Essays from Kristy Forbes exploring PDA, autistic experience, parenting, identity, care, systems and the ordinary moments that shape family life.
This year saw my beginnings in trauma therapy. While there are many definitions of what trauma therapy is, and varied approaches, I’m clear on one thing: this has been the most significant and most painful (and perhaps r...
In order to identify as neurodivergent, I have first had to understand what I diverge from.
Most people hear the term neurodivergent and hear that I am diverging from ‘typical’.
Typical neurobiology.
But typical does not ex...
This can actually be culturally and socially appropriate.
We accept that teens do this as part of their identity formation and separation from us into their transition toward a sense of self in adolescence. We make joke...
This is an image of me, deep in the trenches, around a decade ago.
My husband would message from work each day and ask how 'things' were.
Some days, I couldn't speak. I'd send pictures. This was one of those days, and ...
I've been reflecting on a powerful concept we discussed in our recent Q&A from inTune with PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance).
The art of living in the now, especially when supporting our children. I relate to this dee...
So many people unconsciously spend (waste) their lives working toward what they hope will be peace, one day.
Work hard, then rest.
Main meal first, then dessert.
Wees first, then poos. (I made that one up because orde...
It never gets easier, nor am I ever better prepared for the moments my autistic children (and I) are exposed to another parent’s grief stricken story about their autistic child.
I was conditioned to believe that the fir...
Hello, I’m here writing. It isn’t easy, and it isn’t complete.
Be patient with me, please, as I figure out a way to communicate this internalised experience, these thousands of thoughts, these physical movements that co...
Walt Whitman said "When I give, I give myself".
Both a blessing and a curse, this is something I am forever navigating and managing. I'm someone that loves to give, because it makes me feel good to see others doing well...
I had a close friend and colleague reach out to me about six months ago to ask how I'd feel about them writing a book on parenting neurodivergent children. They know that I'm also working on this (insert laughter coupled...