Erika Radis: [00:00:00] Welcome to this week's episode of the Working Moms of San Antonio podcast. We're here with Kim and she has a company called My Cookie Therapist, and we're going to turn it over to her to talk about her story.
Kim Reince: Hi guys, I'm really glad to be here and to share my story. And I kind of wanted to share my story in the month of April because my business kind of ties in with autism awareness and acceptance month.
Autism is what led me to create this business in the first place. So yeah, it kind of goes hand in hand, the things we do for our kids.
Marie Lifschultz: Absolutely.
Kim Reince: I don't know how much, you know, experience, you know, people have with autism, but I did have, I have one child and this child happens to have autism. And he was diagnosed early here, right after I moved to San Antonio from Florida.
And he's about two, almost three, you know, Physically, he was just off the charts, [00:01:00] but developmentally, in his language, it just wasn't there. It wasn't happening. So I knew something was wrong. I gotta get something. So we put a name on it. The name happened to be Autism. And I was, you know, a stay at home mom at the time, and of course, I just, through my life into just, okay, what do we need to do?
We need to get occupational therapy. We need to get physical therapy. We need to get speech therapy. We need to get ABA at the time is proven to be the most effective therapy for a child with autism. If they get it. early enough in life. And we had everything going on. Sun up to sundown. I'm, you know, driving around the city, taking them to appointments.
You know, people are coming over to the house, you know, meeting each other, coming and going at the doors, whatnot. We were just living in, it's, you know, kind of got to be this. Fighter flight syndrome, 24 hours a day, the adults in the house, just that tension. And that's, there was just, you know, no rest, even when you thought you were resting, you really weren't.
And then we just stumbled across yet another [00:02:00] protocol or a therapy that was called RDI, Relationship Development Intervention. And this one was just to stop and you need to slow down and you need to just, you know, rethink, and we're not going to, you know, just. So much the hammer at him to talk, talk, talk, and do this and do that.
We're just going to let things progress naturally. We're going to let things progress without forcing verbal communication. We're really going to work on that nonverbal communication. We're going to work on eye contact. We're going to work on you as a parent being the giver of good things, which, you know, parents are anyway.
I just wasn't allowing my child to see that side of me because I was so busy with, you development and whatnot. And you know, and just relationships were unraveling at the time and, you know, health issues were popping up and it's all from stress, you know, autoimmune issues can be a real, you know, be whenever you're wrapped up in, in just chronic stress.
And that's where I found myself at the time. So we [00:03:00] started doing these nonverbal activities and things really calmed down and the family unit was just a lot more relaxed and a big part of that was nonverbal communication and making eye contact with the child who's still not verbal at the time. It was just a little over four.
And just, you know, a little tornado, just an ADHD whiz all over the place, but baking, you know, one of the directors of the program said, you know, baking has really been well, you know, look at each other, you know, you hand them an egg, you know, you just, it's, it's almost down to the silliest time, I remember my husband and I were looking at our stuff going, you know, right, whatever, okay, and we're going to crack an egg and we're going to turn on the mixer and he's going to be like, all right, but it wasn't quite like that.
Just the, the relationship building that took place during that time with me not talking. You know, there were pictures in the back of the Betty Crocker recipe box. You know, you just point to it. What do we do? Eggs. How many eggs are there? There's three. Oh, look, I have three eggs [00:04:00] right here. You crack the egg.
You know, it's letting him do the things that I would never let him do before. Crack an egg, oh good lord, no. Get next to a liquid in the kitchen, that's off limits, no. You know, turn on my mixer, oh, never. Those were all allowed. And of course, you know, there was a lot of setting up before the activity. But with that, he was able to just look at my face.
Face, which, you know, he'd never really done before, you know, just to really look at me and to really see me and through these activities and just waiting for the next step and waiting for me to go ahead and shake my head. Yes. You're waiting for me to smile and then he would reciprocate the smile. It just went on like that.
And we just, you know, built it onto other things. Like, you know, I'll never forget one time I was at a birthday party and there were, you know, just. I don't know, maybe 40 kids all in the backyard, across the pool at the jumpy house. And, you know, I remember being really nervous at birthday [00:05:00] parties and stuff.
