Motheroffae

Self-awareness

Recently, we have once again been struggling with our daughter’s behaviour. This is a perennial problem that I wish only came around once a year, but is more like once every few weeks. Just when we think we are through the latest batch of rewiring / growth spurts / illness or whatever is causing theContinue reading “Self-awareness”

Making progress

Recently, I have had occasion to sit back and marvel at how far my daughter has come in the past year or so. A year ago, if you told me that she would be regularly eating school dinners, I would have raised an eyebrow. If you told me that she would – on a semiContinue reading “Making progress”

Drowning in paperwork

So, I may have mentioned that we are challenging the DLA ruling. This is not something I would recommend doing on your own: The forms are complicated and long. I am fortunate that the school which my daughter attends offers the ability to book a ‘drop in’ session with the lovely folks from citizens’ advice.Continue reading “Drowning in paperwork”

Are we nearly there yet?

Recently, it seems, the Fae took my (reasonably) amenable child – the one that will, on occasions, do as she’s told, and that doesn’t have a complete tantrum over anything – and replaced her, once again, with a screaming whirling demon. You’d think we’d be used to it by now, but this one was turnedContinue reading “Are we nearly there yet?”

Today’s mystery object

I think, once again, my daughter has invented her own version of a game. Twice a week, her grandparents pick her up from school, so twice a week she requests (read demands) that I drop off a toy at their house, for use in the evening’s activities. Think of it as a side quest: youContinue reading “Today’s mystery object”

I don’t care what it says

My daughter is officially diagnosed with autism. She was diagnosed in a time before levels, but having read them, I’d say she bounces somewhere between level 2 and 3. I don’t know if this is actually possible, but I feel it should be, as it is a condition that changes with age and therefore theContinue reading “I don’t care what it says”

They just won’t get it.

We had some family come to visit. This one statement always makes the bottom fall out of my stomach. Don’t get me wrong: we have relatives who live close by who I don’t think we could cope without – they have gone out of their way to make our lives easier, and I am soContinue reading “They just won’t get it.”

The no-win situation

My daughter needs a reset switch. I say this while loving her to bits, but sometimes she does just need some way of being able to reset her brain. Especially when she is tired, or ill, or out of spoons. So about 90% of the time. She will put us in situations where there isContinue reading “The no-win situation”

The myth of Socialisation

There are many myths surrounding spicy kids. My favourites are that all ASD children behave in set patterns. E.g. ALL of them will avoid eye contact – I know of some pediatricians that are guilty of this one and have denied diagnosis on the grounds of ‘they made eye contact with me’. Let me tellContinue reading “The myth of Socialisation”

Parents evening

So, last night, I attended my daughter’s parents’ evening. This was an experience. I used to attend parent’s evenings all the time, but as the teacher – so it used to be an exercise in tactfully explaining to parents that the reason that their little urchin wasn’t getting the top grades in my subject (Science)Continue reading “Parents evening”