The power of positivity

 A pretty exciting thing happened to me yesterday. I was contacted by a reporter for the “Weekly News” which is part of the D C  Thomson  &  Co (a Glasgow Newspaper and media group)

 lovely guy interviewed me over the phone and had a particular interest in my attitude to Little man’s diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome.  

 It was my positive outlook that got him, he was interested to hear all about how I know embrace my sons condition instead of fighting it! 

 Now, what took me by surprise, was his interest in this side of things. You see, since I first started the I’ve had a number of journalist from the media contact me wanting a story on our most difficult & trying times. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to discuss this, after all it gives those who are currently experiencing them same difficulties, the feeling that they are not alone, and yes they can come out the other side! But to have someone contact me with an interest I’m my positive approach to Aspergers was somewhat refreshing. 

 You see, if this same reporter had read my blog this time a year ago, he wouldn’t have come anywhere near me for a positive story (well, I wouldn’t have that’s for sure)! Ok, I’ve long had the attitude that I will never change little man, but during them long hard days of dealing with a school that didn’t give a donkeys rear end, or while fighting the never ending battling to obtain a statement, positive I was not! 

 I’m proud to say that I’ve come a long way since pre-diagnosis and the day of diagnosis itself.

When I look on my dressing table and see that glass award with the words “Mads Most Inspiring” I can’t help but break out in a smile, and here’s why! 

 My son’s difficulties were the reason I started using a computer, my god back then a snail could type faster than me and yes, I know a snail has no fingers, so what does that say about me ah? Now I’m so fast at typing I could do it with my eyes shut. Back then I was looking for answers and support, why? Because their was nowhere else to find them! That was in 2008 and that’s when I one day found myself blogging… Blogging, the girl who said she would never write through choice, My goodness, I actually love it now! My point being is it was the online community that provided me support and taught me one of the most important lesson of my life to date, one I will always hope to teach another… 

“My child may have Asperger’s but his still the same child, he is no different! The label will not change this” 

 From that moment on I looked at things differently! Once I got that diagnosis, the one I knew he would get (let’s not forget it was two year prior to his formal diagnosis that the child psychologist first told me he was 99% certain my child had Aspergers) I didn’t see it as something we needed to fight through, I was already past the stage of asking myself, “Why my child” or “Was it something I did?” I leant quickly that their would be a lot of battles I would need to fight as a result of the diagnosis. I learnt not to take it personally, it was all about money when obtaining the right support, not the fact nobody believed me, like I first thought. The system didn’t wish to believe any of us for the same reason! The cost to them to give our children that little bit extra support each one desperately required!

 Yes, I wouldn’t change my child, he is who he is and taking his AS away would change so much about him. However of course there are certain things I’d wish away in a second, things that would make his life a little easier, who wouldn’t? I’m his mother after all!

 I don’t blame the parent of the non verbal child or the child who has great developmental delays, when they state they would want to cure autism if they could! How could I, my child can speak and is that bit more high functioning! However I would state that just because he can speak or has the ability to do Math, doesn’t mean his difficulties are not always as trying. So… yes, I’d take away his anxiety, I love him to sleep better, but I wouldn’t take his brilliant mind, his interests and his inquisitiveness as these are parts of his wonderfully personality. 

 It was a really nice interview and I put down the phone feeling positive and positivity is the way forward when your child has a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome.

 If anything, it’s the only way forward!

Related articles

• Special Edition – Aspergers (education.com)
• The Physical Importance of Early Diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome (testf8.wordpress.com)
• Are you really brave enough to put the word Aspergers down on your job application? (aspergersinfo.wordpress.com)

This ones for you Little man

 There was lip gloss, cleavage and killer heels. Fancy frocks, satin bags and the odd freshly pressed suit! Soho didn’t know what hit it when the mummy bloggers and one or two daddy bloggers, came to town!

 The occasion? Why, the Mad blog awards of course!

 The theme was “GLAM” and Glam it was! There was some serious hot dresses on display with shoes you longed to adopt and take home as your own.

 I spent much of Friday afternoon in the salon, where my long locks were chopped and replaced with a shorter but nicer restyle.

