Autistic Days

Most days run much like any other at our place. Our morning routine doesn't vary a great deal and aside from the two days a week the littles go to care the majority of the time we spend at home, my little two and me.

This is for two reasons. Firstly it is a decent drive to go anywhere anyway, and secondly my Little Mate doesn't love busy, new places.

But even on those home days, some are more 'autistic' than others. Usually my boy is happy to just potter around home doing his own thing. Other days he tumbles over the fine line between holding it together and losing the plot. Today has been a losing the plot day.

Even though we've done nothing out of the ordinary today, my boy has struggled to cope. He has been aggressive and teary. There have been numerous meltdowns and lots of screaming. It has been a very autistic day.

It is exhausting for everyone, days like this. But I need to take a moment and remember it is exhausting for him as well. The days where he struggles to make himself understood, where I do not respond the way he has anticipated, where his sister exerts her own independence. These days are hard for him too, and neither of us asked for this.

I also need to remember how lucky we are that often he is a gentle, loving child and that days like these are the exception not the rule.

Autism. Never boring.