Hi I am new

Hoping to find some clarity and support. Recently discovered my 10 year old daughter is on the spectrum. Learning as a parent about mild autism has held a mirror up to my life. I have moved back to the UK as a single Mom after 20 years living abroad. Living with my parents who are ignorant to spectrum is a massive challenge and trigger. I came back to the UK with a strong sense of finding support for my daughter and myself but feel that I am falling into a rut of coping habits and suppression of self. A sense of drowning and floundering back and forth with past and struggling to get ahead, cope or do important tasks. I guess I am trying to find my routine and calm in a challenging chaotic situation without 'routines' getting in the way or being a problem with those around me. So this is a step forward to involve myself into a community and read others experiences and motivate myself again to find a purpose with it all.

  • read "fall down 6 times get up 7". it is riiten by a autustic boy (non verbal). its very good at what autistic children think about their parents and carers and h0w they see the world. it is really awesome it affected me deeply. i just finished it & i am sending i to a parent like u.

  • Hi, Hanpan. Welcome to the community - I hope you find it helpful.

    In terms of helpful resources, I'd recommend Purple Ella's YouTube videos for you, and a book called 'Can you see me?' by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott for your daughter. Purple Ella has lots of advice for autistic people and parents of autistic children, and the book is a lovely story that I wish I'd read as a young autistic girl. 

  • Hello Hanpan, you may find a lot of support in our Parent to Parent service who offers emotional support to parents and carers of children or adults with autism. This service is confidential and run by trained parent volunteers who are all parents themselves of a child or adult with autism .

     You can contact the team on 0808 800 4106. Please leave a message and the team will call you back as soon as possible at a time that suits you, including evenings and weekends. Alternatively you can use contact the team via web form: https://www.autism.org.uk/services/helplines/parent-to-parent/enquiry.aspx 

    All the best!