I remember always having my eye on him. And then I remember he looked at me from across the yard, which is really kind of far away. He made eye contact with me and it was such a huge deal. I just wanted to share it. I mean, he just wanted to make sure that I was watching him and looking at him and see what I'm going to do, which is typical kids do that all the time.
And I just wanted so desperately to find someone who would understand that and could enjoy that. Yeah, and like celebrate with you. It's just he was like, Oh, it never made eye contact with me from before, especially, you know, across a swimming pool and a bouncy house and everything. So things kept progressing and well now he's a 21 year old adult.
He just graduated from college with his associate's degree and taking a gap year to figure out what he wants to do for the rest of his life. Like I can't wait. Gap year that I told my parents I was taking a gap year. I have no idea what they would have said, but
Erika Radis: I know what I would have said.
No, ma'am.
Kim Reince: That's where we're at now. Yeah. I think it would have [00:06:00] sounded like that in my house, except in Spanish or something. Are you crazy? What's the matter with you? Yeah. Anyway. Okay. I tried to keep it cool. So here we go. But that started, that led me to, you know, baking for school. And at first I was doing just a lot of cakes, a lot of cupcakes, a lot of cake pops.
And that was my little era then and doing all that with baking. And I really didn't like it. And I felt like I had a knack for it. And then you know, we progressed to where we're in sports and then I'm just a chauffeur from 6. 30 in the morning to 6. 30 in the evening taking and working in between. So, and then The time in life came when I felt like I was going to be an empty nester, and I was like, gosh, I'm going to have all this time on my hands.
What am I going to do? So I got a big dog and trained her to be a therapy dog. So she's great. And then I, you know, I took up baking again and this time it was cookies and I absolutely loved it. And then I didn't turn out to be an empty nester because he stayed here instead of going away to college, which was fine in the end.
But so much for my empty nester plans. I have a [00:07:00] plan. Okay. I'm stuck with it. And then it just grew and it grew. My cookie therapist just has just in a short two years, you know, had quite a few little evolution. And I. Even going back to the autism and my small business and you know, how this kind of planted the seed very early on.
Then I thought, you know what? And he has trouble like in big social situations with social anxiety. I thought, I can go to markets and this could really help him. Or you know, maybe he's considering studying business. He can run the business. Business end of my business. That will be great. That'll take so much off my plate.
Zero interest in business. Okay. So I'm still doing all that, you know, how it goes in the marketing and everything else, a small business continue to yet to take an interest in anything, except for my red velvet cookie stuff with brownie. So yeah,
Erika Radis: just the taste testing. Huh?
Kim Reince: Yeah. It's a
Erika Radis: very good taste. I think
Kim Reince: He's tired of me doing [00:08:00] the decorated cookies.
He wants me to go back to doing the gourmet ones, which I generally just do for markets, and I just kind of took a break from markets for a while because that's where I make all the different funky flavors and the big cookies that like four people could eat and stuff. So he's ready for me to get back into that, that stage.
But I did take him out to the markets at least saying, okay, you know what? And I need you're going to be my helper. You're living here. You know, I need help on Saturdays, come out to the market with me, you know, not just lugging the heavy stuff, but just to talk to people, to be around crowds, which is something else.
That's just not really that easy. Or it's a non preferred activity. He'd rather stay here gaming. So we out and about, we went and, and he did great handling the square. Just baffled me in the beginning, you know, I couldn't, you know, and he figures it out like a whiz. So he handled all the square transactions and the cash transactions for me.
Well, I just, you know, talked to people and explained to them what the cookies were and, you know, different things they want to talk about. So it worked out really nice. So I'm looking forward to starting in the markets again and [00:09:00] I'm bringing my helper guy with me.
Erika Radis: Yeah, that sounds like a good balance for both of you.
You get out there and do what you have to do and then he's at least around other people, even if he's not talking with them constantly and that kind of thing. Just a little bit of that I'm sure is helpful. So that's a good situation for both you guys.
Kim Reince: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And by the end he would warm up to it and he would be talking to people or giving them compliments and stuff like that.
Stuff that he would Not do you know, it takes a while for him to warm up. The more time you spend inside, like now his thing is gaming, you know, it goes through these phases with autism. You know, he was younger. It was let's see what the Japanese anime, and then it switched for six years. It was like hardcore tennis playing just nonstop.
