A Will of Iron
For a very long time, we would do whatever it took to prevent Aidan from becoming dysregulated. And when his triggers ramped up, and it became virtually impossible to prevent a tantrum or meltdown, we would do whatever it took to bring the behaviours under control as quickly as possible. We genuinely believed that we […]
Pillows!
What are your child’s comfort items? I love asking this question in online autism support groups, because the answers are sometimes very weird and wonderful! There are things that make sense, and a few that are pretty unusual – like pieces of fruit, stacks of coloured paper, or kitchen utensils! Aidan’s are not too odd, […]
The Cot
Aidan was a baby that needed contact to nap or sleep. He needed to feel the warmth of your body, and be able to hear your heartbeat at all times. Though we battled with this, we weren’t aware that anything was unusual about it, until other moms with bubs of a similar age, were transferring […]
The Secret Costs of Autism
Remember when you were young and fun, well-rested and energetic, and you couldn’t decide between two pairs of shoes so you just got both? How long ago does that feel for you now? Because to me, it feels like a lifetime ago! I kind of feel as though every single parent on earth was wholly […]
Spinning Wheels
Aidan’s love of cars, trains, and automobiles, started at a very young age. He was absolutely obsessed with Hot Wheels, and every time we did a shop at Checkers, we’d stop by the revolving stand of them to buy him one. We had a little tradition of opening them while we waited to pay, and […]
Does the FBI Know About Me?
When a new rigidity or trigger pops up, or an established one changes ever so slightly, we are all caught unawares. Our son is right of centre on the spectrum and completely nonverbal. He can’t tell us what he’s thinking or feeling, except by crying. He will be absolutely fine for weeks, and then suddenly […]
Levels of Support
This is such an important thing to talk about. Because wherever our kiddos are on the spectrum, our families need support. And the kind of support we need varies at different times along our journey. And that support falls into five different categories: Emotional support can be provided by friends, family, our partners and other […]
The Diaper Drama
My amazing OBGYN, Dr Paula Penkin, always marvelled at Aidan’s length whenever I went in for a prenatal check. She told me she thought he was going to be a basketball player! Though he came early, at 37 weeks, he was an impressive height and weight when he was born – 56cm long and 3.98kg’s. […]
The Pram
The best piece of advice we ever got was: “The easiest way to comfort a cranky baby is to put them in water or take them outside.” Early on, we found that Aidan could be calmed by just a few minutes in the garden, or quick dip in the bath. Either, would press pause on […]
Right of Centre
After Aidan’s initial evaluation with Dr Birgit Schlegel at Constantiaberg Mediclinic, we waited on tenterhooks for two weeks to receive her report. She had already indicated to us that she believed Aidan to be “firmly on the spectrum” and we were grappling with what that meant exactly. Did that mean he was profoundly impacted, and […]