co-parenting challenges
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NHS Autism Assessment Wait Times: 18 Months and What Nobody Tells You
We joined the waiting list for my son’s combined autism and ADHD assessment over 18 months ago. What followed was a period of anxiety, judgement, co-parenting conflict, and a system that keeps moving the goalposts. This is the honest account I wish someone had written for me — for every parent out there waiting, hoping,… 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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How do you say No?
Managing co-parenting, boundaries, and PDA parenting — one ‘no’ at a time. No. Two letters.Easy to write.Easy to say.Yet one of the most powerful words in any language. And right now, it’s the word I’m struggling with the most. I’ve never been an assertive person. I’m a people pleaser. If someone asks me to do… Continue reading
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Coping with Stress in School Meetings: A Parent’s Perspective
I knew this was coming, but this letter arrived this week. This had been rumbling on for some time. That fateful phone call from the EWO (Am I Managing Stress and Anxiety, or Just Surviving?) had prompted me to write an email to her and the school, detailing everything I had done over the last two… Continue reading
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How Can I Support My Child Across Two Homes?
Throughout this blog, I’ve avoided touching on a particular subject….probably because I didn’t want it to cloud anyone’s judgment about my thoughts on my son. But now feels like the right time to discuss it, for two key reasons. First, because it’s a serious concern in my eyes, and second, because I honestly don’t know… Continue reading
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Who do you love more me or my sister?
A normal childhood question I am sure most children ask, or at least think so I was prepared for this one. I’m still sure that my mam loves my brother more than the rest of us, she still talks about how good he was because he walked at 10 months old!!! But what followed this… Continue reading