Everyone, goes through those, when-will-it-end days.

those special moments with those that matter
A.J. and Laura bonding time

We don't have to be Autism parents to face any unknown areas of LIFE ...

Days when we question everything we do, hoping for something positive, wondering why we're the ones that seem to repeatedly fall on bad times, struggling to make ends meet, wanting the best for our family, trying to find that perfect solution to an imperfect situation.

Facing everyday situations as everyday people. Trying to make our lives look ....... "normal".  

Yes I know we have additional requirements that we have to continually face, although we must remind ourselves that at any given time 'Neurotypical' families can also face unusual events that can place them in difficult situations as well.

No-one is immune from dilemmas and dramas.

Over the years I've faced many issues and situations,  good and bad experiences, some that were confronting and emotional, some I would never wish on anyone. With all this, I've gained a lot and lost a lot, and faced conflicting feelings and emotions.

Then all of a sudden we get to a point in our lives when realising that no matter what we do or where we go, the choices we make or decline to take, may not please or impress others, it may even upset or irritate someone, although we need to accept it doesn't matter, we live our lives to suit ourselves, while catering for our family and loved ones closest to us.

With all the many things I encountered in my life, and still today, I try to take a positive view point from each single experience.

I now use my personal story to share with others, for many reasons, the most important being.....

1/ it helps me to release the stress and tension that may build up in my day-to-day life.

2/ finding answers and sharing hints and tips to help others, and myself, is very rewarding in itself.

3/ it reminds me that I am OK and I will make it through another day.

4/ because no matter what, we are all going through similar situations.

Sharing the highs and lows of life, showing we are just another family, the same as everyone else.

In this day and time with the norm being confronted with rushing around pushing ourselves to the limit, catering to the needs of our loved ones, we find little to no time remaining for ourselves.

I'm going through one of those such days today as we come to the tail-end of our school holidays, we have struggled to do too much at all, and A.J. was in one of his 'I can't deal with it' modes, so the day had been a total write-off.

For whatever reason, we are always in a stand-by mode, ready to help where we can when it all comes crashing down.

Medication plays a big part of his routine from keeping the day calm and settled, to helping to gain that all-important sleep.

As I'm watching A.J. I'm realising just how grown up he's becoming, and with that comes the all so noticeable differences that his peers can clearly hone in on. These are the times we stress and worry, hoping that he's coping well with life in general.

Sometimes it can be really hard to find the right format to get him interested in anything, other than the almighty Sony Playstation and the favourite game-of-the-day, therefore to know if he's being included with other students, or choosing to include himself, in any social or other various activities within the school environment can become very concerning.

I'm not saying this because he's not social, as this isn't the case in most situations, although we do know how he can struggle with certain aspects of basic social rules.

A.J. for a very long time chose to exclude himself, content to be watching from the sidelines, observing all the goings-on in the wings, happily absorbing all he saw, then putting his own personal take on what he'd viewed. This in itself was fine, especially when he was satisfied to do that, although suddenly only a few years ago, he wanted to join in and become involved, socialising for the first time, this was when we realise we'd have to focus our teachings to help him in this area.

Trying to reason with someone that has an extreme perception of how his life should be, can be very hard to achieve, then at the same time very amusing, so after some time I stopped and thought..... "you know, why change how he is", if others can't accept him for what and who he is, they don't deserve to know him.

A.J. already knows what he wants in his little section of the world, and how he wants things to be, working out his placement in all of this, with a reasonable overall confidence in himself, so why would anyone want to dishearten his take on it.

Saying all that, we still have to contend with him wanting the world to exist under 'his' term and change to the way 'he' wants whenever he becomes overwhelmed or anxious, causing a whole new set of issues to attend to. 

Then when we sit back and absorb all we have been through together, and all we have encountered, by being a part of A.J.'s life, we are so very proud of our special man, and pleased we gained the opportunity to be included, having such an important role to help him go through the journey, coming to where he is today.