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We are so lucky, actually.

If you had asked me 7 years ago if I felt ‘lucky’, it would have been the furthest description from my rapidly growing vocabulary of words such as ‘echolalia’ ‘EHCP’ and ‘reasonably adjustments.’ Not only being a single parent with very low confidence in my ability to parent, but also having a recently diagnosed child, Im not ashamed to say that I didn’t exactly feel very lucky. My ambition and workaholic tendencies had to take a back seat whilst I sat awake until 3am learning SEN legislation simply to access what my son, Alfie, needed in order to thrive. Ultimately I felt completely off course in terms of where life was ‘supposed’ to take me.

However, it wasn’t long before I couldn’t help being acutely aware of the recognition that I was EXACTLY where I needed to be. Learning about your child’s needs and ways of navigating society, can open your eyes to not only their unique perspective of the world, but also to realising that you too, are IN that world. Thirty-six years into my life and I too was provided with the label that had opened doors for Alfie, and the ‘it all makes sense’ moments came thick and fast. A late diagnosis comes with its challenges, but I have THE best teacher in Alfie, someone who shows me how to be unapologetically themselves, and how to remove the mask and live without the need to constantly conform. In fact, id finally found the one place that I did fit in, being Alfie’s mum.

Although sometimes there are no words to explain the challenges and battles that you have to navigate as a parent of a child with Autism, 99% of the time feeling ill-equipped and underprepared, the very best part of this journey is that not only do I get to love, help, teach and nurture quite possibly the most amazing little human that I have ever known, but that at the age of 38 I can finally say that I know who I am, who we are, and that makes us so lucky actually.