How has 2017 come to an end already, where has this year gone?

The support we have had from family, friends and strangers who now we class as friends have been overwhelming.

I started writing Life with a Bear mainly because I felt like I was going insane with the behaviours I was experiencing from Teddie, I needed to vent my frustrations through writing. I never expected to get such a good response just from being honest with how I was feeling with Teddie’s journey. 

This year has brought ups & downs from having appointments cancelled left, right and centre, Overcoming one hurdle only to be faced with another, leaving preschool and starting school.

The kindness and support Teddie has received from the staff at preschool and now at school are truly amazing. Teaching is a job but caring the amount these lovely ladies do about Teddie’s well-being goes above and beyond their job role.

In the beginning of our, journey I don’t actually think autism was something I even considered, I just thought what Teddie was experiencing was a speech delay.

It wasn’t until I started researching speech delays in children I stumbled across an article on non-verbal autism, as I read through the article it was like someone was reading about Teddie, I knew in that moment Teddie was autistic. 

I’m often asked how I feel about Teddie’s disabilities, I understand why people would ask that question, I would probably ask the same thing. For me, it’s never been an issue, would I prefer Teddie not to have autism? I’m really not sure. 

Don’t get me wrong at times (most of the time lately) I HATE autism;

• I hate the waves of distress it brings Teddie.
• I hate the anxieties that haunt’s Teddie daily.
• I hate the fear & sadness it brings him.
• I hate that Teddie cannot express love or emotion like we do.
• Most of all, I hate there’s no cure!.

As much as I have hate for autism, autism has made Teddie who he is. The love we have for our Bear takes over and will always outweigh the hate.

From the minute Teddie was born I knew in my heart he was gonna be our special Bear. I couldn’t take my eye’s off him and haven’t really since.

Teddies personality is infectious, he is so confident (considering) he lights up a room when he enters it we honestly couldn’t be prouder of him.

Parents often count down the years till their children grow up and are off their hands, I know we certainly have with Harvey (I’ve got my eye on his room). As much as I wanna push Teddie into the wide world we have to realise that maybe something that doesn’t or cannot happen.

For now, my everything is solely learning, researching and help educate people on what life can be like for families affected by autism.

We wish everyone who follows us a very Happy New year!