Posts by Maggs Hay
From Swings to Mountains: Siblings and Autism
Siblings don’t always get on. They argue, they fight, and sometimes end up in a bust-up on the floor. But normally, each gives their own, taking a swipe and returning a kick. “It builds character,” some might say. But not always. In our house, two of my children have always been separated. Play has always been supervised. They are never left in the same room together. One of them could get seriously hurt, and it would not be the other one’s fault. My son Rhys is nine. He is autistic.…
Read MoreA Difficult Decision: Splitting Up for Disneyland, Leaving One Behind
As I ascended the stairs onto the aircraft, I knew our decision was the right one. Leaving our son, Rhys, at home, while we took our other two children to Disneyland, was a hard decision to make, but in our world these tough decisions are what we face daily. We live life differently because my son is autistic and this world is not designed to make it easy. I thought back to many occasions where Rhys’ brother had been so excited for a day trip and then only allowed to…
Read MoreNever Judge a Boy in Pajamas
My son went out in his pajamas today. It was 3pm in the afternoon. It wasn’t because I’m a bad mum. It wasn’t because I am a lazy git. It wasn’t because I don’t care. In fact it was the total opposite. My son refused to leave the house. I held out four pairs of shorts and a selection of t-shirts – each one was rejected! It was not because he is a bad kid, and it is not because I don’t know how to discipline my son. It is…
Read MoreMy Son is Many Things
He loves the wind in his hair and the thrill of the motion. His favourite phrase being, “Push me, I’m ready” as he stands between you and your favourite TV programme requesting your partnership. A task where “no” is not an option. And once the swing has been pushed and his legs continue the momentum, he notices as you slink away, once again announcing his right to your role in the task. Social skills are there, but they are on his agenda. Each night he reluctantly enters the land of…
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