Reflections

Image descriptions: an illustration of a mother and child saying “Mum is the best.”

When there's not enough processing time. autism neurodivergent parenting Apr 29, 2021

Parenting is tough.

Being autistic and parenting can be challenging when we share the same sensory challenges as our little people and need time and space to be calm.

Today we had a tricky moment and I said with more force behind my voice and energy than usual “I think...

Awareness month? Nah, not over here. autism language neurodivergent parenting radical acceptance resilience Apr 01, 2021

This morning I'm reminded of an appointment with an obstetrician in the public system seven years ago.

I was heavily pregnant with my last baby.

He was going over my subsequent pregnancies and deliveries and stopped upon something in the notes that was apparently worth dropping...

Image of a person holding a placard with the words 'A smile to protect'

Repeat after me... "I am not my child." autism parenting resilience Mar 25, 2021

People need the space and freedom to feel; to explore and understand the incredibly complex depth and range of their emotional life.

This begins in childhood.

As children, particularly autistic children, it’s important for us to be afforded and provided a safe and secure...

You might be doing it wrong. autism parenting Feb 04, 2021

Many parents and educators will often witness behaviour from neurodivergent people and find it baffling or confusing because they’re unable to connect it to a particular and recent event.

Being autistic means my processing is on a different timeline.

Often I’ll be reminded of...

PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) and villains. autism behaviours masking neurodivergent parenting Dec 28, 2020

Why do so many children with a PDA autistic profile take on the character of a villain, a bad guy or a monster, werewolf, zombie, anything that seems a disapproved of figure?

Because we come to understand very quickly that there is something powerful within us that even we cannot...

(Image description: A photo of an excerpt from a parenting book, on top of the parenting book sits a photo of a young woman holding her baby.)

Her behaviour was unacceptable. autism neurodivergent parenting Dec 04, 2020

(Shared with permission from my adult daughter.)

Cleaning out the shed today, I found a box of things collected since my teens.

I felt such sadness when I found this.

I was 18 when my first baby was born.

I was on my own and lived in public housing, and absolutely loved being a Mum.

In...

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