#25daysofautism

25 DAYS of AUTISM . Day 10: Post a photo of your child on their birthday. Explain the photo . The Spartan wasn’t fussed about who was invited to his birthday since we have an abundance of family and friends. It didn’t really make a difference to him, until he turned 7. We had a huge Star Wars themed birthday, and he was so excited and invited all his friends from school. I didn’t get one RSVP from the families we invited and I hoped that they would show up on the day. . Sadly not one friend from school turned up and I remember feeling my heart break when he questioned me on the day of his party where his friends were. Until this day I question whether the families even received the invitations. His school at the time started to show lack of communication and support. He needed help handing invitations out and I don’t know whether he was supported in his efforts to connect. I’d like to think he wasn’t too disappointed or sad to not have his friends there, but I guess I may never know how he truly felt in that moment . When the Spartan transferred into his siblings school, we had another big birthday celebrating double digits. This time the Spartan had a community of his very own. His siblings supported him in making sure his invitations were handed out. His siblings friends turned into his own friends and I was so happy to see him surrounded by people who wanted to connect back with him. It was a happy day, and I could see he was truly happy to be around people he called friends. . His experience is a beautiful example of how important it is for a child on the spectrum to be seen, included and heard. How a community can make a difference in feeling a sense of belonging. How everyone wants to connect even without knowing how 💙 . . . #mylittlespartan #25daysofautism #autismjourney #autismfamily #ourlifewithautism #autism #autismacceptance #autismawareness #autismadvocate #mumsofinstagram #autismwarrior #autismwarriormom #specialneedsfamily #inclusion #inclusionmatters #autismstories https://www.instagram.com/p/CVCZwWWBJgY/?utm_medium=tumblr

25 DAYS of AUTISM . Day 9: Post a photo of something that makes your child unique. Explain the photo. . . Ever since the Spartan could write, he was obsessed with it. Writing everything from animals, dinosaurs, Star Wars ships and droids, Pokemon, cities, countries and so much more. He was going through all the paper in the house and the walls in his room were becoming littered with A4 pieces of paper with one word on it which he refused to let go of. His habit wasn't sustainable nor was it organised, so one Christmas Santa gifted him 3 notebooks and asked him to write all he wanted where ever he wanted. . Since then the Spartan has continuously written in his notebooks and taken them with him where ever he needed them. This photo was taken on our Coffs Harbour vacation in Dorrigo National Park. We were on a hike and he wanted to write down the native birds of the area as we walked down the mountain. . His book is his search engine. He knows exactly what he's written and where it's written. I'm in awe of his magnificent mind and the fact that the simplest of things can bring him so much joy. . . . #mylittlespartan #25daysofautism #autismjourney #mumsofinstagram #autism #sydneymum #autismspectrum #ourlifewithautism #autismfamily #lifewithautism #autismacceptance #autismawareness #dorrigonationalpark #autisminterests #autismwarrior #coopstroops #australiaadventures #autismadvocate #neurodiversity #autismparent #autismparenting (at Dorrigo, Sky Walk, NSW) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUCqhEOvgsB/?utm_medium=tumblr

25 DAYS of AUTISM . Day 8: Post a photo of your child with an animal. Explain the Photo. . . Our Spartan loves animals, his happy place is the zoo. He loves dogs too, and we often give him a number of how many dogs he can ask to pat when we’re out in dog friendly places. Onyx was our first family pet. He was an active dog always moving about. I took this photo because I noticed that he only ever let the Spartan lay on him like this. Leo didn't just lay on him slowly, he jumped on him, pulled his ears, played with his flappy lips and Onyx laid still the whole time. With the other two kids he never stayed still he would either dodge or run towards them. I always wondered why he was so calm around the Spartan. Did he know that one of his humans was special? Maybe he knew that calm is what he needed? I like to think that Onyx was able to sense intention. Because the Spartan back then had no intention but to explore, feel, understand and communicate in ways we don't. I wonder what he was trying to communicate in that very moment? . . #mylittlespartan #25daysofautism #autism #autismspectrum #autismjourney #ourautismjourney #lifewithautism #ourlifewithautism #autismacceptance #autismawareness #autismadvocate #mumsofinstagram #sydneymum #labradorlove #filipinofamily #autismandpets #autismparenting #autismparent https://www.instagram.com/p/CT_mELFv4g1/?utm_medium=tumblr

