Autism Awareness Month.

As some of you may know, Spawn is currently undergoing an ASD diagnosis. I'm not kidding when I say it is long, expensive, exhausting and scary. But you know what I've learned this year? It's okay to fear the unknown. There is so much out there that none of us know (including what actually causes ASD!?), yet people can become so accustomed to their own little bubble of safety, that they never expect to have to deal with something as scary as ASD.
I have to admit, the first time I heard the word 'autism' in relation to my son, I almost burst into tears. I see autistic kids as being those super intelligent children who cannot talk, never show emotion, and live extraordinary lives that are anything but normal. All I wanted (and I'm assuming most parents would feel the same way) was for my child to grow up having lots of friends, confidence, and maybe some skills in the athletic world. Instead, I'm learning that Spawn has sensory processing issues, which explains some of his behaviour and his incessant need to touch myself (and others) to the point where it gets annoying. Which often results in guilt. Why is my son touching me annoying?? I should welcome his touch, right??! WRONG. You don't need to have sensory processing issues to become overwhelmed by constant touching. It's like having a stage five cling-on partner - ain't nobody got time for that!
So don't feel bad if your child is too touchy. You don't have to feel guilty because some parents wished their child would touch them at all. Everybody is experiencing different things, and just because one person's problems are not as bad as another persons does not make them irrelevant. It just means that some people are at a point in their life where having the wrong shade of pink nail polish on their toes is a total disaster, while others are rocking in a corner wondering if it's all their fault that their child is 'different'.
However, a little consideration does go a long way! I recommend using the filter between your brain and mouth whenever you're in a social setting, purely to avoid any potential awkwardness. :)

So anyway, I digress (a little). April is Autism Awareness Month, and the month kicks off with a 'wear blue on April 2' theme, in order to help spread awareness.
Autism is more than just the a-typical "autism" that most people grew up understanding. As of 2013, Autism - or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as it's now known - now encompasses all disorders on the spectrum, including the high-functioning Asperger Syndrome.

Many people comment on how children don't look like they have autism. ASD is not a deformity that leaves a person with visual anomalies. ASD makes a person special. Unique - more-so than others. ASD means that a child can have difficulty handling normal social situations, such as a trip to the supermarket, a school assembly, or understanding a person's boundaries. ASD means a person sees the world a little differently than us 'normal' folk, but that is in no way a bad thing. Can you imagine how amazing it could be to see the world in more than just black and white? To see yellow and blue and green and all the other colours of the spectrum??? I truly believe that 'normal' people are the ones who should be looked at with pity.

So the next time somebody tells you that their child has ASD, do yourself a favour; don't look at them with pity, or move away thinking they're contagious. Stop and have a conversation with them, if they're able. It could be one of the most enlightening conversations of your life. :)

If you're curious to read more about Autism Spectrum Disorder, there is plenty of information available, some of which can be found:
here
and here
and even here.

And if you're curious about the ASD diagnosis process, some information relating to how it's done in Australia can be found here. If you think someone you know may have ASD, the diagnosis process can be long and confusing, so don't be afraid to ask your GP questions, or go see a paediatrition/psychologist.

Peace out.

- L. x

Chasing waves at Bells Beach!

Donating My Hair!

So about a year ago, I cut my hair short for World's Greatest Shave. Unfortunately, my fat head would never be able to pull off the shaved look, nor did I have the balls to find out. All good though - I managed to cut a whopping 39cm off! Well, that was just the ponytail... I then lost a tonne more due to styling... Was a sad day. The fact it was for a good cause made it a LOT easier to stomach!! ;)

Anyway, the day has come... It is time...... TO DONATE MY PONYTAIL. Yes, ladies and gents, I have kept my ponytail in a drawer for the past year. Occasionally, I pull it out and lovingly stroke it, and reminisce about the days when I would complain about how long it took to straighten, or the headaches it gave me, or how long it took to grow to the length it was..... But not often. Because I'm not THAT crazy....

Where am I donating my hair, I hear you ask? Ahhh, why to the Princess Charlotte Alopecia program, of course! The program is run through Variety, a children's charity organisation, and aims to give young sufferers of alopecia a sense of confidence, independence and self-esteem, through the provision of specialised wigs! These wigs are essentially a priceless gift, due to the confidence they instill in the children, which in turn means those alopecia sufferers are able to take part in the activities they love and enjoy, but were too scared to participate in before receiving a wig.
And who doesn't love making kids smile?!!!! Ugh, I could go through life giving and giving to organisations who help sick kids, and never grow tired of it. :)

It took me awhile to find a program worthy of receiving my hair. Don't get me wrong, I am fully aware that anyone would love and be grateful for my hair, but I wanted to give it to someone ...I don't know. It took a lot for me to be willing to actually part with my hair. Alopecia is something that a lot of people don't know about, and maybe I can bring awareness to another handful of people, who will one day bring awareness to another handful of people.... It's all about that chain reaction!

So, enough rambling from me. .

Peace out.

- L. x

The ponytail in question.