A question I am always asked is whether Teddie is aware he’s any different from his peers, my answer has always been the same,

“No”

Teddies confidence has always been refreshing, without it I think he would be a completely different boy.

Teddie is unfamiliar with unkind words and name calling, I doubt he has any concept of them if a child said something to him as he’s never been around that environment. Unless there was physical contact, ie pushing Teddie would continue to play around them. There will, of course, be a time when Teddie is exposed to this bully like behaviour, I only hope this never hinders his confidence.

Teddie will happily approach new children and always tries to join in on their game, especially if its chase.
The difference between Teddie and the other children is Teddie has no concept whether the children want him to play with them, most of the time Teddie isn’t playing with the new children, he’s actually playing alongside them. If the children ran off without him he would happily run with them thinking he is joining in.

This week Gareth and I caught up on the TV series The A word. The story follows members of the Hughes family, who seem to lead a normal existence until they receive some unexpected news. Communication problems with 5-year-old son Joe Hughes lead to a diagnosis of autism.

While watching The A word I noticed a lot of similarities to our journey, we went through the motions of saying

“he’ll get there”

Although there are many similarities we have never hidden behind Teddie having special needs, in that respect, we are complete opposites.

last weeks programme, Alison Joe’s mum forgot to charge his iPod which he listens to all the time, Joe’s iPod runs out of battery in the car on the way to his new specialist school. This completely changes the dynamics of Joe’s morning resulting in a difficult transition into his new school for Joe and his mum. I sympathized with her as the slightest change to routine can make or break Teddie,

I love the series but what annoyed me was how quick Joe got a placement into a specialist school, most families I know have had to go through legal proceedings to get a placement.
I know it’s only a programme but I would have liked the series to have shown the struggles us families have to go through in order to get what our children are entitled too.

I have made more PECs cards this weekend, Teddie is still showing signs of being unsettled, even at home. I have placed social stories on our routines and the school transition around the house so he knows whats happening. I have also printed a plan & completed board for Teddies 1:1 to try, if the day can be planned ahead Teddie will feel less anxious if he can see whats going to happen (hopefully)

Life with a Bear has its up’s and down’s but as always we wouldn’t have him any other way!