Month: September 2018

Today was a very busy day! It wasn’t meant to be. I had planned a me and my boy day as it was my last day off before his return to school. But it never worked out that way!

One thing that needed done today was school shoes. I needed to get them today. We went to the small Clarks within Mothercare beside us. I was just going to try shoes on as he has never let anyone measure his feet – until today! The woman brought over the measuring gauge and he didn’t even flinch. No bother at all! He is a size 2.5 – he is only 6!!!!!

They didn’t have the shoes I wanted in his size so I will order online tonight. At least then I can go through topcashback and get a bit of cashback on them. His shoes are more expensive than mine!!

He was great with everywhere we needed to go today:

• Braehead to collect a Disney Store order – he went on the trampolines and of course got a cookie
• Post Office to collect a parcel
• Lunch which he didn’t eat, but that could be due to the cookies!
• Local hospice to hand in scones my mum made – my dad volunteers there
• B&Q to pick up lights for the hall and a canvas I liked while my dad still gets 10% pensioner discount – it’s stopping soon
• Morrisons for a top up shop

Phew!

He is 6! How did that happen??!!

On his birthday we went out for dinner with my mum and sister too, my dad wasn’t well. We were there first and my mum and sister know not to make a fuss so when they arrived, they just wandered over and sat down. Perfect!

The next day we had a party for him, just family and our friends. No school friends as we are not at that stage yet.

I arranged a bouncy castle. We had one last year and the kids loved it, so I done the same again. I was telling him who was coming, but he just kept telling me ‘I don’t like……’ whatever I was saying. So I stopped.

I was putting suncream on him outside when he starting smiling. I turned around and my friends two girls were walking out. They all jumped on the bouncy castle and had a ball.

We had 7 kids on the bouncy castle having the best time! They were having so much fun that I forgot all about the party games I had planned. I had spent the previous night wrapping and wrapping gifts for pass the parcel!!

At a recent autism course I met a mum who asked to keep in touch with me as the path our son has taken is exactly the path she wants for her son, who is a year younger.

We kept in touch and met a few times for coffee and chats. It felt like we were a good support for each other.

She found out that her son got into the same language unit as our son, so was delighted! We arranged a playdate for the 2 boys during the summer holidays so they would know each others face on the first day of school as they were going to be in the same class, primary 1/2

I mentioned to my son in the morning that mummy’s friend was coming over with her little boy, but he said no way! His new thing is ‘I don’t like…..’ which just means he doesn’t want to talk about it or do it, so he said ‘I don’t like mummy’s friend’ so I just dropped the subject.

When the doorbell went, I said to my son to go out in the garden and play, but he was too nosey (takes after his mum!) He kept back and I said to my friend not to look at him or say anything and let him come to her. It worked!! Her little boy came in and just started playing and my son wandered over to him.

2.5 hours later they were still playing!!

Going from past experience of playdates, I expected and hour at the most.

This was an overwhelming success!!!

We found out we got the funds for Center Parcs that we applied for. We are delighted! I didn’t think we would, as the funds we applied for were means tested. Although we are on ok salaries, we have alot of outgoings.

To apply we had to give a breakdown of our monthly income and expenditure. I got great advice from the carers centre on putting everything on the application including haircuts, Christmas and birthday present spend, insurances, road tax, work lunch, weekend take away etc.

The maximum allocation is £300 and we have been allocated £280 which is a massive help for us.

I will put the information on the benefits page.

I am so looking forward to spending Wednesday’s during the summer holiday with him. I was never like this. I always stressed when I was on my own with him as I didn’t cope well if anything happened out of the house, but now we do ok 😉

I have booked disability swimming lessons through Glasgow Club one week, an hour a day Monday to Friday. He loves swimming so I know he will love this.

Plans so far:

• Bus into town – free for us both with his bus pass
• Lunch out just the two of us
• Swimming – I panicked the first time I took him myself, but it was totally fine
• Park
• We will also be in Center Parc and Alton Towers

Primary one report card arrived!

It read like he loves school and has made friends which at the moment, is all I ask for.

The teacher noted – he is a happy boy growing in confidence and it has been great watching him blossom. He is a roll model for the other kids and had also helped the other kids develop.

Very proud parents!

Roll on primary two!

I currently work as a Finance Administrator, and I love it, but I have always wanted to work with children. I didn’t want to be a teacher, and didn’t think of any other option. I loved accounting and maths and we had family friends who were accountants who had a big house and fancy car – maybe that’s why I ended up here ha ha.

I still would love to work with children, and I think that my experience now would be a massive advantage. Now, I know I want to go into a nursery to work. I think that my experience will help with children that show signs of being on the spectrum, but, as I have realised, more importantly at that stage, a support to the parents. My only problem will be getting attached to the children and their families. When our son left nursery there were quite a few other kids leaving, around 10 more, and all the nursery girls were in tears. It was very cute ❤️

My plan in a few years, is to do a night class in childcare. I want to end my working life doing something fulfilling. Only 9 years till the mortgage is paid off!!

I never started this website to be a blog, but to be an information site. A go to place for anyone needing help and information but no clue where to start. That is my aim and I am working on it.

I do like the aspect of documenting my day, whether good or bad, to show others how hard it is being an autism parent, and to show other autism parents that you are not alone.

Any feedback will be greatly received 🙂