Home life with autism8

I have so many topics i want to delve into about autism, but I think I will start with home life. I am no doctor, just a mom with two autustic boys, so please understand that anything I post is just any opinion and things that have worked for us.
Home is suppose to be our safe place, but autism can often turn it into what seems a constant battle ground. Taking baths, hygiene, too much screen time, cleaning up, bedtime, and so on can overwhelm the day and frustrate even the most patient parent. So how do we overcome these obstacles in our house and enjoy the kids?
My first tip is find humor. Not always easy when you have a 9 year old that is as big as you and still struggles with wiping his butt, but if you look for it, you can always find something to laugh at. Maybe it's how creative they get at hiding clean clothes instead of actually putting them up or some random thing they do or say. Not that you are laughing at them, but laughing at the circumstance. All kids do some things to make us laugh, so find those things with your autistic kid.
Second, don't sweat the small stuff. Rejoice in the small victories. Don't make everything a battle. Pick one thing that is important and work on that. Don't try to tackle everything at once. Remember it is their safe place, too. And don't get discouraged. It may take longer for them to learn something that seems easy to us, but that's ok.
Third, don't compare your child to anyone else. Not even other siblings. Be proud of where your child is and what they have accomplished. Don't focus on what they can't do, but on what they can do. Our nine year old can't tie his shoes, but he has learned to dress himself. Maybe he puts his clothes on backwards and inside out, but that is ok. Just something to bring laughter in our house (point one).
Fourth, let them be themselves at home. Let them do what they enjoy. They like video games, let them play. Whatever it is they enjoy, that is their way to decompress.
I have found out home runs so much smoother if we focus on a few skills at a time, give them space to unwind, don't compare and stress over what they can't do or should be doing at their age, and find happiness in every day.
Stay tuned for my next installment about home life.