And then he graduated, dropped his racket, has not picked it up again. Then he taught himself how to play guitar during COVID, got a collection of acoustics, bass, electric, you know, played them all great. Stopped, built a computer, which he calls the Lamborghini of gaming computers. And that is where we're at [00:10:00] today.
I'm just waiting for the other, whatever it is to come along and replace game.
Marie Lifschultz: Yeah, it's an incredible story. Like, I love the fact that, I mean, like all moms, right. We, we do what we need to do to, to help our children. And I think it's great that it led into something that can be profitable for your family and something that you guys can somewhat do together.
I think absolutely. Like when, when I had my boys, I'm like, so my husband, I don't want anyone else to raise them. I don't want them to be with grandma and grandpa all the time. I don't need them to be in daycare. Like we need to figure out what we need to do. So we can be there and be part of whatever sport they're in or whatever play they're going to be in or activities that we want to be.
Oh, so you, you created your career around what you needed. And I love that. I think it will resonate with a lot of. Entrepreneur moms, because I think I think so.
Kim Reince: Cause I really don't do anything different than any other, you know, super mom out there or any mom [00:11:00] period is just that my activities had to be just a little amplified, you know, just a little extra with the language, with the, you know, Coordination with whatever it may be, with the social skills, with get along with friends, with solving disputes.
Luckily academics came easily to him, but the rest of the world did not.
Marie Lifschultz: Yeah. But you know Kim, I think even, a lot of kids go through that, even if they're not on, on the spectrum of any sort, like they have. I mean, with COVID, I mean, especially the, the social interaction with children have changed.
Like, you know, my, my youngest son, he, he definitely is less mature than my older one. I think he was in that fourth, fifth grade era when we were in COVID and it came out that they display weird behavior. Sometimes I'm like, wait, you're 14. That's what a 10 year old, what are you doing? Like, what are you doing?
Right. But,
Kim Reince: you
Marie Lifschultz: know, Being shut in for
Kim Reince: a couple of years will do that.
Marie Lifschultz: Yeah, you know, but I think it's great that you have, you, the, your business taught him also life lessons. I
Kim Reince: mean, yeah, I really do [00:12:00] try to tie it in. I do tie it in. And and, and during the day, like, my cookie therapist is my passion.
It's my love. It's my small business. It's really cool. I'm really kind of proud of myself because it's something. What do I want to do? I always want to do this. And then I do it. And then I'm like, you know what? I've never had a small business. I want to see what that's like. Boy, am I getting a dose of that, you do, it's a lot of work.
And and it's, you know, getting busier and busier. And I love that part of it. We just keep branching out and, you know, and working moms, sustainability has been just a huge gap for me. I had you know, we all have our, our mom groups of friends. Well, thankfully I have my group of friends who have children on the spectrum and can identify with.
You know, the growing pains that may be ongoing through and we can bounce things off of each other all time at last and say, remember when, but what I didn't have was the business moms and things to bounce ideas off or bounce, you know, questions off about what it, whatever it may be, websites, advertising
Erika Radis: target
Kim Reince: audiences.
And so it's just been [00:13:00] fabulous just, you know, meeting and getting to know and, um, just being a part of what you guys have to offer. It's really good. So I love
Erika Radis: hearing that. I'm so glad. I mean, really, when we started it, that was us too. It was like, you know, in our industry, people wanted to like, go out drinking and, you know, do it because we're in real estate and that's what you do for some reason.
And it was like, we have little kids. I'm not going to go do that. You know what I mean? Like I can't do that. And so Marie and I were like, wait a second, like we need to find other people that are working moms, you know? And so we did that. And then it was like, well, I also want to know the people that are running their own business, because that's a whole different side of it.
So then we found those two, you know,
Kim Reince: well,
Marie Lifschultz: definitely, even though you're in different industries, it doesn't mean the skills that you've learned over time can't be shared in another industry. Right. You know, like, Hey, my kids were two when I did this and this is what worked. I can, you know, Put them on my back or I can take them with me and we can do different things with them.
We have moms that lug kids around during a nap time is going to be in the car [00:14:00] because they got to drop off laundry. You know, they got to do xyz or whatever the case is and like, oh, I never thought about that. You can do things and when you see other People like you doing things that you thought maybe it was a little hard.
