How Creating a Superhero Helped My Autistic Son Build Self-Esteem
A single dad’s perspective on confidence, storytelling, and learning to see your child as a hero.
I Didn’t Set Out to Create a Superhero…
I was just trying to reach my kid.
When you’re raising an autistic child — especially as a single parent — you spend a lot of time wondering if you’re doing enough… or if you’re doing it wrong. You read articles. You try strategies. You listen to experts. But most days, you’re just trying to get through the moment without another meltdown, shutdown, or misunderstanding — for them or for you.
That’s where I was with Jake.
Jake is autistic. He’s also creative, sensitive, thoughtful, and observant in ways that still amaze me. But like many autistic kids, confidence didn’t come easy. The world wasn’t built for how his mind worked — and he felt that, even when he couldn’t explain it.
What changed everything wasn’t a program.
It wasn’t a diagnosis update.
It wasn’t a perfect routine.
It was a superhero.
The Day Jake Became Jake Jetpulse
Jake didn’t say, “Dad, I want better self-esteem.”
He said something much simpler:
“I wish I could be a superhero.”
So we leaned into it.
We started drawing.
We started making up stories.
We started giving this superhero a name, powers, fears, and challenges.
That superhero became Jake Jetpulse — and without realizing it, Jake gave himself permission to imagine a version of himself that was brave, capable, and strong.
And I watched something shift.
Why Superhero Identity Works for Autistic Kids
From a parent’s point of view, here’s what I learned the hard way:
Autistic kids are often told what they can’t do before they ever get to define who they are.
A superhero identity flips that script.
Suddenly, my son wasn’t being asked:
“Why is this hard for you?”
“Why can’t you just do it?”
“What’s wrong?”
Instead, he was answering:
“What are my powers?”
“What helps me stay calm?”
“What challenges does my hero face — and how does he overcome them?”
That distance — between Jake and Jake Jetpulse — made it safe for him to explore emotions without shame.
Art Became the Language We Shared
Some kids talk things out.
Jake draws things out.
When words failed him, art stepped in.
Through drawings and simple comic panels, Jake could show me:
What overwhelmed him
What scared him
What helped him regulate
What made him feel powerful
And here’s the part no one tells you as a parent:
When your child draws their feelings, you learn to slow down and listen — not fix.
That changed our relationship.
Superhero Stories Helped Us Talk About Hard Things
When Jake struggled, I didn’t ask, “What’s wrong with you?”
I asked:
“What’s your hero feeling right now?”
“What drains his energy?”
“What helps him reset?”
And suddenly, the walls came down.
Jake could talk about anxiety, frustration, and sensory overload — because it wasn’t him admitting weakness.
It was a hero learning how to manage his powers.
That reframing matters more than most people realize.
Routine Didn’t Feel Like Control Anymore
As a single dad, routines were survival.
But routines can feel oppressive to kids — especially autistic kids — unless they’re tied to meaning.
So we turned routines into missions:
Morning Mission
Calm-Down Protocol
Focus Mode
Nighttime Power-Down
Jake wasn’t being “managed.”
He was training.
And with training came pride.
What I Want Other Parents to Know
You don’t need to be an artist.
You don’t need fancy tools.
You don’t need to “do it perfectly.”
You just need to see your child as capable before the world does.
Superhero identity didn’t magically fix everything for us — but it gave us a shared language, a safe emotional space, and something positive to build from.
And that’s how Jetpulse was born — not as a brand, but as a bridge between a father and his son.
Try This With Your Child (No Pressure, No Perfection)
Sit with your child and ask:
What is your hero’s name?
What are their powers?
What overwhelms them?
What helps them calm down?
What is their mission?
Then draw it.
Or write it.
Or act it out.
Follow their lead.
That’s where the real work happens.
From Our Home to Yours
If you’re a parent raising an autistic child and you want to explore how art, storytelling, and identity helped us build confidence and emotional regulation, I put everything we learned into this book:
Becoming His Superhero
A real story about parenting, autism, creativity, and believing in your child before they believe in themselves.
https://www.thejetpulse.com/becoming-his-superhero-autism-parenting-ebook