Then It was a mad dash to the beautiful Radisson  Edwardian Kenilworth hotel in London’s west end. It was here, I got ready for the long-awaited big night ahead. Jeans and a tee were swapped  for a floor sweeping, black satin grown, black stilettos and sparkly, shimmering makeup. With a generous spray of Jean Paul Gaultier & little black clutch in hand, I was all set!

 On arrival at the Talk Talk experience centre Soho, I was greeted by a photographer who took a couple of full length pictures before allowing me to scramble off reaching for a glass of white. It was clear on arrival that Sally and the sponsors had gone all out to create an amazing event for us bloggers.

 I met some awesome bloggers, one’s I had met before but overjoyed to meet again, others I knew from online and had wanted to meet for ages and some I was yet to discover. The atmosphere was electric, and as the wine bottles emptied the laughter grew stronger. With each award came a spectrum of reactions and emotions. There were tears, laughter, gasps & roars of applause.

 When the little gold envelope was opened and I heard the words “A boy with Aspergers” my  tummy became a flutter of butterflies and my eyes watered every so very slightly. Yes, stood there with my little glass award in one hand, a microphone in the other, all I could say was

“OMG I’VE WON”

which was followed by a muttered ,

“I don’t know what to say but thank you”

Yes, the word “Thank You” was repeated several times before I scooted off.

Louise (@bobbity666) left, Me & my lovely award centre, Jenny (@Edspire)

No, of course I hadn’t  prepared a speech, that meant I had considered myself a winner. I didn’t even want to think along that line, So with no speech I stood like a donut . There was so many things I wanted to say, they were buried in my head unable to flow out. Nonetheless I would like to think there’s a way to make up for my lack of spoken words by doing what I do best…. Sharing my thoughts and emotions through my writing!

 So, without further delay, here’s what I should have said on collection of my award for the Most inspiring blogger!

 Huge thank you to all that nominated and voted for me to win, those in cyberspace as well as my lovely family and friends You lot are truly amazing, please go about your day today knowing you made this mum and blogger smile a massive smile.

 Sally Whittle (@swhittle) I just can’t thank you enough! Not just for Friday night but the whole experience, it’s just been amazing for me! From the day I discovered I was nominated to the night I collected my winning award I’ve just had such a ball. Yourself with the help of Jen, Parentdish, Talk-Talk and all the other Mad sponsors, made me and so many others feel really special, thank you to you all for making this brilliant event possible.

The lovely Sally Whittle who made it all happen.

  Special thanks to Mothercare, the sponsor of my winning category, “Most Inspiring blogger”

 Sending a big thank you to TK Maxx, Helen (@HelenGunter) & Polly (@p_hibb) for the beautiful dress, shoes and accessories that were perfect for me and helped me to feel comfortable and confident on the night!

 Thanks to my fellow finalist, who helped create an amazing reading list, I’ve uncovered so many great blogs to read. An extra special thank you to the finalist in my category “Most Inspiring” who have all been so lovely to me, your all incredible  and I will continue to read you’re inspiring blogs.

Kylie (@kykaree) it was lovely to see you again, you looked ravishing.

 Massive Thank you to my personal sponsor OptiBac Probiotics, ( who have not only given me support and encouragement but introduced my family to their fantastic products that have been of great benefit to all, but exceptional for my son who has Asperger’s syndrome. lastly thank you OptiBac for covering my hotel expenses at the fabulous Radisson Edwardian hotel, avoiding a half cut merry mum, night busing it through London (don’t think the children would have appreciated waking to a half-drunken mum on the sofa) so thank you.

An added thank you to Soyraya who is part of the OptiBac team and is just the loveliest person you can ever wish to work with when working with a brand.

 Lastly ( Yes, I know! Bet you’re glad I was speechless on the night, anyone would thing I’d won an Oscar) nonetheless I have to thank my three beautiful Children, especially Little Man (aka A boy with aspergers) for giving me the inspiration to write and share our story, the highs and the heartbreaking lows that have brought us to where we are now (a much better place).

Little Man (aka A boy with Aspergers)

“This Little man, this one’s for you! Happy 11th Birthday!”

