Tag: life
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How to Survive Working from Home During the School Holidays: 4 Practical Tips for Parents
Balancing work and kids at home during the summer holidays? It’s exhausting—but possible. Here are four practical tips that have helped me survive the chaos of working from home with little ones around.
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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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The Transition Glitch: When Autism Doesn’t Agree with Your Plans
We’d been looking forward to this change for weeks. The grown-up bedroom was moving downstairs, and the boys were upgrading to the bigger bedroom upstairs — more room for play, less noise for us, and shiny new “big boy” beds ready to be built and jumped on. It was a proper family project. Furniture was…
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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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Emotions on Delay: Living with Autistic Emotional Lag
I got some news this week that I knew should trigger an emotional reaction. Logically, it should have hit me like a freight train. But instead? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I may as well have been staring at a shopping list or thinking about putting the bins out. Not a flicker of emotion to work with.…
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Understanding Alexithymia: The Frustration of Not Recognizing Your Own Emotions
It happened again. And it will continue to happen. And I hate it. That big, heavy feeling in my chest that I can’t describe—it sits there, weighs me down, makes me feel sick, and racks my body with what I assume is anxiety. I try all my usual coping mechanisms:✔ Exercise? Doesn’t help.✔ Sticking to…
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How My Parents Accidentally Created an Autism-Friendly Christmas Tradition
Christmas: a season of bright lights, endless carols, chaotic parties, and school events piled on top of each other. Not to mention the mountain of noisy toys gifted by well-meaning relatives. While festive for many, Christmas was never designed for those of us who find everyday life overwhelming enough as it is. For neurodivergent folk…
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Navigating Social Challenges with Autistic Kids: A Realistic Approach
Socialising with neurodivergent kids isn’t always about playdates and parties. My boys thrive in structured settings but need weekends to decompress. After years of trying to “do it right,” I’ve embraced their need for quiet time. Turns out, kids can be happy little hermits—and that’s perfectly okay.
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Finding Acceptance: My Social Journey with AuDHD
The author reflects on their challenging experiences with socialization as an AuDHD individual. They recount feeling tolerated rather than included, facing bullying, and navigating workplace social dynamics that led to mental health struggles. Ultimately, through connecting with accepting peers, they rediscover their identity, emphasizing the importance of genuine connections and self-acceptance.
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