25 DAYS of AUTISM . Day 6: Post a photo of a time you were at your lowest as a Mama and no one knew. . . This was a tough year for myself and my family. At that time I had three children in two different schools. Two children had just started Kindergarten and the other in year two. I also just started working full time after being a stay at home mum for nine years. Huge transitions for myself and everyone in the family. . I struggled everyday this year. I was struggling to find balance. I didn’t know how to be a good employee, a good mother and a good carer all at the same time. The responsibilities I had with the kids and the house suddenly had to be divided between my husband and myself. He struggled to carry the load, I struggled to support everyone and it caused such a massive strain on our marriage. . Working helped the family financially but it didn’t give us enough time to spend quality time together. It also helped us in funding the supports the Spartan needed, but it didn’t leave me any time to create and accomplish new goals for his growth. I felt like a failure that year. I felt I wasn’t a good mother, carer or employee. I continuously beat myself for not being better enough. For not doing enough. But I know now that I did try my best. That change is hard. That hardships are learning curves. Eventually my family adjusted, I found work that suited my needs as a parent and carer. It took years to find this balance and I still struggle sometimes and that’s OK. . If I was able to say one thing to myself back then I would say “You’re enough, you matter”. Because now I know that being kind to myself is the best thing I could ever do for my family. . . . #mylittlespartan #autismjourney #25daysofautism #ourautismjourney #autism #mumsofinstagram #autismadvocate #filipinofamily #autismacceptance #autismadvocate #sydneymum #autismisbeautiful #autismfamily #ourlifewithautism #autismspectrum #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmum #motherhood #aintnohoodlikemotherhood #mumlife https://www.instagram.com/p/CT4cNi0Pr0V/?utm_medium=tumblr

25 DAYS of AUTISM . Day 5: Post a photo of your child age 2 . . Not having gone through the diagnosis process yet but having a feeling of something, I used to sit and watch the Spartan play with his siblings. But he’s so perfect, I would say to myself. Nothing could possibly be wrong with something so perfect. I feared the different in him, not the perfect person he was. He still is perfect, different or not and yes it took me sometime to say this confidently. . I remember him crying a lot. Looking back he was probably having one meltdown after another and I didn’t understand what that was or how to manage it. . He cried because no one understood him. He was screaming for someone to listen, and I cant ever know how he must have felt to scream and still not be heard. So I cried along with him. I cried because I couldn’t understand him. I cried more because I saw his frustrations but didn’t know how to help. Those days were tough. . To any parents who are in this stage of their journey, give yourself and your child time. Time to learn. Time to feel. Time to understand. Over time I began to hear him, my son found ways to be heard. We found ways to understand each other. So give yourself time .... . . #mylittlespartan #25daysofautism #autism #autismspectrum #autismjourney #lifewithautism #autismisbeautiful💙 #autismacceptance #autismawareness #mumsofinstagram #autismadvocate #autismfamily #autismmummy #specialneedsfamily #autismparents #autismparenting #filipinofamily #sydneymums #autismwarrior #autismwarriormom @findingcoopersvoice https://www.instagram.com/p/CT1quQeP7N4/?utm_medium=tumblr

25 DAYS of AUTISM . Day 2: A Photo after diagnosis . . Feeling there was something different with the Spartan didn't minimise the overwhelming emotions that diagnosis brought. I remember feeling so helpless. I didn't know what to do, I didn't know who to talk to. The fear crept in where my inexperienced and uneducated self drowned in so many questions. Will he ever talk? What will people think? What do I say to them? How different will he be? Will he have friends? How do I deal with this? Can I even deal with this? Can I even afford to provide him the supports he needs? . So much to process, and this was all happening as I also cared for a 3 year old and 12month old. I've never really gave it much thought, but looking back I just can't help but be so proud of that inexperienced and uneducated me. I pushed through regardless of all the fears. . This photo reminded me of how the Spartan never stayed still. He was constantly moving. He never looked in the camera with purpose and I barely got any photos where he wasn’t a blur. I had to always capture him in his moments, in his elements. He loved water, and the fountains that day brought such big smiles and contagious laughs out of him, and in those moments is where I found my strength. @findingcoopersvoice . . . #mylittlespartan #ourautismjourney #ourlifewithautism #25daysofautism #autismfamily #autism #autismacceptance #autismawareness #autismadvocate #autismisbeautiful💙 #neurodiverse #mumsofinstagram #mumsofsydney #autismspeaks #autismspectrum #autismdiagnosis #filipinofamily #specialneedsparenting #autismwarrior #autismwarriormom #autismparenting #autismmum #autismmummy https://www.instagram.com/p/CTpE-UQvGvG/?utm_medium=tumblr

25 DAYS of AUTISM . . Day 1: Post a photo pre-diagnosis . Our Spartan was officially diagnosed at 2 years and 5 months, however we started the gruelling process a few months before. This photo actually came up on my FB memories which I thought was a sign I should participate in #25daysofautism with @findingcoopersvoice as it was perfect for Day 1 . I remember finding this moment cute but unusual. My two kids were curious and fascinated by the dog who was just visiting. Without hesitation, prompting or thought they went to it, patting it, exploring it. Leo however wasn’t interested in the least. Even after so much prompting, he refused to pay attention to the dog. He didn’t care that everyone was making a fuss over the it. He wasn’t excited to see it, touch it or even look at it. He had his cars and he was happy . I took this photo not really understanding what I was seeing. But I had a feeling, a feeling somewhere, a nagging thought, a concern. It was a red flag. Somehow I knew my child was different . . . #mylittlespartan #25daysofautism #ourautismjourney #autismjourney #ourlifewithautism #autismfamily #autismadvocate #autismparent #autismwarrior #autismwarriormom #mumsofinstagram #autismacceptance #autism #autismawareness #autismisbeautiful #autismspectrum #specialneeds #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmom #filipinofamily #autismsawareness https://www.instagram.com/p/CTl-yw_P8Cz/?utm_medium=tumblr