#sen parenting

[a-milestone]

This holiday taught me a lot about my son's needs. For those not aware, my son is autistic and uses makaton and echolalia (constant repetition of language and phrases from what has been modelled or copied from tv shows/films).

He had a great time on holiday but the absence of several safe factors, poor WiFi and somewhere new meant we had tricky moments. Overall, he coped well despite the new surroundings. It's not something I've had to think about before but means I can adapt for next holiday.

Also, how cool is his bag?!

[angloirishnolanist]

Something we do in our house, as a neurodiversity-affirming family, is watch/read something by a "successful" Autistic person a few times across the year.

I started doing this about 2 years ago with introducing the kids to Ghostbusters - Dan Aykroyd is diagnosed with Asperger's. From there, we found books by Autistic writers and films with Autistic cast members or crew/creators.

Right now, the boys are slowly working through The Tribe (used to air on Channel 5 here in the UK in the 2000s) which was created by an Autistic man.

[a-milestone]

Off to the tank museum outside Dorset with my son, my brother and my nephew. My son had his first day of school at his juniors where has a place at a specialist school in the hope that his communication needs can finally be met. He smashed his first day of school which I'm really proud of him for.

Now to look at tanks for a day!

[a-milestone]

Life update: my current rental is now up for sale so I have had to spend the last 3 weeks juggling finances, work, parenting and usual life style with house viewings, cleaning, clearances and chasing paperwork. Have now managed to find a lovely place for the family for obviously more money but gotta live right??

My son is in his last year of infant school in a mainstream meeting and we have been trying to secure a placement at a specialist school which looked to be heading towards a tribunal and appeal process but the local authority have decided not to contest and in September, he will have a place at the school we named. Which is amazing news and a huge weight off my mind. Something no parent of SEN child should have to fight for!

I am tired, my 'gameface' is starting to slip as I've had to juggle everyone's anxieties and emotional responses to these situations. Definitely feeling burnout and that I could snap at any given moment, especially when conversations have been had around stuff that really isn't important.

I absolutely need a small break away for just me.