special interests
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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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What’s your mileage?
The mileage on my car became more than just a number. This is a quiet reflection on my son’s love of numbers, and how something so simple can bring comfort, connection, and joy. Continue reading
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Am I a Christian?
My son asked me something on Saturday morning that I wasn’t quite expecting. He wanted to know if he was a Christian. What followed was one of the most fascinating conversations we’ve ever had — including the discovery that he prays every single day at exactly 20:18. Because he was born in 2018. Continue reading
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What is half of 16?
Our World of Numbers It’s been a while since I’ve shared a maths-related moment — not because they’ve stopped happening, but because they’ve simply become part of our everyday life. Numbers are woven into almost every conversation we have. They’re no longer “maths questions” to us; they’re just how we talk. If you want to… Continue reading
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Why Is Everything So Expensive?
A simple question from my son — “Why is everything so expensive?” — opened a window into the hidden costs of parenting a neurodivergent child. From clothes that never get worn to food that’s suddenly rejected, this is the reality behind the price tags. Continue reading
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Has there ever been a tornado in England?
Weather has always held a fascination for my neurodivergent child, my son. Back when we used to read together before bed, he was never drawn to stories about castles or pirates—he wanted books about storms. Tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis. The wilder, the better. He would look over the pictures of swirling skies and crashing waves, wide-eyed,… Continue reading
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What happens if the banks run out of money?
Recently my son developed a new special interest: money. For a couple of weeks, we spent hours talking about it, counting it, stacking it, and recounting it…if you want to know just how deep this goes, read about the week we counted all his money. Then he went on holiday with his dad—the longest we… Continue reading
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Can we count my money?
A week-long hyperfocus on coins, banks, and joy. My son every so often will latch onto something and become extremely obsessed by this thing. It could be an event, a person or an activity and it will consume him…….and us. This consumption can go on for a couple of days. He will talk about it,… Continue reading
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Who is your favourite pilot?
My son is like a sponge. He soaks up information even when you think he isn’t listening, isn’t interested, or is lost in his own world. He stores it all away and then—just when you least expect it—out it comes. Delivered with conviction, usually at a very random time, and often leaving me either in… Continue reading
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Do you the know the 4 Saints of Great Britain?
Lately, my neurodivergent child, my son has become a bit… saint-obsessed. Not in a “kneel down and pray” sort of way — more in a “recite random religious facts and then use Saint Francis of Assisi as a dramatic exclamation” sort of way. It started with him on the way to school one day asking… Continue reading