a time for reflection...

It has been so long since I had the chance to sit down and actually put pen to paper (or in my case fingers to the keyboard) to write anything for my blog.

Lately this task seemed to be more of a chore, knowing what to say that would sound anything remotely legible has failed and eluded me, like a form of writers block.

What will I say?

What do I want to do? Where do I want to go?

How do I see myself now I'm finally at a point in life where I can begin to focus on ME! 

'A.J., myself, hubby, forever bonded' 

Brain overload explosion, is the only way to express exactly how my life has been up to this point.
I've always been busy, so many different things going on, that many of the things I really wanted to do were constantly being put onto the back-burner; while even the things I needed to do were being dealt with in an all-be-it 'a-little-at-a-time' 'just-enough-to-get-by' manner.

I won't deny I wouldn't have changed most of what I've done, when knowing those who needed me were given the love, support, and focus they required to grow and progress forward in a positive loving environment.

"I'm working on it!!!" - holiday turmoil.

It's usual by the end of each school term to find A.J. struggling to maintain his composure and balanced momentum.

Noticing also over the past few weeks A.J. had gone backwards dramatically in his morning routine, we've been trying a few ideas to make his evening, morning, and sleep schedules a little easier.

socially awkward....

allowing everyone to express their own personal selves

as parents, we continually struggle with our kid's ongoing diagnosis symptoms;

being unable to clearly verbalise their anxieties and emotional feelings that are brought on by unknown situations or environmental factors, resulting in a heightened sensory emotional state that they can't regulate.

This is known as Emotional Dysregulation - (present in people with ASD, ADD/ADHD, bipolar, PTSD, etc), is caused from deficits in the frontal cortices of the brain, resulting in unregulated emotional responses, behavioural problems, erratic outbursts, all interfering with their social interactions and relationships.

Taking a deep breath and moving forward - One step at a time.........

Parenting - it can be like facing an emotional roller-coaster on a day-to-day basis.

Being prepared for anything and everything at any given time.

Not everything is rainbows and sunshine, not for anyone,

some days seem to drag on, with so many things to deal with.

Just recently I went through a really down moment, my stress levels were through the roof,

It was a really bad 'life can really suck' moment!!!!

Wondering how we cope with the teenage years?

...the latest pose when asked if I can take a pic...
all dressed up to head out the tea at our local club

Sometimes questioning if we would actually make it through in one piece?

 never-the-less we push on through, hoping the outcome will be positive and not a total disaster.

No-one's perfect so we must remember not to be too hard on ourselves.

Our motto we follow is to clear the slate each evening before we go to bed, and start fresh the next day.

Choose your battles and focus on the important things, no regrets, no guilt, no what-if's. 

Watching A.J. progressing through his teenage years, it seems the more evident his quirky mannerisms are becoming, some of his ASD traits seemingly more severe, and yet I feel his age makes them more pronounced and obvious, exposing the cracks to things that were always there. 

Leaving the holiday mode behind -

Well here we go again,

Only one more week before facing yet another year of school mayhem.

Yes, although A.J. likes the familiarity that comes along with his regular routines and schedules, he still struggles with the hustle and bustle that portrays the overall high school environment.

in preparation for the new school year
everything is Black (where able) as requested 

While not exactly planned, here is where we are at.....

enjoying weeks of relaxed holiday mode, a combination of xmas season festivities, Computers, Games, etc, resulting in all but the essential routines flying out the window.

Unfortunately AJ has always struggled with any type of morning routine, add his typical teenage 'angst' into the mix, it was easy for him to tip the scales towards shutting down his regular routine all together.

Sewing Classes with Nanna's Touch - placemat -

Much of the work I do with my Nanna's Touch group and activities relates to supporting families and people with disabilities, including mental health issues and more.
My personal aim being to find ways to integrate and include our local people with disabilities, their family and carers, with all aspects of our local community.
The main way I can do this, in a pay-it-forward aspect, is sharing my love and knowledge of sewing.

Reflections

preparing for the new year ahead.....

Before you read the post below, I want to make it perfectly clear-

I am NOT complaining, I am NOT feeling sorry for myself, I love my family - warts and all.

I am just stating a fact the way it is - NO MORE-NO LESS

I've never shared our story to sugar-coat the big picture, I have always stated what we face straight up as we live it, as anyone in the same situation will agree with what we are dealing with.