Like, wait, wait, wait. If they can do it, I can do it.
Kim Reince: It's empowering. It really is. Yeah. And so this is you know, currently like what I do at night after from five to nine, I kind of do that. I usually get home. I, I work as a behavioral therapist through the day. So that was just kind of another career change.
I went when my son was little and getting a lot of those ABA hours that I was talking about. You know, I just kind of wanted to. Peek in on his therapies. I just wanted to make sure it was being done right. So what do I do? I sign up at the University of North Texas and take some extra level courses in behavior analysis and, you know, get all that done just so I can, what, micromanage, double check, who knows, but that's what I'm doing now during my day job.
So I do work with You know, kiddos of all ages on the spectrum right now doing private one on one therapies and, [00:15:00] and just, it's a lot of fun to see them grow and blossom. We had some parent meetings this morning and it's just, you know, fun to take that walk down memory lane to September when school started to maybe what the child may have been doing if they were having problems with to the, you know, maybe the frequency.
How often it's not happening now just to see how much they've blossomed and grown and and prior to this career, but I mean, how I was a news anchor for like 15 years, different market about
Erika Radis: you, Kim. Yeah.
Kim Reince: I've run Corpus Christi. That was my Texas stint. And then Florida for about eight or nine years.
And there too in Orlando. And, yeah. Yeah. And it's funny how the cookie business, just because, you know, aside from the baking cookies, we have to worry about all of our own advertising and marketing and all that good stuff. Just kind of brought me back to that because that's what my degree is. It doesn't even broadcast marketing and management.
It's just kind of, you know, sending little signals that way of, Oh, I remember this. Yeah. Oh yeah. Of course, you know, it's completely, you know, it's [00:16:00] the same, but not the same because now I essentially run my business on, you know, Facebook and Instagram, basically. Those weren't even an issue or for those weren't around when I was in college.
Okay. I'm gonna go ahead and take myself up. It's an extra go down about it. Yeah. So it's just, it's kind of, you know, brings back that marketing and advertising a little experience and and education I had way back when, and it's fun and enlightening and I'm enjoying that part of it too.
Erika Radis: Do you feel like because you've been on the camera so much that like you can, cause like one thing that I really struggle with is putting my own self.
on my social media. I don't ever want to do my face. I've been trying to do it a little bit more now. I'm being a little bit better. There's a gal in our group that's helping me. But do you find that it's like, comes very easy for you to like film? Like, you know, hey, like, let me talk about my business.
No, no.
Kim Reince: And, you know, and everybody I come across, they're like, you need to put your face on there more. You need to put your face on there more. Like, I know, and I don't, and I used to do it [00:17:00] for 15 years every single day, day in, day out, early morning, noon newscast, 11 o'clock newscast.
Erika Radis: There I was.
Kim Reince: But to put myself on my own Instagram, shudder at the thought, or really I don't mind so much the video of myself.
It's just, you know, the talking part. I don't know why, I guess, cause I'm so far removed from it. It's just like anything. Once you start doing it more often and I'm trying to put myself out there more often on my own little reels and whatnot. As my, you know, cookie side of my, the baking aspect. Yeah, you got to show your cookie side.
Right? I know, right? I'm just showing the cookies now. So,
Marie Lifschultz: yeah, I need to get back to it. But I think All of us Sparky Moms struggle with that, you know, like I, when I see myself, I'm like, I look like that. That's not what I see in the mirror. Like, wait a minute, what? But I think, I think I came to the point where, you know what, they're going to see me anyway.
That's the way I look. It is what it is. You
Kim Reince: know, like, I, I, I know. Yeah, nothing's ever going to be perfect. You know, all my videotaping and photography, I [00:18:00] do at night because, well, that's when I'm home. To do it. So, you know, I've got the lighting things set up really to photograph the cookies, or if I were to do anything like this, like to tape anything on camera, it would all be done at night after a very long day and probably not looking my best, but oh, well, again, who cares?
Erika Radis: Yeah. Yeah. Well, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that's doing it. It's just, they keep saying, you know, we've got to get, you've got to get your face on here and you've got to do this. And it's like, just one more thing, you know, Oh my gosh. Well, one of the most interesting parts of your story that I found was when you were talking about how, once you finally stopped doing all the things, then that's when things finally started going well.
