Life is full of ups and downs, the one thing I have learnt is you need to have your tribe.
Seeing my son play with his friends is such a beautiful thing. They are completely at one with each other. They get each other. They have moments of being completely wild and doing the craziest stuff together. Other times they are all sat next to each, not talking, playing on their tablets. But comfort of each other is there. I am so pleased that he has found this. I can only hope my other children find their own tribe.
But as mum I think it is important to find your own tribe. Or tribes. I am lucky to have some wonderful friends. They have helped me through alot of the years. Some of my friends I have known for 36 years. (Yeah I know I dont look old enough to have friends that long ha!)
Being on this neurospicy journey I learnt who aren’t in my tribe, the people who just don’t get it. They can’t understand that why your late, the struggles, the craziness.
That is part of the reason why I started this page and coffee mornings. I know some people feel alone. They haven’t found the people that get it. The judgement is huge from the outside world. People think your children are naughty or loud, or unsociable or rude. When they are just trying so hard to cope and learn about the world.
The system we have to navigate is like finding the New World. No one knows which way they are going. Or what will be there when we get there. That is why it is so important we help each other. Share tips and resources. Have strong coffee together.
In my early days, I used to go to a wonderful Baby and Toddler group, one where the mums would hold your babies so you could enjoy a hot drink or go to the loo on your own. Everyone looked out for each other. It was here, I realised why I was struggling so much, that it wasn’t me struggling but my son struggling to get me and the world to understand. Listening to fellow parents and chatting to them helped me navigate the early routes to getting diagnosis and understand the wonderful world of Autism. It is wonderful the way the Autistic brain works is beautiful.
Come along to one of the Coffee Mornings as it is important to find your people. We all need to look after each other.
