PDA and Understanding Neurodivergence
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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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The Boy Who Changed Everything
At the end of the year, reflection comes naturally. This isn’t a post about the challenges — though they matter. It’s about how one little boy can come into your life and quietly change everything you thought you knew about the world, and how that change, despite everything, is pretty special. Continue reading
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The Banana: A Story about Masking
This week isn’t a question but something I witnessed that I’ve found fascinating — and honestly, I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s autistic masking. A big part of our story is that my son behaves completely differently at his dad’s house and at school… apparently. I say “apparently” because as time goes on, I’m… Continue reading
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Can I have pasta?
We were heading for the trenches. I couldn’t tell you what week of school we were on, but we had survived so far. And by “survived,” I mean my son had been attending. Does that count as doing well? According to the government, yes. But were we doing well? I was hanging on by a… Continue reading
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What Happens When Your Child Has No Filter?
What would you do if your child had no filter and literally said what they see? Literal thinking at it’s best. Because that is exactly what we have. My son, when he’s in a good place, is honestly some of the best company you could ever wish for. He’s funny, witty, and absolutely himself. But… Continue reading
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Activate or Accommodate? The Shitty Choice of Parenting a PDA child
I haven’t written properly in a couple of weeks, which is the longest I’ve gone since starting this blog. PDA parenting really takes it out of you. Really. The last few posts I published were written out in draft a while back — I hadn’t actually started any new writing in a while until last… Continue reading
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Can I have my friends round? Part 2!
Almost 18 months ago we had one of my son’s friends round for tea. It was a very traumatic experience. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you probably lived through that experience with me (see: Why cant I have my friends round?). I vowed then never to have another friend round but like… Continue reading