Earlier this year we took Biggest and Littlest to see Disney on Ice and it was a huge success. I will never forget the looks on their faces as some of their Disney favourites took to the stage. They were truly mesmerised. One or two of their very favourites were missing though, which is why… Read More
My children are not quite six and not quite four – and they are respectively autistic and neurotypical. Littlest knows that her brother is different – she has said as much to me. She knows he plays differently, reacts differently, that he is not like “the other boys and girls.” She sees that he is… Read More
Over a year ago, when we first met with the headteacher of my son’s future primary school, she made some promises. Many people told me that she would not keep those promises, that schools these days care little for the provision of their SEN pupils, that I would see, in time, that her assurances were… Read More
Every summer, we brave the overnight ferry and its fabled alarm, and head off to the little village of Nanclars, in the Charente region of France. My parents have lived there, near the larger town of Angoulême, for over ten years. They own a wonderful old farmhouse and get by in their “retirement” by renting out… Read More
At this time, exactly three years ago, someone I had just met told me that you may never do the things that other children do. They watched you play and wrote things down on clipboards. They asked me questions about when you walked, when you talked, about what you like and dislike. They watched videos… Read More
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is the UK’s largest zoo and one of Europe’s largest wildlife conservation parks. It is home to thousands of animals, many of which are endangered in the wild. Zoos and wildlife parks are usually a big hit with both of my children; Littlest loves animals of all kinds and Biggest loves learning… Read More
At 3.08 am, I hear your first scream. The fluorescent light from the cabin bathroom is flickering unpleasantly, giving the cramped room a strange, nightmarish quality – but we cannot turn off the lights or you will not sleep at all. “Sweetheart – everything is okay. You are safe. We are on the big boat.”… Read More
*Please note, this is a paid collaboration with the Gallagher Retail Park When it comes to going shopping, especially when we are shopping with Biggest, town centres are often not the best place for us. The Gallagher Retail Park is only ten minutes or so from our house, just down the motorway towards Cheltenham, and it… Read More
*Please note, this is a paid collaboration with Hollywood Bowl. Finding fun things to do that will engage the whole family can be really tough, especially when a member of the family is on the autism spectrum. We were recently invited to try Hollywood Bowl with their new VIP lane experience, in order to celebrate… Read More
*Please note this is a collaboration with Johnson’s. We have been avoiding cutting Littlest’s hair for some time. It is a running joke in the family that just moments after it has been washed, brushed, and carefully made neat and tidy, it is “Poof! All over the place!” again. Like most three-year olds, Littlest does… Read More
Over the course of our first year in school, many people have been charged with the care, education and welfare of my son. There are his classroom teachers, of course, and his permanent one-to-one TA, and other members of staff who deal with him frequently. These people know him well and the vast majority know… Read More
This time last year, we were frantically collecting evidence for an EHCP assessment. We were buying uniform, arranging visits, trying to liaise with school and nursery. We needed to arrange a transition that would make things as smooth as they could be. September was looming, a great immovable block – I could not see past… Read More