Although we continually go through these experiences wondering when will it all end, we also have light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel moments to hopefully even it all out.

We may suddenly see the reality of how our life is playing a continual loop of repetitious mundane events all due to the situations we are facing.

Physical Health - self care Mind+Body+Soul

Reviewing 2017, although it has been great in so many aspects, it's also been the most draining time that I've faced in many years.

Trying to juggle and manage too many things, so much so that it has suddenly all come to a pounding momentous heap at my feet, leaving me no-where to turn, but come crashing down amongst it all.

being in the moment - a great view of our lovely valley

While organising our home-front and personal life, including the many different interventions, activities and other requirements we arrange for A.J. to access, we have seen many accomplishments and achievements as well.

a humbling honor........

Today I was invited to attend the Lithgow Ability Awards 2017.
this was organised and presented by
--Lithgow City Council with Uniting Ability Links--
I was very honored and surprised to receive the invitation stating I had been nominated in one of the categories.

Rosters, Routines, Schedules, Timetables, Programs, Plans.............

assorted planners are available on-line
 or you can make your own

Parenting can be hard. 

Especially when juggling the family household, work commitments, and anything else you want to do.
Some days we can feel so overwhelmed, they seem to blur into weeks or months.

At times we can be so consumed by everything, we may begin to doubt ourselves and our ability to cope with every part of being a parent and what that fully entails,

especially when considering the additional demands we need to cater to for a child with a disability.

Clearing your emotional clutter.

gaining personal confidence is the first step
- picture of me while doing one of our group activities -  

Just as it is therapeutic to clear our home of physical clutter we collect along our life's journey,

we also need to clear our minds of the emotional “Baggage” that we may accumulate over the years.

For me, over the years, I have fought with the concept of what it is to be emotionally balanced,

as I would always become stressed about the perception that others may have of me.

What is SPD.... Sensory Processing Disorder????

Today I was able to touch base with this area during our Skill & Connect support group,
so I thought I would share it here as well, as a reminder to some or understanding for others.......

understanding the 7 senses 

Emotional Wellbeing - Family Stability -

I am struggling to express in words the way I am feeling lately

.....when things become so overwhelming, we go through the day in a fog, or haze,

facing a realisation that everything around us is crumbling down from what we knew or want it to be.

After working so hard to reach a level of calm and stability, to see it gone in the blink of an eye.

With some days being consumed by everything, and having no visual way out.

Feeling alone with no-one to understand or help with what we're going through,

then doubting ourselves and our ability to cope.

This may be the reality for us, for you, for many ......This is what we face almost every day.

Physical Health and Emotional Well-Being - Cycle of Emotions -

Parenting can be hard at times for anyone,   

Parenting an Autistic child will teach us this and more, 

It is a continual cycle of highs and lows, positive moments, and trying situations.   

  

Some days we can feel overwhelmed with everything.   

We may feel alone with no-one to understand or help with what we're going through.  

Causing us to doubt ourselves and our ability to cope.  

Volunteering my Support - Knowledge - Time - and more

Over the past 4 years I have kept myself busy walking the 'volunteer' pathway through Autism,

by helping to share my knowledge, understanding, support, acceptance, education, and more.  

There hasn't been a day go by where I haven't focused in some way on how to assist others.   

banner for the recent expo I arranged
helping locals to connect with relevant service providers 

I enjoy this pay-it-forward approach, doing anything I can, finding ways to support and share the  understanding of diversity. Helping others to re-group and take the steps to solve each issue as we face them.

We are here, we do care, you are not alone.......

I wasn't intending on posting about this…

….something so sad and devastating,

something that we as a small community have been continually facing for so long.

As a mining town we have had our ups and downs,

When you have to step out of your Comfort Zone.

A.J. as he likes to be seen, incognito (or not)
pic share with approval 

Sometimes we have progress shine through all the mayhem that surrounds us……

…..and today was one such day.

The holidays, as usual, has seen a roller-coaster of emotion and confusion as the lack of routine schedules make it hard for A.J. to know what to do and how to cope with each day.

"my fight with my disabilities" - Taking a look into the thoughts and actions of an ASD teen.

....on one of his 'happy days'
having a joke with Nan....

As each day goes by, I see the many variables that A.J. faces due to his ASD symptoms.

While knowing he's already passed so very many hurdles/milestones, gaining so much progress,

and yet understanding he still faces regular set-backs and regression, that is churning him around in a vortex of confusion.