Sawyer's Adventures in Thomas Land. 1 woman, 1 man. 1 girl, 1 boy, 1 train. And a diagnosis of ASD
If you were to search for signs of autism in children on the NHS website, you’d find a whole host of symptoms that are nothing like anything Sawyer faces. He is more empathetic than many neurotypical adults I’ve met in my life, he can speak eloquently about his feelings, and these days he understands irony… Continue reading Guardian Angels Part Two
You’d think that, given the huge amount of trust needed to put your child into a taxi each day, that the local authority would be sympathetic and helpful in finding the right service for each child. Unfortunately that simply isn’t true. Lloyd rode in the taxi with Sawyer for the first few days, and although… Continue reading Guardian Angels Part One
When we got home on Sawyer's last day at his old school, he ran upstairs with his goodbye card, and slid it under his bed. In the days that followed, he would periodically become emotional, but he quickly recovered himself, and would insist he didn't want/need to talk about it. School holidays used to disrupt… Continue reading Trivial Pursuit
Hi. Ahem. Hello. You can’t tell but I’m blowing dust from my laptop and awkwardly smiling like I have a guilty secret to tell. I don’t. I don’t think? Maybe we'll find out. But first thing’s first – I hope you’re OK. I hope you are well, and I hope that if you are well,… Continue reading Ghost Writer
One of the most incredible parts of being an autism parent is having to make life-changing decisions before 10am, and then spend the rest of the day pretending it never happened. I left Sawyer’s EHCP meeting in a baffled haze at around 10.30am and made my way in to work for Christmas lunch. Mainstream school… Continue reading Orientation
Life is all about balance, I suppose. I try hard to ensure Sawyer has the same opportunities as other children (particularly his sister), but at what point do you accept that your child might just want to be left alone? That they're happier indoors? Lloyd and Piper went out tonight, to spend some time with… Continue reading New Year’s Adaptation
(the autism way) ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Sawyer could hear everything – a clock ticking; a mouse The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care They were straightened obsessively, so almost thread-bare His sister was nestled all snug in her bed, While the world danced around in Sawyer’s head.… Continue reading ‘Twas the Night before Christmas
Friday was school disco day, and to our alarm surprise, Sawyer said that he wanted to go. After some gentle reminders about what the disco would entail, Sawyer dug out his Woody costume, kissed me on the cheek, and bounced out of the house with his dad in tow. However by the time they arrived… Continue reading Disco Dad
Sawyer sailed through Year 3 with relative ease and for a minute there it looked like his additional support really had been a magic key that had opened the door to a calm and positive education. As the summer term came to an end both Sawyer and his sister were eager to begin the six… Continue reading 2 Steps Back
Dear Sawyer, Today is your 8th birthday. And what a year you have had! At school, this year has been a real turning point for you. You have gone from not wanting to go to school at all, to winning an award for effort in the end of year assembly! You seem to have found… Continue reading Pieces of Eight