 As for the “Blogger of the year” I didn’t win this, So don’t panic, I’m not about to reel of any more speeches,  though I would like to congratulate Anna Ranson (@imaginationTree) who was crowned the Mad blogger of the year for her fabulous blog, “The Imagination Tree”

 Well, done

(No hard feelings, that is unless I see you walking the streets alone 🙂 Don’t panic, It’s just a joke)

 I was also super pleased for Lisa (@MummyWhisperer) and Ruth, (@geekmummy) not only where they dressed by TK Maxx meaning I got to meet them during the run up to the awards, they are also fellow winners.

Lisa (Mummy Whisper) Sally Whittle

Ruth (Geek Mummy) collecting her award.

Huge Congratulations girls.

  A highlight to this already wonderful evening was  meeting the lovely Karen (@allaboutheboys). Gosh, Karen had the most stunning shoes, she has taste that’s for sure! Also the lovely Jenny (better known on twitter as @edspire) a real gem with great dress sense. These are two ladies who are genuinely really lovely both on and off-line!

 There are many others I had the pleasure to chat with, far to many to name.

 The rest of the night went by in a haze of excitement and alcohol, after an eventful taxi ride back to the hotel (long story) and a quick change of clothes I headed to a local bar in Covent Garden with these awesome lot, @SuperAmazingMum who was live blogging  (We finally met 3rd time lucky), @michelletwinmum (who had the best eye makeup by far), @seasiderclare (really sweet and friendly),@alforalenyna (who made me laugh so much I almost passed urine) and last but not least @bobbity666 who with Jenny I spent most the evening with and would love to meet again.

Michelle (@michelletwinmum), Clare (@seasiderclare)  (@alforalenyna)

Michelle, Louise (bobbity666)

The very lovely Super amazing mum (Live blogger) we finally meet &  so worth the wait

We had a lush few bottles of wine that we all sat and drunk into the small hours of Saturday morning, before heading for some over priced but yummy fast food (in an alcohol intoxicated kind of way) before walking back to the hotel and parting.

 As I lay on my massive double bed with luxurious velvet throw I drifted of to sleep dreaming about the full English that would greet me in a few hours time, only that didn’t go to plan!

 Waking up with a maid looking over me at 11.35 am was so not the plan!

“Oh no you sleep to late, you must check out”

For a moment I stared at her

“Who the hell are you and where the f*** am I?”

Was what first thought that came to mind, before  it hit me! I suddenly found myself doing things in fast forward (Benny Hill style) jumping up throwing belongings into bags, cat licking instead of showering and getting out of there looking rough, slightly hung over and gutted about my breakie, yet excited about seeing the kids and giving a (Not so little Man) a Happy birthday kiss.

 So, there it is! I mingled, drank, scared a maid with my sticking up Barnet and panda eyes and WON myself a Mad blog 

Not bad for one night ha?

 To see the full list of winners click HERE

Tonight is the night

Can you believe it, today is the day of the Mad blog awards Ceremony where the winners will be revealed.

I will be done up to the nines in my new dress and overly high shoes. Lots of makeup is needed (a paper bag even) as I’m sure I will have great big bags hanging from under my eyes, the kind bigger enough to carry a weeks shopping in!

Of course I haven’t had a wink of sleep, not even a tiny bit. We currently don’t have any melatonin for Little Man, (not that it does much good anyway) so these last few nights have been pretty trying.

My Sponsor OptiBac Probiotics have provided me with a beautiful hotel for tonight, so I’m not only looking forward to the awards but also a good bloody nights sleep!

Tomorrow is another big day in our household! It’s the Little man’s 11th Birthday.

This year I found we’ve had less strange gift request, such as padlocks, batteries and Dr pepper. This has been replaced with the request for money!

Sadly Little man seems to think the stuff falls out of the sky and I nearly killed myself laughing when he calmly yet politely requested the grand old sum of £400 (No my finger didn’t slip and accidently add an extra 0)!

Having Aspergers means little man normally has no shame in requesting the things he wants. Most children don’t, when the request is being made at their parents, yet little man will make such request to anyone who will listen!

His been requesting different sums of cash from a host of family members these past few weeks, so much so, that it’s driving me a tad loopy.

