out just to use his card which is the sweet guy he is. Shopping for himself has not been a request !

There is also an investment option we’ll touch on later with him.

I highly recommend this for your kiddos.

Start them young learning to work and save for things they’d like and for their future for emergencies or big ticket items like a car, if driving is an option, video game, clothes, maybe a home of their own someday 🙏🏼 etc

Give them the knowledge and education to create as indepedent a future as possible.

Greenlight

Disclaimer, I’m not being paid to advertise this I just think it’s worth sharing to other parents!



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