1marthasmithJul 22, 20203 min16%Six years ago I trained to become a volunteer. The friend who ran the course recognised, tactfully, that it would be families like mine ...
1marthasmithJun 30, 20205 minEruptionI lost my temper, blew my stack, hit the roof. I flipped my lid, flew off the handle, went ballistic. I might even have lost my rag, al...
1marthasmithMay 15, 20203 minCovert CovidIf you looked into my house, what would you see? Would you see two children sitting opposite each other at the dining table, quietly doi...
1marthasmithApr 22, 20205 minJesus at the SparSomething small and bleary-eyed has just flung itself into my bed. I'd like to say that it is because my youngest is super-keen to have ...
1marthasmithNov 30, 20192 minPantsBack in the bad old days, when communication was limited and meltdowns were frequent, getting to school at all, let alone on time, could ...
1marthasmithNov 2, 20193 minRoom Rules So, we are in. Well, half in. Well actually probably not even that far in but we are getting there. This house move has been pure hell...
1marthasmithSep 18, 20194 minTen. Purple. Hippo.Once upon a time there was a Little Lad of two and a half years, who didn’t speak. His Mummy wasn’t worried because she knew that it was...
1marthasmithApr 26, 20194 minEscapade ‘OH MUMMY!’, his beautiful face lit up with excitement. Ear defenders on, eyes shut, leaning towards me and throwing his arms around my ...
1marthasmithApr 12, 20192 minThe 'Nexicon', or the Lexicon of things not to sayOH GOOD GRIEF, once I started I couldn’t stop. Inspired by the finest post I’ve ever read, SEND Bingo by the effervescent Annie at mykid...
MarthaApr 4, 20194 minParent ToolkitDear Friend, You are setting off on a new voyage with your child and you may feel frightened, lost and alone. I want you to know that yo...
MarthaApr 2, 20192 minGloryAh yes, World Autism Awareness Day. The Boy and I haven’t discussed it today – he’s up to his eyeballs in exams and probably won’t see t...
MarthaNov 29, 20183 minMeltdownI am shattered. This afternoon I witnessed a horrendous meltdown and, for the first time in as long as I can remember, it didn’t happen ...
MarthaOct 3, 20183 minTo the parents of the boys in the changing room...I won’t have the chance to say this to your face so I am going to say it here. This is my platform, the place that I use to explain clea...
MarthaSep 6, 20183 minMorningFirst day of double school run. Second day of No.1 child’s new school, first day of No.2 child’s new school. Parent must be calm, posit...
MarthaMay 7, 20184 minInclusionSo, we are moving. Both children require a school place for September. I have done my homework. I have sat in front of a map and have ...
MarthaApr 28, 20185 minSupermarketIt had been raining for days. There were only a few places that we could visit without a meltdown and all but one of those was outside. ...
MarthaSep 17, 20171 minResourceful … when he is desperate to get on with his lego but someone has left a cup and straw on the table which makes him retch and panic and he c...
MarthaJul 21, 20171 minMaths - A note to his teacherA note to his teacher in April 2016. I find maths easy in my brains. I am able to read maths questions and crack the answer out of it’s ...
MarthaJun 27, 20175 minSausages‘Why are you feeding him those disgusting sausages? With a diet like that he’ll be missing out on a lot of vitamins, wow’.’ Wow indeed. ...
MarthaDec 20, 20162 minLegoIt has taken two days for The Builder to prepare the space. There are a selection of vehicles placed with precision around the construct...