Chat with Charlotte, Mum of Two Neurodivergent Teens

Aniesa met Charlotte when she brought her daughter to see her. Charlotte joins the podcast to talk about being a parent of neurodivergent children, including when she realised they had additional needs, the differences between her two children and their difficulties as well as how she and her family manage each day with two neurodivergent children.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• Both Charlotte's son and daughter have additional needs but present very differently. Her son will talk about anything and everything yet her daughter doesn’t externalise anything.
• Her daughter in particular was very good at masking in primary school so the school didn’t recognise that she had any issues, but she would then release her difficulties at home and once she began secondary school she could no longer cope.
• When Charlotte’s daughter was diagnosed with autism at 12, her daughter looked visibly relieved to have an explanation for her challenges.
• The biggest difficulty Charlotte faces isn’t her children, but the level of ignorance and judgement many people display towards her children and their additional needs.
• Battling with systems, assessments, forms and more is one of the biggest stresses for parents of neurodivergent children.
• With neurodivergent children it’s important to recognise their unique differences and work with them to help them in different situations, for example, are they less exhausted by outside social activities -vs- those inside?
• As parents of neurodivergent children, we need to teach them about themselves, help them work out healthy coping strategies and also how to advocate for their true selves.
• If you suspect your children might have additional needs, write everything down, not only to help you with assessments but to remind yourself of the challenges you face.

BEST MOMENTS

“I didn’t even know what a SENCO was”

“You have to do a lot of advocating for her”

“They don't cause me stress, what causes me stress is the limitless ignorance out there and judgement”

“I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I wasn’t doing everything that I absolutely could”

“Trust that you know your child better than anybody else”

“I want them to be capable and understand themselves”

CONTACT METHOD

www.instagram.com/aniesabblore/           
www.instagram.com/sensationalkidstherapyuk/    
www.facebook.com/sensationalkidslondon

ABOUT THE HOST

Aniesa completed her degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Stellenbosch, in South Africa. She has since been focusing on pediatrics and sensory processing and integration. She has worked across a range of pediatric fields and has extensive experience in autism, specific learning difficulties, as well as anxiety and emotional regulation.

Aniesa has one teenage son with autism, and one with sensory difficulties. She herself was diagnosed at a late age as having ADHD and has found that understanding her neurodivergence has led to a greater connection with children and their parents.

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