And that really resonated with me because I feel like sometimes we all as working moms need to just. We're trying to do the best for our kids. Like Marie mentioned, like you want to get like, okay, this is going to help. And this is going to help. And this is going to help. But sometimes I think what does help is just stop, like stop a minute, you know?
And for us, it's hard, but it [00:19:00] sounds like that made things go in a more positive direction for you and your family.
Kim Reince: Oh, it absolutely did. I mean, we built what was a genuine relationship. It wasn't anything, you know, stick on it or it wasn't anything drilled or wrote or it would build real relationships with each other.
Yeah, I'm just really excited now at this age that we're still, you know, we have a good relationship and you know, we talk to each other openly and we ask each other for advice. And that's a really just cool things that I didn't know if I would ever be able to experience or not. You just don't know, you know, two kids can start out at the exact same age with the exact same protocol, you'd have to.
Absolutely different outcomes in their development. So you just don't know.
Erika Radis: Yeah.
Marie Lifschultz: Had you, had you been around anybody that had autism before your son?
Kim Reince: Never. I had done one story as a news reporter and I remember going into a home and there was a little boy and he was blind and autistic and. [00:20:00] He was in the daycare and the story was not about him.
It was about, I don't even recall what it was about. It was so long ago, but it left an impact. It left a mark on me. And, you know, years later, I had my child a couple years later, and then he's diagnosed with autism. And I thought back about that little boy. Yeah.
Marie Lifschultz: Well, not, not only were you learning about how to be a mom, right?
First time mom. It does come with a book, but you also have another layer of learning. So to, to work with someone or be with someone who's, who is on the spectrum, who has autism and you're in different behaviors in there. Well, I always, they're, they're not to say their, their abilities and what they can do, cause they are great.
You know, I, I I was very blessed in my early, early high school years in college. I got to work with children with, with, with special needs and autism was one of those with disabilities and they're amazing. They're absolutely amazing. And you just, but it takes a little while to learn how to work and, and find those, those gifts that they can offer.
And it's just learning that part, but like when you're a new mom, you're just, you're, you're, you're [00:21:00] told. There's these milestones and you have to hit and you freak out when your kid's not doing it. I know. It's like panic
Erika Radis: button.
Marie Lifschultz: What did I do wrong? Like, did I drop them? Like, what happened? Right? Like, you don't understand.
Kim Reince: I gotta fix it was my motto and I don't need to fix anything. You know what I said? Despite my, you know, expertise and suggestions, he's managed to achieve cool. Everything that I wanted him to achieve and more, but he does it on his own timeline and in his own way, I may make these suggestions. And again, this is what any parent would do, you know, okay, I'm going to want you to go to college and you're going to do this, this and this.
Okay, we don't take my route. His route is his route. But the important thing is, you know, historically, the outcome has been the same or generally exceeded what my expectations are, just not my way. So there are other ways to do things. How about that? Who knew? I
Erika Radis: struggle with that all the [00:22:00] time. Because my way is the best way and everyone Should know that ,
Kim Reince: that's not your mom.
Yeah. .
Erika Radis: Yes. Oh gosh. Yeah. That's just kids in general, I think to some degree. . Yes.
Marie Lifschultz: I remember I was really freaking out. I, my, my had two boys and they were, well I have three boys. One's a step, my stepson, but two that I, I had and they're my youngest. They're really close together in age, and that was not planned.
Not planned. And I was worried because my my oldest son when he came, we hadn't had children in our family for quite some time. And so he didn't have to walk. Everybody grabbed him. He was carried everywhere. And I was He wouldn't walk. And I'm like, this is, he's so behind, like what's wrong with him. Is there something wrong?
And I didn't realize that how much he was being carried by grandma aunties and uncles and everybody. And I'm like your brother's coming out really soon. You need to walk like very soon. This is going to be a problem. I don't blame him. Why do it if you don't have to? ?
Kim Reince: I need [00:23:00] all that attention. The caring.
Yeah. So how did it work out? Oh, he
Marie Lifschultz: finally, eventually then I'm like, you're gonna have to walk. This boy have to walk. But he didn't have to have
Kim Reince: a baby in each arm.
