Recently I have been wondering, just how much does the need for reciprocal affection affect our parenting style? As a neurotypical person I'd say most of us strive to receive affection, to find a partner who will love us and show that love. How many of you get annoyed if your partner doesn't buy you [...]
Author: The Autism & ADHD Diaries
An #ADHD Mum with an #autistic and #ADHD son 👨‍👩‍👦 |Embracing our #neurodiversity and raising awareness of adult ADHD| UK | 🇬🇧
Do parents have the right to expect certain behaviours from their children?
Quite often as I browse Twitter I come across various posts discussing the abusive nature of neurotypical parents towards their autistic children. I was seriously shocked at first, and a little hurt if I'm honest. How could neurotypical (NT) parents be given this label? I mean, child abuse? Really? Surely NT parents couldn't be that [...]
The very real anxiety of transitioning.
When I was in primary school, my dad drove me to swimming lessons every Saturday morning. I loved my lessons, but the journey to the pool I absolutely did not love. In fact, it was the most stressful part of my week. Why? Because even at the age of 8 I suffered from anxiety. Anxiety [...]
The hardest decision I have ever had to make…
I’ve been really indecisive about writing this blog, but today have realised that it would almost be hypocritical not to since I am attempting to give a true account of a family raising an autistic child. My husband and I are fully committed to giving our son the very best life possible, where his talents [...]
What it means to truly suffer from chronic sleep deprivation.
Last night i went to bed at 6.30pm. I crawled into bed (literally), realised I had forgotten to put my pjs on, slithered back out and somehow carried out the frustrating task of making sure both my legs weren't in the same trouser leg and that my top wasn't on inside out. I lay there [...]
London calling…The Finale.
Ah, London. Over the past few months you and i have become best friends again. Although I grew up in your northern suburbs, but on this most recent trip I realised just how much of a country bumpkin I have become... At first I fell straight back into my north London factory settings. This was [...]
The ruthless reality of anxiety.
As a mother to a child with disabilities and additional needs I often spend most of my time in “fight mode”. Either services are accusing me of doing something I shouldn’t, or of not doing something I should. Or, even worse in my opinion, the passive aggressive approach of not answering calls or emails and [...]
The bitter sweet importance of grieving.
Grief. If you’ve ever truly felt it you will know that it appears from the tinniest of places, at the most unexpected time, with the full force of a hurricane. Totally unforgiving about what conversation you’re having or what event you might be attending, it destroys it. It takes your heart, mind and body and [...]
Finding the true “experts” on autism.
Over the past few months I have been receiving the richest education in parenting my autistic son. Where? Twitter. How? By talking to autistic adults. The people who are living and breathing autism. The people who have been brought up and raised by neurotypical parents like me. The people who face the consequences of, what [...]
The Story of Great Ormond Street: building a sensory program.
Earlier this week the kiddo and I ventured back to London for a follow up appointment. At the end of last year, we visited various clinics and professionals to get a multi disciplinary assessment done through private healthcare. We were concerned that there were question marks over some of kiddo’s behaviours and challenges that the [...]
The Autism & ADHD Diaries 