So what’s all this about then?

Hey there! We’re Jon and Lindsey and we are parents to two wonderful children, Verona, seven and Grayson, five.

We have set up this blog to share the highs, lows, humour and eccentricities of life in a neurodiverse family.

In our family both males are on the autism spectrum with father on the high functioning Aspergic end and son at the severe end.

Grayson was given a working diagnosis of ASC at three years old, following a referral from a speech therapist who had been working with him for nine months. A year later he was given a full diagnosis.

He began his schooling in a mainstream setting and it became apparent quickly that this was not going to work for him, or the school. We obtained an EHCP and transitioned into a specialist school where he is thriving.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Why Beautiful Caterpillar?

At our initial CAMHS paediatrician appointment emotions were running high, Jon knew and and had long since accepted that Grayson’s diagnosis would be inevitable. I was firmly in denial, I had compared the lack of speech, social communication and the disinterest in play and human connection with Verona’s typical development and grieved the lack of all of these things.

The mantra that boys develop later was on repeat in my head as I sat and watched his peers develop, aching for the same interaction that I saw those children have with their mothers.

Thankfully we had a compassionate paediatrician who I vividly remember telling me that he could see that I was watching and willing my little caterpillar to morph into a beautiful butterfly and reassured me that he would and that it would happen, but it would just take longer, it wouldn’t come as easily and his wings would have very different colours to Verona’s.

It’s an analogy that gave comfort and has since stuck. Grayson’s milestones take time and a phenomenal amount of additional effort but when he hits them the moments are precious and glorious.

What’s the point of all this nonsense?

Through this blog, both Jon and I will share perspectives sometimes individually and sometimes together. We hope to share, support and be supported by peer parents, both mums and dads.

Online, autism support seems predominantly female and we seek to address this balance, and hopefully engage with a variety of people who are touched by autism, not just parents but hopefully siblings and professionals.

We are based in Stafford so many posts will be local but we will talk also about national and international matters.