Another thing my son has a tendency to do, has done for as long as I can remember, is,

“ Ask friends and relatives bearing gifts, how much did it cost”

It’s times like these I feel to cover his mouth so he cannot speak. Someone gives him a present and I hold my breath in till I almost pass-out in the hope he doesn’t ask!

Of course I’ve explained that it is indeed rude, my child’s rigid thinking disallows him to see my point, he can’t get my way of thinking so therefore continues on his mission to find out the cost of his birthday presents and won’t rest in till he has.

This year he is off for a day out in London with his friend My younger sister will be doing the honours in accompanying them. Me, I’m not invited! He actually went about making his birthday plans without me! Charming I know! So I’ve decided to treat him to a nice Chinese meal in the evening.

So, that’s my Little update from my little world.

I cannot continue for I am simply zombied out, so apologise if this post is a load of meaningless rubbish!

If you fancy finding out how myself and the other finalist get on at the Mad awards tonight (that’s if I manage to stay awake through it) then you can follow the live blog where there will be live commentary and pictures posted throughout! This kicks off at 6pm this evening (Friday 30th September) just click HERE.

OMG! The Mad Blog Awards are almost here!

In just 15 more days the Mad blog awards will announce its winners at a lavish ceremony in London’s Talk Talk experience centre Soho, and everyone is gearing up for the party!

I still can’t quite believe how far I’ve come and yes, I’ve needed to give myself a good hard pinch to remind myself that, YES, I’m in the final. I haven’t even realised that in actual fact, I’m quite bloody nervous about the whole thing.

Sally Whittle, the founder and organiser of the Mads is quite simply amazing, the organisation that has been put into this event is truly wonderful. I know this because not only has she gone all out in getting us finalist fantastic cut price accommodation at the Radisson hotel (Which my wonderful sponsor OptiBac Probiotics has so kindly covered) but she’s also arranged for some fantastic retailers to kit us out in glam evening wear for the event (John Lewis, The white stuff, M&S and TK Maxx to name a few)

So, before I go any further I would like to thank Sally for all the hard work she has put into the Mads with the help of all the wonderful sponsors of the event

“Sally your Ace”

On the 21st of September I will head to London where I will meet a few other finalist, Sally (I hope) and Polly the PR for TK Maxx, where we will shop at the London’s Knightsbridge flagship store before heading off for a spot of lunch.

TK Maxx and Sally have both removed the worry of (a) finding an outfit and b) the cost of having to buy one! Wow, that makes this mum and finalist one grateful woman so again a massive thank you.

Things have been a little tough this past few years and I’ve shared the good and the bad via my blog! It seems strange because at the time when I was writing some of them really emotional posts and rants I never thought for one minute, by doing that I’d end up a finalist of the Mad blog awards, looking forward to this fantastic event that is taking place on the 30th.

I saw a tweet on twitter from Sally that asked, “Has anyone written a speech” my answer was, “But that would me we thought we had a chance of winning” Seriously, I hadn’t even thought about speeches, the event seems to have arrived so quickly, one minute we were in June and now it’s September.

Being a finalist has helped me to discover some awesome reading material within some great blogs. It has made me blog with more confidence and gain some fantastic new friends.

The Mad awards helped me to discover a great brand, ‘OptiBac probiotics’ who have been lovely enough to support me as my sponsor while introducing me and the children to their brilliant range of probiotics that are really helping little man with his digestive health while reducing anxiety.

The awards are not even over yet and already I can say I’ve gain lots of awesome moments through being a part of it (which is of course all down to those lovely lot who voted for me)

I’m still hoping my readers enjoy my post about life with three children one on the autism spectrum, what with less educational drama happening in my life, I’ve blogged less and less about discrimination, a self harming ten year old and the special educational needs system, and more about the joyful and at times seemingly averageness that is our day to day life!

Then we have the children! Three angels that often convert to little terrors, what do they think about mummy banging on about the Mad blog awards?

Well, my 8 year old daughter, (going on 30) quite opening highlighted when visiting my mother, that, “Beware, Mum may talk about the Mad blog Awards…..” Oh yes, Sarcasm a speciality of hers which I’m convinced is something of a talent! Alice-Sara has informed me that, “Mum your more excited than a child” Well, she has a point!

