This piece was first published on Kristy's Substack. Shared here so it's easier to find.

"A child gives one word, and the adult wants a paragraph. A teenager shares one feeling, and the parent asks five questions. T...

Imagination isn't a problem. I really want to say that upfront because for so many PDA kids, imagination is how they stay connected to the world, not how they escape it. Role play, characters, other realities, these are ...

Hygiene is a demand. I know that sounds strange, but for a PDA child it's true. Showering, brushing teeth, changing clothes, every single one of these is a demand, even when we offer them softly. Sensory overwhelm is rea...

Speaker: [00:00:00] I was thinking this morning about when my children were younger, all four of them. Three of them were at school and one was still in a sling attached to my body. All four of my children are autistic, ...

I used to think I was doing the right thing by constantly offering activities, explaining things, turning moments into learning opportunities. Every car ride was a chance to point something out. Every walk was a chanc...

I need to start by saying this isn't the kind of self-compassion post where I tell you to go have a bath and light a candle. Being told to "look after yourself" when you're grossly unsupported can feel like gaslightin...

When my children came out of chronic, prolonged stress, I expected things to improve quickly.

They were safe now. The source of stress (school) had been removed and surely, I thought, the hard part was behind us.

I exp...

I think it's so important for those of us who are able to be honest about our earlier days and our learning, to share it. So I want you to know that if you have caused harm in your parenting due to being unsupported, und...

If you, or your family are really struggling right now over the Easter break, I want to share that this is very common for PDAers.
 

This is when as a PDAer myself, I know that my nervous system is doing exactly what ...

I used to fight screens.

I'd set timers. I'd negotiate. I'd try to lure them away with activities, outings, suggestions. "Why don't you come and do something with me?" "You've been on that for hours." "How about we go o...