Marie Lifschultz: Nope. Dad did. I did not. But, but again, he, Tyler is, doesn't on his own time, that's just him. It, it's not, typically not my way. He'll listen, but it's, he's always been on his own time.
Kim Reince: Maybe that's just boys. Is that true? I think it's just boys or is that girls?
Erika Radis: Yeah, no, I think it's, I think it's all of them, you know, I mean the girls, I don't know, I don't have boys, so I don't know, but I always hear that with the boys, you know, the girls. It's a little bit more aggressive and that kind of thing, but they let things go more quickly.
And then with the girls, it's more like psychological damage where it's like, they'll cut to the core of you verbally and it'll like really stick with you.
Kim Reince: Oh, my God. How funny. Well, I can see that in myself. We haven't been yet. Daughter of a mother. But even, [00:24:00] you know, now at the 21, I'll be talking with friends who have, you know, typical kids where I'll be, you know, going on about something or the other, that probably isn't going along with my timeline.
They'll look at me and I'll say, Kim, that's not that's not, you know, just autism, that that's normal. That's Gen Z. I'm like, Oh,
Marie Lifschultz: there's a whole nother thing. It's Gen Z. Definitely. I'm a Gen X er. So it's a Gen Z thing.
Kim Reince: That's what I hear. So like, no, that's what 21 year olds do, but that's not an autism thing.
That's a Gen Z thing. I'm like, okay,
Marie Lifschultz: well, you had talked, you talked about the guitars, the gaming, the anime, that's boys.
Kim Reince: Right. I can't even think of what else, but yeah. So yeah, he keeps me in line. I try and keep him in line and and, and the cookie business has been a growing experience for both of us. You know, if I, you know, rope him in, he will come in and like I said, I'm looking forward to doing some more outdoor markets and things before it gets to triple digits where [00:25:00] I melt cookies melt, so it's really not a good mix, so I try and get those in beforehand.
And and also I've kind of taken a turn also working with small businesses and large businesses and company with corporate logos and branding and all that good stuff, except on a cookie. So handing out, you know, pens and umbrellas or little water bottles. I think we'll do. We the cookies have gone over really well.
It was just some little ones that I had made. This was where my Lucy's doggy daycare. Oh, Lucy's doggy daycare! I know
Erika Radis: where they are. Oh, that's so cute. That looks amazing. Well, I can personally attest for working moms that she does an excellent job. My son works in H E B, so I did that one there. Just put the little badge on the cookie.
Yeah.
Kim Reince: That's awesome. I didn't keep a sample of the working moms one. Yeah. Everybody knows this logo. Yeah. But yeah, you put them all on cookies and they just make really fun gifts. And and I've been really fortunate to work with some, you know, corporate companies and And some marketing [00:26:00] agencies and whatnot for their doing the cookie logos, cookie business cards, cookie, whatever they want to put on a cookie, put it on a cookie.
So I've been doing a lot more of that and that's a lot of fun. So I've been enjoying that part too.
Marie Lifschultz: Oh, good. Kim, do you, do you share your story with regarding like why you started doing the baking and the cookies? When you, when you market or when you're going to like your big corporate, do you share your story that way?
Kim Reince: I have never, you know what, this is the first time I've actually shared my story. And I, and I put a little paragraph on my website this month when I wanted to do something for autism awareness acceptance, I'm like, what am I going to do? You know, years past, I kind of like put up a carousel of my son's pictures and it's like, I just want to do something different, but you know what?
And it was weird because I read back on that and it was kind of cathartic because I had never. Share that with anyone. There was one part of it that I wrote after my son was diagnosed at the developmental pediatrician So, you know, they kind of talked to you and I'm just not here and you know the one Kind of [00:27:00] come home.
I probably left my husband at home I remember driving to Barnes Noble and just looking for a book on autism And then I just opened it up and I just sat there in a corner and by myself And cried and cried and cried because I saw him in those pages. He was there. Every page I turned, there was something about him that he was doing.
He was living. We were living. It was like, Oh, it's true. It's not by that book either, but I guess it was just a relief. I guess, you know, you just, you have your testing done and it's kind of like, wait, wait, wait, wait. And then you get your diagnosis. And you know, it's not the death sentence that I thought it was, but you know, it's a new mom, only child, you know, it was an older mom and you seem to be my only child.