Little Harley (Aka, ‘Little H’) at 21 months old he doesn’t have a clue what I’m banging on about, which is most fortunate for him!

So… What about Little man (Aka, The boy with Aspergers)? Well, get this for a giggle! His claimed that he should be the one in the final! When asked why? I got,

“If I didn’t have Aspergers Syndrome there would be no blog called, A boy with Aspergers”

No, this is not sarcasm this is just rigid thinking, bless him.

Well, if those three kiddiwinks think they have heard the last of it then they are mistaken, BIG TIME! With every passing day I have a new knot in my tummy. Is it over the outcome of the night? I think it’s the whole thing with a rich coating of excitement.

So, there you have it!

I’ll be dead sad when it’s all over!

Readers you’re amazing, every single one of you!

those that want to follow whats happening before, during and most likely after the awards then add the hash tag #MadBlogAwrds to your tweeter timeline. I will be sure to post to the A boy with Aspergers facebook page during the course of the evening

Please check out my blog sponsor, “OptiBac Probiotics” (Probiotics are great for digestive health in children with autism and aspergers.

Related articles

• A boy with Asperger’s get’s sponsored for the Mad blog awards (aspergersinfo.wordpress.com)

Falling Apart

This post is totally extemporaneous! There was no draft, theme nor great idea.

Yet here I am writing, undecided if I’ll even publish this! I guess if you’re reading this then I must have got adventures, that or damn right brave!

You see, right at this very moment I’m apprehensive, somewhat stressed, extremely exhausted and in all earnestness, a little angry. I therefore apologise in-advance for any rambling nonsense that makes no sense to you, like it does to me.

Right now I feel the need to express myself, yet I have this inability to verbalise what it is I need to say. Who it is I need to say it to is beyond me… So, I’ll just write it here instead!

These past few weeks have been crazy, I dunno where my heads at right now! One part of me has been excited about all the great stuff going on, what with the Mad blog awards and the achievement of having been shortlisted in two categories, “Most Inspiring” and the big one “Blogger of the year. Then there’s the fact I’m off to Cybermummy on the 25th thanks to the lovely people at lego duplo! The other part of me resembles that of a total stress head.

I know we all have weeks like these, the not so good ones, but I’m really struggling to get my mind frame as it should be!

Sometimes I read post and comments that relate to myself and the blog… Some write some awesome things, giving me credit for the way I parent and handle life’s challenges. Although these comments uplift me, encourage me and make me smile, I somehow feel a cheat for allowing such presumptions to be made.

Why? I’m no super-mummy, far from it! Sometimes I questions my ability to do this whole mothering lark, but don’t we all at some point? I know I’ve come a long way emotionally in these past few years, I’ve had to! Yet there are them times I feel like I’m running on a treadmill going faster and faster, so fast I can’t keep up. I keep going till suddenly someone presses the button and I fall of! When I’m off, I struggle to get back on.

People need to know the whole me, I’m human though sometimes I feel far from it. I make mistakes and sometimes I wish I had done things differently!

To think that a great deal of you find me and the blog inspiring means more to me then some will ever know. Days such as yesterday I fail to see myself in such a light, especially when I found myself absconding to the safety of my bedroom, closing the door behind me, sinking to the ground and sobbing like a baby! Take last week for an example… Having just attended another independent assessment (OT) with little man (not a great assessment) Little man become anxious when I took a couple of wrong turns getting us a tad lost! A stream of obscenities were thrown my way. They kept coming at me faster and each more shocking than the last… I was stood outside Loui Vuitton on New Bond Street, sobbing into my hands (and this wasn’t over my realisation that the beautiful Loui Vuitton oversized bag in the window would never be apart of my life, though this did make me a little sad) I should have been calming him, ignoring the shocked faces of the appalled public and as I normally would… Got on with it!

It takes a lot to get me on this level, things a lot worse have happened in-which I’ve dealt with in a calmer manner! You take so much, then that one thing just does it, makes you snap… no matter what the magnitude! These are the times I am overcome with guilt and question my ability to manage! I then feel selfish that its me I’m thinking about as opposed to him! Do you know how hard that is?

