Hi. I was hoping to try and get some advice on how to support my 20 year old daughter best. Just a little bit of background first.
My daughter was diagnosed with CAHMS as ASD right before she left school after waiting almost 3 years so was all very last minute before leaving school. She didn't have the best time at school with teachers telling me how lovely she was and that she can read really well and all the other lovely stuff. But she wasn't really progressing very well. I spent so much time with the school telling them that "She is lovely" and she can read but "Have you actually asked her what she is actually reading about". and " Do you ever ask her for her input in the class room when everyone else is speaking over her".
She always had issues at school with keeping friends as I guess all her friends that she had just didn't get her and seemed to mature quicker than her which left her always with no friends. She makes friends easily but could never keep them. Just not getting her friends and the way they would speak and would take everything literally along with the emotional side of things as well. She is such a kind, loving, thoughtful girl but just didn't always understand emotions.
Anyway she ended up spending 3 days at school just to do English and Maths (which was and nightmare for her that she knew she would struggle with) and then the other 2 days at college to do hairdressing. She absolutely amazed me when at 14 years old she applied for her first Job in a hair salon and got the job. She has since gone onto work for a couple of well known salons and is now in another well known salon and is doing amazing after passing exams and being put forward for awards and is now a senior stylist even with the responsibilities of opening and closing the shop and other important tasks.
What I would really like the help for is the general day to day things in life. The importance of hygiene,The handling of her money, consequences!!! I have always tried to explain life things to her in the best way I can but it really worries me that if when I'm not around how will she cope with the everyday life stuff without getting in to any debuts or any other trouble by just being her naive self.
Thanks for reading sorry it was a bit long!!!!
I feel so guilty sometimes as I feel like I should give her more credit for what she can do and I do always support her tell her she is perfect the way she is but I just need to help her understand the importance of looking after herself and putting the important things first