Sleepless in Cape Town

Our three-year-old son is diagnosed as moderate to severe on the autism spectrum. Many of his sensitivities, rigidities, and behavioural issues have led me to believe that he is profoundly impacted. Some people would describe their child’s autism as a “different ability”. I describe my son’s autism as a disability. It can hijack his central […]

Absolute Silence

Autumn is gusty in my part of the world. And the strong, Cape south-easter brings weather with it. As clouds rolled in this afternoon and the breeze stiffened, I felt a familiar pang of anxiety. Because wind disturbs Aidan’s sleep.  A lot of autistic children struggle with sleep. As of yet, nobody knows why. But […]

The Sudocrem Incident

I’ve always been a pretty fastidious person. Maybe even to a fault! Because I like things to be organised, and tidy, and clean. Always. From the moment I moved into my own flat in my 20’s, tidiness has been very important to me. But when you have a baby, all that goes out the window! […]

The Flexibility Program

I don’t even know how to adequately describe what we’re going through right now. The organisation that manages Aidan’s 1:1 home based ABA therapy has implemented a flexibility program.  It’s been suggested by them on and off, but it was never a good time to start it, mainly due to a scourge of seasonal bugs […]

Where Did All My Friends Go?

Life, in this Secret World of Autism, gets lonely. Our daily experiences are unlike anything we’ve read about, or seen in movies, or learned about in documentaries, or seen anyone else we know go through. We only have one child, and no experience of parenthood other than that of being special needs parents. What’s “normal” […]

That Crystal Ball

When I was five, I wondered if I’d be allowed to get a cat. When I was 10, I wondered if I would settle down in one school. When I was 15, I wondered if I would make it through my teenage years unscathed. When I was 20, I wondered if I’d ever find my […]

Am I Strong Enough?

Honestly, I must ask myself this question at least twice a day. Sometimes more! Because some days the challenges feel beyond my capability and I struggle for the capacity to be everything to my child and to my family.  Motherhood is humbling y’all. In a way that’s impossible to explain to childless friends. Whatever you […]

A Peaceful Passing

No matter who we are or what our circumstances, we all hope for a good death. Nothing tragic, nothing painful. No disease or disability. At home, not in hospital. Not too young and not too old. Maybe passing away peacefully in our sleep, surrounded by our beloved family. Our final thoughts being of them and […]

Solidarity Sisters

I feel very fortunate to be raising my child within a low-to-no-judgement community. Special needs moms are extremely supportive of one another! Because even though our kiddos are unique and our experiences slightly different to the next mom’s, we know all too well how hard this life can be at times. Caring for vulnerable children […]

Not Another Virus!

All parents fear bugs and viruses. It’s one of the hardest things we manage: Being sick ourselves, and having to look after our sick children. Most moms I’ve spoken to, don’t get the luxury of being sick. If you’re lying in bed, how do all the things get done? Who looks after the kids, the […]