Wow, seriously I haven’t slept in nights, maybe that’s my reason for this, “I feel so sorry for myself post” Maybe this attempt of a post, will be one I regret! The post you wished you never wrote… We all have them… Don’t we?

I’m not to sure how this post is planning out, what it sounds like! I’ve not read a bit back nor corrected one-off those spelling mistakes I see as its been so kindly underlined in red (cheers Mac) I’m In a zone… and for all I know this could sound like complete and utter, “Shit!” I feel a certain amount of pressure removed from my head, does that mean I’m almost done? All these worries I have manifesting together as to create one huge headache have been difficult to shift. I have struggled to partition each into its own place dealing with each issue one at a time… In actual fact… I feel close to crazy!

Little man has had a grand total of nine explosive meltdowns in a little under a two-week period. These have impacted on the whole family, each one off us getting to grips with it as best we can. Meltdowns have been had for an array of reasons, such as… Stressful OT assessment; the issue of me getting lost on the monopoly board; a line failure on the jubilee line; a broken down bus; late school transport and complete lack of sleep.

These issues may well seem trivial to some, but to little man they are real everyday factors that cause him distress. Can you imagine how hard that must be, the loss all control, the struggle to self regulate your emotions… I wish people would consider such things when staring, judging or worse laughing, this only makes him worse. (Yes, sadly some find it amusing!)

As well as the meltdowns I’m unhappy to report a more worrisome issue! Given Little man’s anxiety and his inability to get much sleep has unfortunately lead to two panic attack. I felt both helpless and guilty at not being able to keep him safe from such horrible attacks. Both occurred in the small hours and when he begged for an ambulance, I almost complied! Being a person who has suffered from these attacks from a very young child… I was able to distinguish  between a medical emergency and anxiety. He felt at ten years old like he was having a heart attack as electric had entered his body and was unable to get out. (It hadn’t bless him.) He paces, opened doors and windows in a desperate attempt to breathe … It took some time but we got through them together!

Sleeping like a baby, I looked at my child laid on my bed now so peaceful. I wondered what I needed to do next? What does the foreseeable future hold for my child? I slide down the bed to the floor cried, not just a bit but more tears than I knew possible… I felt so lost a feeling I haven’t felt for such a long time! I was worried what tomorrow would bring, would he endure the same thing?

Right now I hated the big man In the sky, for my son is just a child, why can’t he be left alone!

Once upon a time

Honestly people I’m not a fruit the loon! (well, sometimes I am but that’s beside the point)

This below is a true story and it goes something like this…

Once upon a time there was a mummy called Claire who had three little children and wrote a blog called, A boy with Asperger’s. (Yes that would be me)

She discovered that fairies really did exist and not just the kind you find in fairytales but fairy godmothers who went about on twitter!

You may all have the image of a lady with a big sparkling dress, a wand and a crown of gems, “Maybe she has I really don’t know!” What I can tell you about her is that she totally selfless with a massive heart!

The fairy godmother is a mummy to two boys, lives in Wales and goes by the name of Tattie Weasle (well at least we know this to be her name in cyber space)

Claire believes that you meet very few people in life who are happy to do something for someone else for nothing! These people are hard to come by and in her experience she’s only ever met a small handful.

In all honesty Tattie the fairy godmother is a lady Claire knows little about! This is because she has only come to know her through the world of social networking! However Claire knows that the fairy godmother writes her own blog and the reason she knows this is because she discovered it back in the beginning of May.

One of Claire’s twitter followers posted a tweet about a blog giveaway happening over on tattie’s blog so she popped over for a look and discovered that Tattie was giving away a ticket to Cybermummy. For those that don’t know Cybermummy is the UKs premier blogging conference devoted to parent bloggers. Did Claire wanna go? Come on of course she did!

It was starting to seem that everybody but Claire was going, she couldn’t afford the ticket what with the three children and little funds to justify it!

To cut a long story short Tattie wasn’t just giving away her own Cybermummy ticket but also a £100 to cover expenses. Tattie was no longer able to attend the event as her son had a sports day on the same day. Cyber Space was going nuts as parents were trying to get there mitts on a ticket which was a challenge as Cybermummy tickets were completely sold out  and had been not long after being released. Claire saw a few tickets up for sale by those bloggers that could no longer attend but being in the same situation she was unable to spare the funds to buy one.

