Autism Parenting Tips: Why Your Self-Care Bucket Keeps Leaking

Fixing the Bucket Instead of Pouring More Into It There’s an old children’s song I used to hear all the time: “There’s a hole in the bucket, dear Liza…” And lately, I’ve been thinking about how relevant that is for caregivers, leaders, and working parents. So many of us keep trying to fill our bucket — with better routines, productivity hacks, self-care habits — without ever addressing the hole in the bottom. We keep pouring in energy, time, and effort, only to feel drained again within hours. Not because we aren’t trying, but because our bucket was never designed to hold what we’re asking it to carry. The real work isn’t doing more. It’s fixing what keeps leaking. Sometimes that fix is boundaries. Sometimes it’s rest. Sometimes it’s asking for help before you’re underwater. If you’ve been feeling depleted lately, you’re not broken. Your bucket might just need a patch. What’s one small repair you could make this week to help you show up with a little more strength, clarity, or peace?