Hi, It’s Devorah T here.

As a mum and a Social Worker, my thoughts in this blog are both personal and professional. I have tried to figure out a way to blend the two together, so bear with me as I try. I took a break from this blog for a while but after speaking to some friends on the street who are thick in the storm, and seeing the tired and troubled expressions on their faces (that I remember and recognise so well) I felt it was time to share.

Life is wonderful and challenging. Always. It is difficult to have one without the other. Each stage in our parenting journey has its highs and lows- this is normal and healthy, it is not something that we can avoid, and no one has it easy. Full stop.

I have been thinking a lot about the journey that parents go on when they are supporting a child through the process of receiving a neurodiverse diagnosis- a brain that is wired/works/learns differently. 

Where to begin? Well, each one of us are on a journey, together with our families and we decide how we tell that story. I don’t know where my children’s journeys will take them, but I am here for the ride.

Your chapter (or chapters) of processing a neurodiverse diagnosis may feel like they are a whole series of books, but in the journey of your child’s life, this is one chapter and although it may seem long- trust me- it will pass.

Your child will be okay. You will be okay. It will probably be a rocky ride, but you can and will get through. 

At every stage we want to:

Communicate (concerns, feelings, patterns)

Collaborate (who are the key players at this stage?)

Advocate (where is my child not being understood and how I can support through that?)

Have Compassion (for myself, my partner, my child, his siblings!)

And at the same time, we are always:

Navigating emotions, understanding and processing new information, building our network, celebrating progress and embracing the journey.

It sounds like a lot, but as you continue to read on, it will make more sense, and hopefully become something that you know you are able to do! 

These are the stages that I found myself going through, perhaps for you it is similar, or different, or in a different order.

Feel free to read through a different one each week, or all at once, or jump around.

Let me know how you go, I love hearing from you.

And if you are more of a visual learner, watch the introductory video below and scroll down for the above information in images.