So, there was Tattie the Fairy godmother with her heart of gold, giving her ticket away to somebody that needed it! I know you lot think you know where I’m going with all this… Claire won lived happily ever after! No, that was not the case! Things were a little more complicated then that!

In-fact Claire came second! The ticket went to another deserving candidate yet in a strange turn of fate she didn’t need the £100 expenses! Tattie picked up her wand and started granting more wishes.

Again I know you lot think you know where I’m going with this! Yes, the fairy godmother did fly on over to twitter, send Claire a DM and offer to buy her a ticket (an amazing thing to do for someone you’ve never met), however they still had the problem of finding one!

Now the fairy god mother was able to fund Claire’s ticket but as the days ticked by they were no closer to finding one! The fairy godmother was amazing, she tweeted and jumped upon every opportunity presented (sadly there wasn’t many) Tattie even entered a competition to be given the chance to bye a ticket from someone who could no longer attend. Sadly this was unsuccessful.

Claire found it lovely to have a fairy godmother by her side and even if she didn’t succeed in her quest to get to Cybermummy she still had the knowledge that someone who had never even met her had made it their mission to get her there! The fairy godmother posted on social networks looking to buy a ticket for Claire. She had shown Claire that such people exist, true fairy godmothers!

But wait the story doesn’t end there and again it doesn’t end how you would expect!

A good month or so later  just when Claire had thought all hope was lost she tweeted her plea into twitter space and within a few minutes she had received a tweet informing her about another competition!

Claire rolled her eyes but surly anything was worth a try! This competition was on the Cybermummy website and was in association with Lego Duplo.

Lego Duplo were offering two bloggers the chance to win a Cybermummy ticket! All Claire had to do was state why she loved Lego Duplo and why she wanted to attend Cybertmummy. Well, she was glad it was Lego Duplo and no one else as this made her answer an easy one! Claire’s Little man who has a type of autism called Aspergers just loved the stuff and could build buses with it for hours. Claire told them just that and gave her reasons for wanting to attend, alongside her struggle to obtain a ticket and guess what?

Something magical happen! It was the kind of magic that could be found in fairy dust…

CLAIRE WON!

Eighteen days before the event she finally got her mitts on a ticket to CyberMummy 2011.

So, what followed!  Of course she did a victory dance (this is becoming a trade mark of hers and one she promises to do if she wins the Mad blog awards), she then dashed of to inform the fairy godmother before tweeting like an over excited kid at christmas.

So there you have it… Lego Duplo saved the day! However the fairy godmother blessed Claire with her kindness and proved to her that fairies really do exist… for that she will remain forever thankful!

Thank you Tattie Weasle

The end!

I’ve finally gone Mad & proud of it

Stop it, I know I’m not the full ticket, but that’s not here nor there!

This really isn’t about putting the milk in the washing machine nor falling asleep while stood at the kitchen sink attempting the washing up! This is a different kinda ‘Mad’ altogether!

Do you remember around a month or so ago, when I wrote my shameless, ‘SOS’, post that mostly consisted of a load of begging and up-front pleading form me? Well, I’m here to deliver my second dose of classy begging as last time your kindness resulted in me reaching the finals! Yes, I’ll repeat that incase you missed it! “I’VE MADE IT TO THE FINAL!” and the final I’m referring to that of the, ‘Mad blog awards 2011‘, in which I’m shortlisted in the category, ‘Most Inspiring Mad blogger‘, sponsored by ‘Mothecare’. I’m really chuffed to be shortlisted alongside such talent.

But hang on in there tiger! That’s not it! Hell yer there’s more! I also made it onto the shortlist for the ‘ Mad Blogger Of The Year 2011’ sponsored by the fabulous ‘Parentdish‘ this sees me placed alongside five other very talented parent bloggers, who have some fantastic blogs! This category is not decided by the public but instead a judging panel.

