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 […]
Firmly on the Spectrum
Aidan was 18 months old when we first had our doubts dispelled, our suspicions confirmed, and our whispered concerns echoed aloud by a highly experienced paediatric neurologist. We’d asked his wonderful paediatrician, Professor Claudia Gray, for a referral to Dr Birgit Schlegel at his 12-months wellness check, and then waited for 6 months on her […]
The Cortisol Rollercoaster
We judge ourselves harshly, but there’s no-one more in-sync than a mom and her child with additional needs. We are their “person”. Their translator, their guide, their protector, their comfort, and their forever buddy. We are everything to our children. From the first moment we sense a vulnerability in them, we begin to weave an […]
Redefining Success
If you’re the parent of a newly-diagnosed child, it’s important to allow yourself to feel all the feelings, because grief comes in waves. It’s a significant journey to acceptance. Cry if you need to, but don’t stay in that place. Make yourself a coffee, or go for a walk, focus on breathing in and out. […]
The Perpetual Present
I exist purely and almost perpetually in the present moment. I show up as I am, and try the best I can. Somedays, I’m not enough. Somedays, I’m far too much. This is the life of an autism mom. My boy is my life. Absolutely, my life. Every waking and sleepless moment is consumed by […]
Good Neighbours
One of the greatest blessings of our lives, has been our lovely neighbours. Stacey is not only the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful person you could ever hope to meet, but she’s also been incredibly inclusive of Aidan. Our little cub has been invited to play at their house, in their garden, at the park opposite […]
Eye Contact
Looking back, I now realise that from a very young age, Aidan was more focused on household objects, toys, and on what he was doing, than on people. I can’t ever remember him gazing up at me and studying my face, like most newborn babies do. I have a bajillion pictures of him from birth […]
Bubbles!
Without doubt, one of Aidan’s favourite things in the whole world is… BUBBLES! From a young age he has been utterly captivated by them. He loves watching them take form on the wand, he is breathless with anticipation as they take flight, he is delighted by the way the breeze catches them and sends them […]
The Leviathan
As early as 65 B.C., the Roman poet Horace, wrote about the “Black Dog” of depression. And the image of a sullen black dog, shadowing your every move is an extremely vivid one that many depression sufferers can relate to. Winston Churchill found the description so apt, that he later adopted it himself. Though he […]
Tossing & Turning
If you’re the parent of a newly-diagnosed child, the “who’s”, “how’s”, and what ifs” will definitely be keeping you up at night. A million questions churn through our minds as we contemplate a different life than the one we expected. It takes time and processing for us to realise that while our parenting journey may […]