A New Year as a parent of autistic teens

Both my boys are now teenagers.  Despite David being really small for his age, which we've often suspected is due to his restricted diet, he's now as tall as me.  Anthony is much taller and with a current special interest in health and fitness, he's also a lot stronger.  He can do 100 pull-ups without much difficulty... I can't do one ha ha!

In fact, I often feel like I'm last person to be considered in anything. I couldn't think of anything I'd want as an actual physical gift for Christmas, I struggle to think about what hobby I'd like to do (like I have the time for that). But I think possibly I have to recognise there is more to me and that things move on.

Go on holiday without the iPad - are you crazy?

 

As a family with two autistic kids, we'd never go anywhere without an iPad. It's one of our absolute essentials for doing everything from going to the shops, out to dinner or away for a break. Half term has just finished here and once again out iPad came around with us.  But does it always work?

Fun activities for our neurotypical kids this half term

It's getting dark so much earlier now in the evenings.  This means the kids I have that need to burn off steam can not longer do it outside in the same way.  We need a little more ideas, but thankfully, even though it's dark out, we can still have some fun.   Here's some great weird, wild and wonderful things to do this October Half Term around the theme of butterflies - not something you might usually think about this time of year.

Why my autistic son hits only me

I'm stood at the kitchen counter, peanut buttering the nth bit of toast when David runs through from the living room at high speed.  I see him coming and try to put my hand out to lower his fist, but I'm too late. Sock, it smacks me in the back not that far from my kidneys.   I put my hand on my back, then bend my knees so I come down nearer to David's level, then say, "David, need help?"

Helping our autistic son with exam stress

A recent report into anxiety and depression in people under the age of 18 showed that 7 in 10 (69%) are very worried about school work and exams and 2 in 3 (66%) were worried about their future. As the top two worries of young people, according to Wysa, many young people will be feeling anxious and stressed now more than any other time in their lives so far. Anthony is in the middle of his Year 11 exams, so what can we and he, do to help?

Helping my autistic son prepare for exams - creating steps

As my eldest heads towards the end of his time in secondary school, I'm running a few posts to support kids in the run up to their exams.  Today it is about breaking things down into smaller parts. 

Coping with a change in his special interest

Our son has had a special interest in cars and racing since he was about seven years old.  It's really common for children with autism or ADHD to have something they are 'super in to'.  Being very interested in a subject provides Anthony with lots of joy and in some cases it provides comfort in being able to talk about something familiar.  Knowing lots about something takes away fear I suppose. 

The impact of a shortage of ADHD meds

When Anthony was seven years old we asked for him to assessed for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) because despite all the help he was getting he could not settle or concentrate in class. Six months later he started a controlled stimulant drug to help him concentrate at school.   For the next five years Anthony had them everyday, not just when he was at school because without them he would fall apart.  ADHD meds have been in short supply recently and are not always thought of as being important, but to Anthony they were about his survival. 

Helping my autistic son to have more responsibility

There's been a lot of focus on schools and qualifications for teenagers over the last few years - and rightly so.  But being a teenager can mean learning a lot more than just academics.  For many kids this is the time they need to learn about  being responsible for themselves, learning the life skills they will need to become as independent as possible.  For some it will be learning about budgeting and time keeping for others this might be being able to make a meal or get dressed independently.