J has never been a great sleeper. He never slept through as a baby, or a toddler or a preschooler. However we had a routine and bedroom environment going that was minimizing issues. Although J would wake ups he had visuals that reminded him not to get up and to go back to sleep or…
Category: Family life
Announcing Pregnancy to our Autistic Son…
In August 2018 I got those two little lines that either fill a woman with excitement or fear…or in my case both. We had been trying for a sibling for J for almost 2 years and in 2017 I suffered a devastating miscarriage. So when I fell pregnant this time I was so happy to…
Days Out: Sea Life Centre Great Yarmouth
Today we went to the Sea Life Centre in Great Yarmouth. J has been watching YouTube videos of various sea life centres and was eager to see some Rays. The centre was easy to find and there was easy parking nearby (no parking onsite). A big plus is that it’s right by the beach so…
Why a New Year, WONT mean a New Me!
With the end of 2018 drawing closer it’s a time to reflect and to think of the next year ahead. When I was younger a new year seemed such a big thing. It was almost as if the new year would be the start of a new life or some grand event. Some years have…
Gingerbread Biscuits: Baking with an autistic child.
Baking can be a marmite activity. Some children love the mess, the fun of creating and seeing your creations when baked. For others it can cause panic at the mess, the uncertainty of what happens next and upset at the fact it’s not instantaneous. J falls into the category of ‘thumbs down’ for baking. He…
Alex Morleys ‘Christmas Spectacular’ at Stonham Barns…a festive family show (review)
We were fortunate enough to be invited to see Alex Morley Productions ‘Christmas Spectacular’ at Stonham Barns, Suffolk to provide a review of the performance. We have seen a previous show by Alex earlier in the year so was excited to be going back. This time the show was in the newly completed theatre. It’s…
How to cope with a difficult eater…
Food and eating has always been a challenge for us. It started as a baby with allergies and the stress of finding the right formula, and then got worse at 18 months when he just stopped wanting to eat all together. Now he’s 4 and his social and sensory needs play a huge part in…
Autism: Surviving a visit to Santa
Today was a day that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. We went to see Father Christmas…something I didn’t think would happen. The last time J saw Santa was when he was 1, and he cried his eyes out. When he was 2 he wouldn’t go anywhere near a grotto, when he was…
Elvis the Elf and the Autism: the start of our countdown to Christmas.
Happy 1st December…in our household Christmas can begin. We have our Advent Calendar Reindeer and of course, our Elf. I remember last Christmas J was not impressed but it all. He didn’t like the change in routine or the change in how the house looked. It took us three weeks to put the decorations up…
When your son is the ‘different’ one in a group…
I’m sat in one of J’s groups (the best kind where parents sit and watch rather than having to join in, haha) and I’m watching with a huge grin on my face. There are times where my son is just like the rest of the 3-4yr olds. They feed off each other don’t they? One…
How it feels to be the parent of a biter & suggestions that worked for us…
At the time of writing this I had just signed another incident form at nursery. Yet again, my son had bitten someone. There’s a mixed emotion when you are told this. Half of you is waiting for it, the other half is crushed it’s happened again. There are a lot of positives about J. He…
Review: The Fairy Tale Workshop-‘Mummy made’ wooden gifts
I love wooden decorations and wooden toys. J’s bedroom has many wonderful wooden decorations and toys to promote imaginative play. Even though he is into his Star Wars and Lego I still like to bring in wooden toys where I can. When I first saw Sophie’s Instagram page I loved the colours and the style…
