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Hello all

JennyB

Hello all, im Jenny - introducing myself :)

 I was diagnosed with autism in November 2025 and later in life - im in my 40s. Its a relief to finally know and understand challenges ive had all my life with this new lens. I have an 'internalised presentation' though its exhausting to keep it so internal and harder to as I get older! Im keen to let my autism traits break free more -though nervous about this and how it may impact my closest connections. I recently listened to Katherine Mays audio book 'The electricity of every living thing'  and found it a great comfort as I relate to much of her experience. Has anyone else read/ listened to this book?

A bit more about me:

Im a mother to a teen and work as a self-employed gardener (plants are a special interest). I went to art school as a young adult and continue to enjoy creative self expression. Currently; I enjoy creative writing - often writing and reading poetry or creative non-fiction, sometimes fiction. I love music too.

I would most like to connect with other later diagnosed folk - especially mothers and /or creative souls. I dont know any diagnosed autistic women IRL (though one or 2 friends are questioning it) Thank you for reading all this! Looking forward to connecting.

Please say hi Slight smile

Parents

  • Hi, welcome to the community.  

    I'm a mother to a toddler,  not officially diagnosed,  self discovered and suspected by my therapist. I love aliens and space and watch, read anything about it, also write sci fi stories and paint pictures for them in graphic programs on pc. 

  • in reply to Alien0n3arth

    Hello - thanks for getting in touch Slight smile

    Alien life is relatable!  I made an alien sculpture from clay not so long ago in an art workshop.  I havent read much science fiction though im curious. Where do you recommed starting?! Thats brilliant about painting for sci fi and writing it too - can imagine you have a lot of fun with it. I'm currently reading 'Orbital' by Samantha Harvey - based on people living in the international space station and its fascinating. I cant decide if Id be brave enough to travel into space if i had the opportunity, or if id want to!! Likely not a decision I will ever have to make - phew! Lol

    I enjoyed the toddler stage though its a while ago now it seems like yesterday and i remember being very tired much of the time. I wish you well with it - its important to rest and find ways to regularly keep your own interests alive, even if in a small way. I would often join in with creative activities with my son - still do in fact. I cant help wondering how it would have been if id known about autism back then. I was good at pacing myself and resting (for me and my child) only i often felt guilty we didnt seem to do as much as others and i couldnt work to earn as much alongside parenting -  as much as many other mothers seemed to manage.

  • in reply to JennyB

    Thank you for your response.  Yes, I relate a lot to your experience. I found out just in time about autism, my husband mentioned one more child, but I know I wouldn't be able to manage it. Plus my age, now I'm 37, so being a 40 years old mother with a little baby, again nappies and formula and those nights without sleep would be a nightmare again. At that time I felt like I was in a wrong body, but I was 33 when I gave birth to my daughter. 

    It's hard but I slowly start managing it to find time for myself and my world. I love listening to Brian Cox, Neil Tyson DeGrasse and a youruber and scientist Anton Petrov. I love the way he speaks, without gesticulating and explains everything clearly. I also read books from Neil Tyson DeGrasse and I also like the theory of paleocontact spread by Erich von Däniken. He gets criticised a lot, there might be mistakes, but this theory is interesting and for me logical. I red his books too. Gaining more knowledge about space and in quantum physics helps me in writing new stories.

    I don't watch many movies, because of sensory differences I struggle to sit in front of a screen. I get overwhelmed easily, but I really enjoyed the movie arrival. 

  • in reply to Alien0n3arth

    Im glad you found out about your autism when you did and that it helped make an important decision. Im enjoying the stage I am at now and its interesting how as a parent we really move on from the early years stage and its hard to imagine being back in that again. I enjoy having a little more time to myself again as my child gains more independence and we can enjoy activities together that we are both interetsed in / can connect over. 

     I dont know a great deal about your area of interest - seems mind expanding. I just googled paleocontact - fascinating to think of.

    I also find some movies a struggle to watch and simply avoid very high action or violent or frightening films these days. I tend toward art-house films or films about peoples lives though i often woud rather curl up with a good book!

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  • in reply to Alien0n3arth

    Im glad you found out about your autism when you did and that it helped make an important decision. Im enjoying the stage I am at now and its interesting how as a parent we really move on from the early years stage and its hard to imagine being back in that again. I enjoy having a little more time to myself again as my child gains more independence and we can enjoy activities together that we are both interetsed in / can connect over. 

     I dont know a great deal about your area of interest - seems mind expanding. I just googled paleocontact - fascinating to think of.

    I also find some movies a struggle to watch and simply avoid very high action or violent or frightening films these days. I tend toward art-house films or films about peoples lives though i often woud rather curl up with a good book!

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