| As we meet more and more families through schools, | | | | breakdown phase (although there have been 'teetering |
| respite resources, carers groups and people generally | | | | on the edge' times). My family is a wonderful rainbow |
| pointed in our direction for advice and sympathy, I | | | | of colour and fun. |
| come to realise that we are by no means on our own | | | | My main regret is the lack of interaction between the |
| in having a family with more than one disabled child. | | | | children. That is one of the things that you picture, |
| I have three children, Rosie (who is 11 and has | | | | isn't it, as a prospective parent?. Watching on with a |
| Asperger Syndrome), Daisy (9, rare genetic syndrome | | | | wistful smile as your children play, fight and grow |
| called Kabuki) and Leonard (who we have never | | | | together. My children never play together. They |
| called Leonard, only ever Lenny - he is seven is | | | | hardly every acknowledge one another (although |
| classically autistic and as yet has only a handful of | | | | Daisy and Lenny have the occasional fight over a |
| words at his disposal). I sincerely apologise for | | | | biscuit). When the younger two arrive home on their |
| defining my children by their disabilities; in more normal | | | | separate school buses, I will say to Rose (who is very |
| circumstances I never would (This is Lenny : he's | | | | intellectually and verbally able); "Daisy and Lenny are |
| terribly handsome, lots of fun, and a big handful!') (Daisy; | | | | home sweetheart, are you going to ask them how |
| unbearably sweet, main interests include splashing, | | | | their day has been?" |
| spinning and bananas) (have you met Rose? She's | | | | Bless her for trying, she plays along, "Hello there, Daisy, |
| very funky (obviously) she loves her pet rat, Albert | | | | Hello Lenny" she will say in an exaggerated tone. |
| Einstein, and has an ambition to become a stand up | | | | "What have you been up to today then?" She will |
| comedienne). | | | | invariably wander off or start watching telly before |
| I never had a clear picture of how my life would turn | | | | they have had chance to answer. And who can |
| out. Maybe I lacked ambition in this respect, but hey. | | | | blame her; they have never answered yet... |
| One thing I can promise you; had someone described | | | | Fundamentally if feel blessed. I have been awakened |
| my family life as it would be at aged 25 I would | | | | to a new level of reality through my children's |
| probably have had some sort of a seizure. But it is | | | | disabilities, and I am a richer, more real person for the |
| ok; I promise you. I am nowhere near nervous | | | | experience. |