PDA parenting
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Why do we always see people we know?
Small town life means you always see someone you know. For my PDA son, that’s one of the hardest part of leaving the house. Continue reading
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The Elastic Band Ball Obsession: Parenting a Child with Intense Interests
A funny and heartfelt look at parenting a child with intense fascinations, from packets of tissues to giant elastic band balls. What started as a simple pack of elastic bands quickly became counting, researching world records, and late-night trips to B&M until I realised I had become just as invested in the obsession as my… Continue reading
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Are you part of the secret club? A Birthday Reflection
This week I turn 43. We are still in the trenches. Probably will be for a long time yet. But from down here, you get to see things most people never will. You get to be part of something most people never understand. Tea keeps me alive. Coffee makes me feel alive. And a lifelong… Continue reading
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What Colour is Calm?
What does calm actually feel like for a PDA child? A heartfelt look at anxiety, meltdowns, and the reality of PDA emotional regulation in everyday life. Continue reading
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Grandma, can you please just stop talking?
Parenting a PDA child taught me that sometimes the most powerful communication strategy is saying nothing at all. Discover why silence, presence, and reducing demands helps children with PDA regulate and feel safe. Learn practical ways to support without overwhelming—through quiet connection instead of words Continue reading
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Why is School Avoidance back? When the PDA Burnout Cycle starts again on Mother’s Day
This one is personal. It started with Mother’s Day. My son came home from football and I knew — before the day was out — that something had shifted. He didn’t go to school the next day. Or the day after. In this week’s post I’m writing about the PDA burnout cycle — why our… Continue reading
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PDA Teeth Brushing- Is it a Vampire Tooth?
This one’s for the parents of neurodivergent kids who battle the toothbrush like it’s a wild animal. PDA teeth brushing is one of those battles that nobody warns you about. Sensory sensitivities coupled with the demand of the brushing and having to do it twice a day is nothing short of a military operation!! This… Continue reading
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Why Is Everybody Obsessed With Jokes?
When my son asked, “Why is everybody obsessed with jokes?” I realised he had a point. In a world full of sarcasm and hidden meanings, he communicates with total honesty. But one dad joke — about someone being “Justin time” — stuck. Because when humour connects to something predictable, structured and safe, like time, he… Continue reading
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What’s on your mind?
When my son asked me, “What’s on your mind, Mam?”, I said apples. But the truth was, my mind was full — of pressure, balance, and the quiet fear of adding just a little bit too much. This post is about what changed when football stopped, what surfaced in its place, and how close coping… Continue reading
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Can you massage my legs?
A personal reflection on sensory seeking, involuntary movement, and deep pressure — and what it’s like parenting a child whose body needs to move to regulate. Continue reading