Autism Threads

The travelling tote! SW France 🇫🇷. Thinking of putting this beautiful caption on a tshirt...watch this space 😉. Our holiday is drawing to a close ho humph. Time to lay off the baguettes 🥖 for sure. Tote to travel to U of K and home next. See link in bio 👀. #summer #autism #autismawareness #livinglifewithautism #caption #tshirt #totebag #tote

I know what you’re thinking....people taking clips of their kids at the beach on hols - so boring and so normal BUT that’s exactly why this clip is so extraordinary for me and will remain one of my top experiences with Henry. He looked just like all the other regular kids on the beach tootling around enjoying the sand and salty sea and waves and smiling and laughing and ok, there were the odd moments of lying face down in shallow water and flapping hands (aka stimming) and some hilarious propellor type backwards swinging of the arms BUT, no-one looked at or stared at or even batted an eyelid at him! Such a joy and such a treat for us parentals who actually sat still, together, watching him for nearly 2 hours!

The tantalising toolbox! Henry spent almost 3 hours at this spot yesterday😲! Never known him to be so relatively still and engaged for even an eighth of that time! And all it took was some brackets and a few drill bits from the toolbox, and a pizza cutter from the kitchen cupboard! Not sure it will be repeated but hey, so divine to see him so chilled out and engaged in what he was doing. #autism #autismawareness #summer #tools #boys

Mmmm, which one to choose for Henry today as we head into town/Pau...? French versions might have been a good idea 😜🧐🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🥐 #autism #summer #autismawareness #autistic #caption #cooltshirt SEE LINK IN BIO 👀

Finally!!! The siblings play together...1x teen;1x pre-teen;1x very #autistic. It always takes a trampoline: 3rd one on 3 continents later, ouch. Ja, ja, 1st world problems eh?! #holidays #family #autism #france #autismawareness #autismacceptance #livinglifewithautism

👉New Blog Post on website 👀See link in bio👏 Tonight: “Henry, School is finished. In the morning Henry go to France House.” Tomorrow morning: “Henry, first car then tunnel train”. Afternoon: “Henry, first car then France Hotel, big pool”. Sun am: “Henry, first car then France House” And finally, we can let the holiday begin....I will be going into social media low power mode for a few weeks now, set an example to the teens and all and errrm no wifi anyway 😏😫 #setexpectations #summer #autismawareness #rnr #autism #livinglifewithautism #aspergers

A peek into the sensory side of autism, and this is just water! When we moved to this house we thought the water feature would be soothing and calming for Henry (it is for everyone else) but he could not cope with it and spent weeks shutting doors and windows to get rid of the sound and kept his fingers firmly planted in his ears every time he stepped outside. But look now, no fingers in ears. Just goes to show what gentle exposure to challenges can do (did I mention we can’t... turn the jolly fountain off). He would also immediately remove any clothing that had even so much as a spit drop of water on it (even in public) and over time we simply pretended to wipe it dry and repeat the same words “just water, it will dry” and he largely accepts it now. I was so fascinated to see how even this tiny light spray of water from the hose pipe could be felt by him on every inch of his body and on top of the clothes. He stood on a strand of his sisters hair in the bathroom this morning, with socks on, felt it, and had to have it removed!!! #autism #sensoryplay #sensory #autismawareness #water #livinglifewithautism
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Summer hols/School’s out! 🏷🛎You’ll need a cap even in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿! A one size fits all cap with adjustable strap and metal clasp that is super 🆒 so obviously people will want to know where you got it from 😉 (aka small online business wafting around the google ether🕸trying to do its bit to raise awareness for autism) AND you will impress with them by supporting all those living life with autism AND hey presto a conversation is struck 😊. See link in bio. #summer #caps #autism #coolcaps #cool # holidays #autismawareness #aspergers #coolthreads

The kite runner...! Ha ha ha

This little guy never ceases to amaze us. We’re sitting outside chilling and off he goes returning with a packet of soba noodles! Off again and returns with paper and scissors. Off again and returns with a reel of cotton and sticky tape. Looks at us and says “kite” and proceeds to cut a diamond shape with the scissors, on his own, and we click, and get to work helping. He actually lets me help and presto a little kite! We didn’t even know he knew the word or what a kite was!!! Sending video next...Enjoy. #skilledtalenteddifferent #autism #autismcandoamazingthings

