The lonely road

I’m almost certain that most of the people who know us outside of a small huddle of people think we are crazy for thinking we may have neurodivergence in the family.

It’s been one of the loneliest parts to this little journey of ours as so many people do not see what our life looks like 98% of the time.

I am a chronic over thinker. My brain is on the go from the moment I wake up, to the moment I go to sleep (and usually during the night sadly) so every niggly little comment that has been made over the past year and a half has stuck.

“No, she’s so smart, there’s no way anything’s going on”

“She just needs to socialise more”

“You will see, when she goes to school she will settle down”

“Maybe she hasn’t got enough stimulation”

“She’s just a covid baby, they are all like this”

“My friends kid is autistic and she’s nothing like them”

“Seems like everyone is neurodivergent these days”

“Kids are kids, they are all crazy”

All well meaning. All trying to make me feel better. All trying to relate.

All made me feel like I was going a weeny bit mad.

The thing is it’s never been our goal to fix Summer. She isn’t broken. She is wonderfully creative, headstrong, smart, quirky, curious and funny. But she is also completely unable to control her emotions and outbursts, is incredibly triggered by sensory inputs and isn’t able to sleep for prolonged periods of time to restore her wonderful little body. She too has a brain that works a thousand miles an hour.

Our goal has always been to understand her more, work out how her brain works and give us all a much calmer existence.

Because I can assure you, the normal parenting tips have been an absolute bust!

And to do that, we need more information.

If it turns out Summer has a Neurodivergent brain, amazing! How lucky are we that we have produced a kid that will do amazing things and see the world so incredibly differently.

Some of the most intellectual minds, the funniest comedians, successful athletes, the best actors and mesmerising musicians have been or are Neurodivergent.

So to anyone else who is feeling the weight of confusion that’s comes from listening to loved ones but also knowing it can’t be this difficult, you are not alone.

A wonderful person said to me

“Parents tend to know...  they're very very rarely crazy!”

and it’s something I have to remind myself of frequently.

On to the second assessment for our little fire cracker. Here’s hoping we leave with a little more understanding and a little more direction!

Much love

Tash x

The calm before the storm. Long journey to the assessment this morning so enjoying a snuggle with the fluffy baby!