So yeah, it was a hard thing to hear. And I guess that just helped me soak it all in, but like I said, I'd never really shared it before. And yeah, so no matter what your kiddos. Do you live, you're really not alone, even if you think you are? I thought I was alone for a long time, [00:28:00] but I wasn't. I just had to let my guard down.
Yeah.
Erika Radis: You
Kim Reince: know, you have to do things in life.
Erika Radis: Do you have for, for maybe some of our listeners that do have children on the spectrum, do you have any like advice or resources that you found that really helped you, you know, during those early times when you were trying to kind of get it all figured out?
Kim Reince: I do. You know, there is an agency and it is still a gold star agency here in town that just really helped me just, you know, take a deep breath and they really understood and it's any baby can. They have phenomenal autism services there and trainings and, you know, help with prescription medication if need be, help with transportation if need be.
And they have lists. Of, you know, these days it's just built up to, you know, when my son was young, there wasn't that, there weren't very many services at all, but now San Antonio has really gone, you know, gangbusters and there are lots of services and that's really good and therapies and for all, you know, incomes.
And [00:29:00] UTSA has a big department now where you can get a degree in behavioral analysis. So they have their own center there and, you know, children can come in for free and work with the behavioral technicians there that are in training. And so any baby can is really, it's any baby can sa dot ORG and they just have a wealth of information for you.
So that's a really good starting.
Marie Lifschultz: That is good. I think what a lot of us don't realize that when you have a child that's on the spectrum, I might have some special needs. The family doesn't get respite. You can't just call just any babysitter to come over because you want to go to a movie or if you want to go to H E B and pick up groceries, it's difficult sometimes when you have a child who is on the spectrum or who might have some, you know, some challenges that that need extra hands.
Sometimes it's very difficult. You can't like you can't call up and sometimes if you don't have family around you mentioned that you are from maybe from Corpus, maybe there might not always be family that they will come in. Oh, you know, sit overnight if you have [00:30:00] something going on or if you have surgery.
So there's a lot of programs. Now I think people start to realize. That you need to have something that provides respite. So I, I remember I worked for a team that would provide respite. So I was on call that I would go if someone had I was, I was trained to, to work with different, different abilities.
And if they needed respite, I was on call. I would be there in 30 minutes to do whatever it was. And we had one family that had two boys that were actually autistic and they couldn't, didn't have family. And the mom was having her third. Child. Okay. And they needed someone to stay at home so dad could go be with mom having baby.
So I went over and spent the night and was able to be there and, you know, help them, you know, so there's a lot of things like that. I think that's
Kim Reince: huge. It is. It's
Marie Lifschultz: a huge
Kim Reince: program. My son was little. I remember we, I don't even know how I found out about this agency, but if we wanted a date night and somebody to watch her son, cause we didn't have any family here or anything.
We would drive to new rompels and there was a church there who had respite for. Special needs parents [00:31:00] might out and they had special needs children, people who were trained. So it was so right. We would just go out to dinner and green. We would just, you know, come pick him up and drive back to San Antonio.
But that's kind of how far we had to get. It was hard, but yeah,
Marie Lifschultz: there's not a lot of, especially if depending on, and you have, you have kids around the. spectrum that could be very mild, you know, where they're, you know, they might just have some, so, you know, some social behavior that's a little different and maybe, you know, but there's some that have extreme that you, they need help with, with everything,
Kim Reince: you know, and so you have to have someone, or they're escaping is
Marie Lifschultz: their
Kim Reince: thing
Marie Lifschultz: and running those.
The youngest one would jump out the window and they didn't have any fear. The boys that I was helping. Yeah,
Kim Reince: no sense of fear, right? Yeah. Well, wow, you had your little, yes.
Marie Lifschultz: No, I'm just saying that it's, it's, it's just different as a mom that when you're a brand new mom and you, you know, there's, and there's not a lot of help with kids that might need some, there's extra, extra care.
And the programs now, there's so much more than was, you [00:32:00] know, since you're so excited. I, I, 20 years ago, there wasn't a lot, a lot available. Exactly.