Wow! I have to say that I feel truly honoured and thank everyone who put me there in both categories. You’ve helped me achieve this big fat cheesy smile that’s currently spread across my chops. Gosh it’s gonna take a hell of a lot to burst this mummy’s bubble. I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about anything which is why I’m holding onto this feeling with both hands.

Well, given that it worked last time it only seems logical to do it again, “begging that is” which is pretty much made up of…

“PLEASE, PLEASE, LOOK I’M ON MY HANDS AND KNEES!” or “PLEASE VOTE FOR ME, I’LL LOVE YOU ALL FOREVER AND EVER!”

On a more serious note (though the above was no joke), I would like to state that what really touched me is the fact my readers took them two minutes or so out their day to vote for little old me! I really mean it when I say you guys are totally ace.

I remember when I first embanked on my blogging journey, becoming part of the mummy blogging gang. Of course I didn’t see myself as part of anything at that time, I purely found comfort in writing down my thoughts, fears and hopes. In all honesty I never really considered it being of interest to anyone but me! After all, Who want’s to know? Then you get that very first comment! I remember mine clearly, a fellow mother who had a child & hubby on the autism spectrum! She reached out and without actually knowing so, she reassured me, “I wasn’t alone & showed me that,Yes people were interested in the blog”

As for the diagnosis, its like a roller-coaster of emotions! You don’t only learn a lot about yourself but those around you. Some become closer but some of the closest disappear.

There was a point at the time of diagnosis and that leading up to it, when Little man would not attend school (full on school refusal). This wasn’t dealt with by offering some form of support, but instead by taking me to court. It’s ironic really given my son has been school-less for the past 7 months due to mainstream no longer meeting his needs & no other school willing to take him on. The school attendance officer had written in a formal letter to our CAMH’S practitioner,“I can’t see why she would cry! Her son has a cousin with autism” This was in response to a letter the practitioner had written informing her that he considered it likely that Little man was on the autism spectrum possibly with Aspergers syndrome (which he went on to be formal diagnosed with just over a year later) He wanted the school attendance officer to know this alongside my reaction to the news, stating that they should reconsider court action, instead offering support wherever needed. Her comment was a great example of ignorance in its boldest form, sadly there was plenty more to come.

What I’m trying to get across to you all is that this blog came about in one off our darkest hours! Amazingly though its now become a real positive platform that also opened so many doors, one being to the wider community of mummy bloggers (with or without children on the spectrum).

Although a large number of us have faced some laborious situations, hurdles with a string of challenges to over come, and those constant battles to obtain the basics, such basics that without your child having ever received a diagnosis you would properly never have believed such necessities could be restricted from any child’s reach. You find out what really lies behind the school gates, you sit in the head-teachers office at your child’s school more often then you did your own when you were a child. Nonetheless I hope this blog shows that no matter how hard things become, you do get through it, and do so that bit wiser, stronger and if anything more determined.

What started as just my own personal diary changed over time. Although I still blog about the day-to-day life of parenting three children, one with Aspergers, I wanted to be sure to share anything of use, hear what others had to say and offer support where possible. It became my aim to reach out to parents of diagnosed children, especially those of newly diagnosed children as I was quite aware of that feeling of isolation that nearly always accompanies a diagnosis of autism. I also wanted to connect with those on the spectrum, and anyone else willing to listen. Importantly I wanted to try and remove some of the stereotype views & stigma surrounding autism & aspergers, that often lies with those who don’t have the privilege of knowing someone on the spectrum.

I want my writing to empowered other parents to speak out or to simply see that a diagnosis of autism doesn’t have to be a bad thing (after all that diagnosis entitles your child to services that were previously beyond their reach) If my story has helped just the one family, that’s an achievement itself.

Someone once told me “To beg is not classy” Now when did you ever hear me say I was classy? I’ve thrown all caution to the wind by deciding to get fully involved in the awards, “which I must add are totally amazing” If this involves getting down and dirty with the self-promotion then so be it! After all I’m proud of my little space and if sharing it makes it that bit bolder. That can only be a good thing.

So please If you fancy making this mummy’s day then please visit, ‘The Mad blog Awards 2011’ and Vote 4 me Aka, ‘A boy with Asperger’s as the ‘Most Inspiring Mad Blogger’

Lots of love Claire