In 2012, when we were first going through our diagnosis with Milla, I stumbled across a blog, About a Bugg, written by a mother who had already walked the path that we were now starting down. This first post I read, was about what Renee would tell a parent of a newly diagnosed child with Aspergers or Autism. It was exactly what I needed to read at that time, like it was written just for me. Two years later, I feel honoured…
April was Autism Awareness month; and Autism: In Our Words put together a ‘photo a day’ challenge, to give a glimpse into every day life on the spectrum. I really enjoyed sharing insights into our world on Facebook and Instagram, so I thought I’d put it all together here in one place. Please feel free to share this post, and help spread awareness on the complexities, beauty, hurdles and joy that life on the spectrum can bring. 1/ Acceptance….
I’m not one who courts controversy. I have strong opinions, and will often get fired up about things. Just ask my husband or online bestie Lisa. I often write a ranty blog post in my head whilst lying in bed at night even going so far as to put notes in my phone so I don’t forget. Then by morning I’ve calmed down a bit. Confrontation is not in my nature. Truth be told I’ve had enough drama in my…
A is for Anxiety. For her and for me. It is a strange world our little family of three have been living in, these past few months. The anxiety that has always been underlying Milla’s behaviour, has taken over, to the point where she is in a constant state of ‘fight or flight’. Her fear of traffic has become so extreme, that we no longer leave the house during the week, except for her appointments and classes. I take her…
Dear Milla, Sometimes it feels that life goes by so fast. We jump one hurdle, only to be faced with the next one. There is no time to celebrate our victories, for worrying about our challenges. I tend to dwell on the negatives, let them weigh me down. I think throughout my life, I have become so focused on the struggle, that I have stopped noticing the positives. For that, I am so sorry. I want to take this opportunity…
I’m exhausted. That type of exhaustion that you feel in your bones. You wake up in the morning, and before you even get out of bed, you’re exhausted. I feel like all I’ve done for the last twelve months, since we got our diagnosis, is worry and wait. Wait and worry. Waiting for services, for therapists, for appointments. Waiting to be able to access Early Childhood Intervention Services. Worrying about the choices I’m making. Is this the right occupational therapist…
There are a lot of rules in our house. Everything must be done in a certain way. Things must be in certain places, at certain times. Certain words must be used, or not used. We don’t make the rules. Autism does. If we don’t follow the rules, it takes hold of our beautiful, intelligent, funny daughter, and reduces her to a screaming, crying, mess. My husband and I walk around on egg shells, constantly on edge. We snap and argue…
April is Autism Awareness month, and to be frank, it has been making me feel uncomfortable. My daughter has autism. So this should be my ‘thing’, right? Hooray, a whole month to raise ‘awareness’ about autism. World Autism Awareness Day was on April the 2nd. Everyone was encouraged to wear blue, landmarks around the world were lit up in blue lights, to raise ‘awareness’. The Sydney Opera House was lit up in blue, at cost of around $40,000. At the…
When I started this blog, it was all about the “journey”. Where I had been and what I had to do to get to where I am now. To get my ‘Happily Ever After’. Married to my soul mate, mother to my beautiful daughter. All the crap that I lived through, all the pain and hurt, and mistakes that I had made, to get me to this point. To my family. It wasn’t smooth sailing. Things were lost along the…
As we sat in the small office of the psychologist and she told us our daughter had Autism Spectrum Disorder – mild to moderate, it wasn’t a surprise. It was what I had been expecting. But still. The reality of it; to see it in writing in the report and the knowledge that this was something our beautiful darling daughter would have to deal with for the rest of her life broke my heart. I’m so sad and so angry…