Tag: children
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Buddy the School Transition Bear: Helping Autistic Children Cope with Big Changes
When my husband returned from a work trip with a couple of free teddy bears, I smiled politely. Cute, yes. But nothing groundbreaking—until I noticed something that made me stop in my tracks. The bears were wearing little yellow T-shirts… the exact same colour as the school uniform my four-year-old, E, will be wearing in…
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Birthday Party Panic: Why Social Events Can Overwhelm Autistic Kids
A conversation over the weekend made me realise just how much misunderstanding still surrounds autistic kids and social events. As an autistic adult raising two neurodivergent boys, I often forget that what feels completely natural to us can be baffling to others. So, let me paint a picture. My 6-year-old, H, was thrilled to be…
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The Magic of Music: Easing School Transition for Neurodivergent Children
How a music session gave my anxious preschooler confidence and calm One Thursday afternoon, I arrived at preschool to collect my youngest, E. I already knew they’d had a music workshop that day with Boogie Mites, and I was fully expecting to hear that he had refused to join in—just like every other time. But…
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How to Survive Summer Holidays as a Neurodivergent Parent (Without Crying Under a Blanket)
It’s coming.Six weeks of beautiful chaos. Six weeks of uncertainty, overstimulation, and melted ice lollies on the floor. And just when everyone finally settles into a manageable routine… it’s time for the new school year to begin! The importance of routine can’t be ignored and I write here about why is it so critical. This…
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School Transitions Take 2: Supporting My Second Autistic Child
The First Time Around When my eldest started school two years ago, we had an inkling he may be autistic. Shortly after he began in Reception, his teacher agreed with me, and this started the referral process for assessment and additional school support. Take Two: Armed with Experience My youngest, E, is now preparing to…
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The Painful Tide of Autistic Burnout: When Part of You Is Washed Away
Throughout my working life, people have described me as “a bit bipolar” (yep, that old gem). One week I’m fired up, enthusiastic, and firing on all cylinders—the most productive human alive. The next? I’m sluggish, sullen, and struggling to type a few coherent sentences. At first, I thought this was just the way I worked.…
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Burnout Before the Holidays: Helping My Autistic Child Recover In Time To Enjoy Easter
When Burnout Looks Like Illness It happened again. Just days before the end of term, my six-year-old broke. His little body and mind, utterly exhausted from weeks of masking and trying to keep up with school demands, gave out. The result? A high temperature and vomiting. Now, logic might say this sounds like a bug.…
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Parenting an Autistic Child Through Change
My kids don’t do change. At all. Before we realised they were autistic, we couldn’t fathom the endless tears, violent outbursts, and shutdowns that followed the most mundane events. A different dinner than expected? A new pair of wellies because the old ones were too small? Total meltdown. Looking back, it should have been obvious…
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Stuck in the Mud: Why Routine Changes Feel Like an Existential Crisis
There I was, wandering the supermarket aisles, headphones in, half-listening to a podcast about yet another debate between globe believers and flat-earthers (yes, people still argue about this). It was all going smoothly—until I caught the chaotic train of thoughts bubbling up in my brain every few minutes: “We need to hurry up because we…
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Autistic Overwhelm and the Masking Dilemma: To Fake It or Take a Break?
The playdate was a rare occasion—my kids actually asked to meet up with friends. Naturally, I was shocked but determined to make it work. So, there I was, chatting with another mum. She was lovely—warm, easy to talk to, and genuinely kind. And yet, I felt anything but comfortable. In the lead-up to this meeting,…
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