What a treat, Henry coming to join Paul & I as we sit outside nibbling cheese & biscuits & leftovers on a glorious summer’s evening. He is still not interested in actually engaging us & stays largely focused on his iPad but it’s just so cute & he seems so happy in our company & ok with our chat & wanting to be near us. Of course, there’s the food he’s after too, let’s not kid ourselves, no-one loves food you can graze on more than Henry! Pub training 101 went stupendously well today too: friends in tow, Henry prepped and ok about it, same pub, same time, lunch, 2hrs & a largely relaxed & happy Henry....Can’t quite believe it! #autismawareness #autism #summer #socialinteraction

As we head to more of 30degrees Trish introduces her new caption LONG SLEEVE tshirt 🤨, for the cooler weather to come...and it will come to us all! Caption inspired by my stunning and clever friend and her two boys on the spectrum. Coming to the website soon. #autismlove #autismawareness #education #parenting #caption #tshirt #visualsoflife #autism

Whilst there are many similarities amongst those who have autism it is still extremely hard to know how to interact and what to say when you meet someone, even for me, who is Mum to her own autistic son. Asking the parent or carer they are with will help. If they are on their own ask their names and then say it followed by ‘hello’ and perhaps try a very simple question (nothing chit chatty) or something like “so, what are you interested in?” And you can tell them when to stop... talking about that interest too. Oh, and try not to be offended/affronted if they don’t use much eye contact or respond with a ‘hello’ either. They are not anti-social and it doesn’t meant they don’t want to engage just because they have been unable to say the word ‘hello’. I’ll shut up now...#autismawareness #support #education #amazingpeople #tellyourstory #aspergers
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What an incredible few days at the Kent County Show in the New Enterprise Zone amidst some wonderful stallholders who were so friendly, helpful, supportive and talented (Shiv Textiles Design; Milky Tees; Jules & Feather Entertainment; Emma Stokes Photography;OneLeg.fi;@beessimply). It was so hot and lots of hard work. That cold beer when I got home each night was such a treat as was a shower and a very happy to see me Henry who flapped his hands around and kept saying “It’s t...he Mummy” and climbing all over me - too cute, I was clearly missed. I am SO shattered today, SO in awe of market stand stallholders across the globe, SO not looking fwd to unloading Autism Threads from the car, SO lazy today, SO in need of time to soak up all of the fascinating and warming and incredible conversations with people who either had autism themselves or had a connection with autism that came to talk to me at the Show, WOW! Must write a blog about it...first, zzzz
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Yes, MADCAP is a real word, and perfect! SO knackered today after #kentcountyshow2018. SO not looking fwd to unpacking the rammed to the rafters car. SO happy to come home to Henry who was SO excited to see me (so cute). SO happy to have had an ice cold beer and a shower waiting and SO chilling and letting all the emotion and incredible conversations with people I met at the Show sink in today #rnr #tellyourstory #support #autismawareness #amazingpeople

I’m not gonna lie, yesterday was a bit deflating for all of us #stallholders : super hot, people just generally looking for drink and shade and well, the football! Today is a new day however and I have just sold some tshirts to incredible children and adults who have told me they have autism and who have actually chosen a tshirt to wear!!! I am so bowled over...nearly jolly gave them away, it just feels like an honour that they would choose to wear one. Happy days...! I just gotta keep doing what I am doing you know? #autismawareness #kent #shows #autismtshirts #autism #aspergers

Wow, it’s HOT! This Kent County Show is enormous, and did I mention hot? Enjoying the conversations with all sorts of connections to #autism and some bits and bobs being sold too, ooh err ☺️. Huge thanks to Myf @andfrienddesign for my stunning stall ideas...#autismawareness #shows #supportsmallbusiness #kent

Oh my word, setting up a show stand is hard work! Felt a bit like Bob the builder. The action starts tomorrow, can’t wait & so cool to meet some New Enterprise Zone stand owners too @shiv_textiles @emmastokesphotography @designedbyesther #autismawareness #Kent #shows #supportsmallbusiness #doityourself #summer