Reflections

If you, or your family are really struggling right now over the Easter break, I want to share that this is very common for PDAers.
 

This is when as a PDAer myself, I know that my nervous system is doing exactly what ...

I used to fight screens.

I'd set timers. I'd negotiate. I'd try to lure them away with activities, outings, suggestions. "Why don't you come and do something with me?" "You've been on that for hours." "How about we go o...

When we’re raising PDA kids, or any kids with school-related trauma, one of the hardest moments can be when they say:

“I want to try school again.”

On the surface, that might sound hopeful. Brave. Promising.

But as parents,...

Institutional cynicism does not appear out of nowhere, nor does it simply emerge because individuals working within systems become tired, burnt out, or skeptical over time. Institutional cynicism grows out of systems ...

It is remarkable how often adults express confusion or indignation when children, particularly children labelled pathologically demand avoidant or oppositionally defiant (note - those who resist and/or oppose), question ...

PDAers often struggle with being perceived.

By that I don’t simply mean being seen. I mean the experience of someone observing, interpreting, forming conclusions, or assuming meaning about what we’re doing, how we’re do...

We spend so much time demonising the creative, magical ways in which the human brain (and consciousness) preserves a person’s sanity. Not only do we overlook this, we  actually disrespect it.

I am a person who is multip...

I’m asked often about my qualifications. In fact, just yesterday someone asked if I had “any actual qualifications or is it all just personal experience?”

I don't typically answer this. But here goes:

Are these t...

I would sob in isolation, convinced I didn’t know how to raise my children correctly because I was looking for the ‘right’ (safest, socially acceptable) answer.

I would criticize myself, reject myself, blame myself for ...

I fear for the rights of my teen.

She is non speaking, with significant support needs and requires intensive care around the clock.

We already do not have support workers due to lack in skill level and human nature nec...