Reflections

Is this my child’s lack of gratitude, or is it my grief?

There are times I catch myself thinking my child is ‘ungrateful’ for the life they have the privilege of having.

So many of us will recall being told as children...

"Dear kristy,

I love my parents I want to be a hair-dresser when I grow up. I wont be a murderer I will be a tenderly loving person. My birthday is in july the thirteerth I'm in year two. I made my first holy (commo) com...

I’ve been raising, loving and supporting my own autistic children (four of them: 27, 20, 14 and 11) for 27 years this year. We’re a completely autistic family, with additional forms of divergence thrown in for good measu...

My youngest says "No" and all its variations in response to almost every request I make of them.

And I don't flinch.

This is an accommodation. It is a means of balancing what feels off kilter for a PDAer when a demand is p...

Whenever I write or speak about barriers to education for autistic children, or inaccessibility, or childism or discrimination, I am always met by those interpreting my lived experience as a direct attack on educat...

(ETA: This is not a post regarding my personal life as a parent. My child's school are incredibly supportive and wonderful educators.)
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I was not surprised at a recent PSG when I asked about a child's provided autonomy...

Two weeks ago, my ten-year-old spilled a raspberry slurpee on my bedroom carpet. 

I was exhausted and snapped. I raised my voice in panic and frustration and immediately regretted it. 

For many of our children, humilia...

What is PDA for me? I can only share my own experience.

When I was interviewed this year by a national newspaper on PDA, I told them I only care about families who are in crisis and having a hard time not being further ...

I recently heard a Clinical Psychologist recommend parents of PDAers do the following:

- Have firmer boundaries

- Use declarative language ("It's important we shower for healthy skin" to have child shower)

- Continue ...

This year saw my beginnings in trauma therapy. While there are many definitions of what trauma therapy is, and varied approaches, I’m clear on one thing: this has been the most significant and most painful (and perhaps r...