Undiagnosed Autism and Mainstream School | My Experience

Image title reads undiagnosed autism and mainstream school image to the right is of a young primary school girl (the author of this blog)


 The days are long but the years are short-
the most significant parenting quote i've ever read. I vividly remember thinking "I can't wait for Iris to start nursery, only a few more years to go". Being at home with young babies and toddlers is immensely hard work. To me it felt like my entire existence was being swallowed by a teeny tiny, snack monster. Constantly on demand, constantly needing to be aware and constantly being 'switched on'. It all felt so constant. So unending. Now nursery isn't a few years away, it's now and I'm not ready. It isn't because Iris isn't ready, she's been ready for months, she's been craving the structure and mental stimulation that only a learning environment can give and it certainly isn't because I'm not ready for the break- I am chomping at the bit to get some time back to re-discover myself and give myself the opportunity to work, exercise and be creative again. The reason I'm not ready for Iris to start nursery is because I'm not ready to deal with what 'school' means to me. I'm not emotionally ready to send her into the system that destroyed me.

Living Arrows | The End Of An Era

Katrina Over 30s UK blogger talking about parenting, autism, mental health, books and coeliac disease. What The Redhead Said Living Arrows UK Parenting Blog Link Up Khalil Gibran Quote

 'You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth' Khalil Gibran.  

Just like that three whole years have passed and she's on her way to pre-school and whilst Iris feels like she's at the beginning of something special I can't help feeling like it's the end. The end of my baby being at home, the end of endless days spent playing together and the end of me being her teacher. I'm a little sad that she'll be asking someone else incessant questions about the whys, whats and hows of the world around her.

Most Used | 2-3 Years

Katrina Over 30s UK blogger talking about parenting, autism, mental health, books and coeliac disease. Most Used items two 2 3 three year old


The terrible twos. The age of "I don't want to walk" but "I don't want to go in the buggy". The urgent cries of "I need a wee-wee" followed by a mad panic and no actual weeing taking place. A challenging year yet an amazing one. The year of long winded conversations and awkward observations in the most inappropriate of places. The emergence of people skills, kindness, turn taking, please and thank yous. A bright and brilliant time. Here's the things we've used the most throughout this wonderfully daunting year.

Living Arrows | Happy Birthday To You!

Katrina Over 30s UK blogger talking about parenting, autism, mental health, books and coeliac disease. What The Redhead Said Living Arrows UK Parenting Blog Link Up Khalil Gibran Quote

 You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth' Khalil Gibran.   

You'll have to excuse us for missing last week's Living Arrows post but we were immensely busy celebrating this not-so-little ones third birthday! I can't quite comprehend that she's three already. They warn you that time flies when you become a parent but nothing could have prepared me for how unsettling that passage of time can be.

Days Out | Equine Dreams of Bawtry

Image title reads 'days out visiting equine dreams, north view farm, bawtry road, tickhill, DN11 9H ,www.chatterfox.co.uk image to the right shows a woman and her daughter stroking a horse.


This review is slightly different to the ones I've previously written (Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Rufford Abbey Park, Thoresby Hall Park) as this is a place that I hadn't visited pre-Covid-19 and so I can't really compare their new procedure to their old one, I can only comment on how I feel they've catered to the needs of the Covid-19 world.

Living Arrows | The More You Read The More You'll Know

Katrina Over 30s UK blogger talking about parenting, autism, mental health, books and coeliac disease.  What The Redhead Said Living Arrows UK Parenting Blog Link Up Khalil Gibran Quote

'You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth' Khalil Gibran.   

Sometimes it really is like looking in a mirror. They say the 'apple never falls far from the tree' and usually it's being used in a negative context but I don't think there's anything wrong with being like your parents. My mum has always been a reader, I grew up with my nose constantly in a book and it seems Iris is heading the same way.

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