Kim Reince: But yeah, luckily there is respite now because every mom and mom and dad need that. Every caregiver, they really need that. Especially, you know, when you don't have family in town or you don't.
And then it got to the point where I did have babysitters. My son did give language and we'll never forget. I'm still friends with this particular babysitter. And she came, we came home, she goes, Oh, we gave I gave Dre Yeah. 10 milligrams, 10 melatonin, because he said you increased it. I'm like, we did not.
He takes five. Why would you listen to an eight year old? I mean, he's fine. It's just the melatonin gummy, but apparently I'm like, no, no, no. Yeah. So then he got a little too verbal and convinced the babysitter that he needed more melatonin than he really did. It's always something to look out for. Yeah, but that's a cute babysitter story we teach her with.
But it does, when you have, you know, a child or a special needs child, it truly takes a village, and little by little, you know, I built my village, and I'm so thankful for them because, you know, I became a single parent, which is, [00:33:00] you know, another statistic. Divorce statistics are sky high in families with special needs kiddos.
And and after that, yeah, I had to have a lot of help. So, luckily, I found people in my life that were able to help me. To, you know, pick up my child after school, drive him to my workplace. And then he was able to stay at my workplace until I got off of work and or people to bring him home. So yes, the village life is very important.
You
Marie Lifschultz: gotta have your tribe. And I, every, every mom does in some circumstances, you know, that you need that tribe around you. And being an entrepreneur mom and a mom of a special needs kid, that's just a little bit extra people around you.
Kim Reince: Luckily they all fill in the place when need be, but yes, I'm excited about, you know, my new chapter, my son's new chapter, my new, you know, small business is venturing off.
From to his end of his university years and see where that takes him. But it's been a long road, sometimes fun, sometimes not, but like parenthood, you [00:34:00] know, it's no hood, like parenthood or motherhood. I think it's motherhood. Yeah, motherhood. Definitely.
Yeah.
Erika Radis: Well, so sometimes we ask our guests. What their favorite thing is about what they're doing.
And so I'm curious with this new endeavor with the cookies what is your favorite thing when you're doing that?
Kim Reince: Honestly, it's just a meeting new people. I mean, I love my job, but I'm with the same little people.
So just, it's just meeting different people from all walks of life and, you know, going out to the markets and just meeting the other vendors and then meeting other business women like yourselves. And it's just really open just to hold new, you know, window or door for me. And it's been a real breath of fresh air.
Just at a point in life where, you know, I just felt that was a change that I wanted and I needed, and I'm really happy it's going in a great direction.
Erika Radis: Oh, I love that. That's good. No, and we're so happy for you. We can tell that you're really [00:35:00] passionate about it. And you do such great work. And so I, I love this for you,
Marie Lifschultz: Kim.
Very good. I got to have them at our, at our book club and they're extremely good.
Kim Reince: I'm glad. Good. I'm still trying to finish the next book. We'll see. Yeah, I know.
Erika Radis: Same, same. So, and then will you also let our listeners know where they can find you for your cookies?
Kim Reince: Absolutely. I am on Facebook at MyCookieTherapist.
I'm on Instagram at MyCookieTherapist. And my website is MyCookieTherapist. com. So all those places. Perfect. Well, that's easy. And we love you. You can find me and I'll get back with you. No problem. Yeah. And if, you know, anybody had any questions about autism or anything else too, you know, I've been working in there for 20 something years.
Go ahead. Yeah. Put me a question if you'd like, or I can, you know, hook you up with another agency or something, whatever need be. Okay.
Erika Radis: Great. Perfect. And we'll put your information in our show notes. And then I just want to thank you for being here and sharing your story. Yeah. Super
Kim Reince: fun. [00:36:00] Thank you. Yes.
Erika Radis: I feel very honored.
Very honored that she shared it
Marie Lifschultz: with us.
Erika Radis: Yeah. For the first time.
Marie Lifschultz: Oh, I love that. And
Erika Radis: I'm so glad. And I know that our listeners will be able to be helped by the information that you shared. So I'm, I'm excited about that. And then I will also thank our listeners for tuning into this week's episode of the working moms of San Antonio podcast, and we will catch you guys next week.
Marie Lifschultz: See you guys next week.
Bye!
