For this week the lovely Renata who writes the blog Just bring the chocolate as asked us to Define normal in our household

In the Savette household there are 4 children , 3 of whom have autism, Global delay development plus other needs. For us normal is living to a very strict routine, where everyone knows exactly what they are doing and when. Juggling numerous appointments as the hospital seems to be their second home. knowing where we can and can’t go out as a family to try and prevent any meltdowns. Going out for a drive every night before tea just so we go over some train tracks even if we don’t see any trains. Listening to the same songs repeatedly. Not being able to decorate or change the room round without spending months preparing the children.

Unfortunately we having children with complex needs my oldest who is a neuro typical 11 year old is unable to have a “normal” life of a tween. She is unable to have her friends round as the others wouldn’t cope with them being in the house, its bad enough with when professionals visit. I do try to let her have a life of her own she regularly attends Karate and Kick boxing as she loves martial arts and helps her have some “normality”

Zak who is 2 years old is the most complex of the 3 and even though he appears as a normal toddler he is far from it.

• He is autistic
• He screams when he is in crowds such as waiting for Jen in the playground
• He head bangs when he is upset/scared
• He is disabled both mentally and physically
• He only drinks milk with a fortified supplement added to it, he can’t eat anything that is lumpy as he gags
• He doesn’t play – he has the inability to play
• He doesn’t sleep he has to take melatonin to calm him down
• He gets very violent
• He has already been told he is going to a special school when he is older
• He works with countless therapists to help him walk, talk , play etc
• He doesn’t talk – makes lots of noises
• Has a lot of quirks
• Doesn’t like people watching him
• Has Asthma

Despite all this and the fact that having 3 children with autism and complex needs would I change it and have a normal life. NO WAY !!!!! . For me now this my normal life. I have learnt how to think out of the box for solutions. I am used to watching the same programme repeatedly, I am used to being able not to go out on a whim and spending moths preparing the children for an outing. I am slowly getting used to people avoiding me and treating the family as outcasts. I feel very lucky to be blessed with my extraordinary family.

What Is Specialsaturday

The idea behind this is to use Saturdays to spread awareness of the needs, feelings and accomplishments of children and adults with additional needs or autism. Members of Twitter are asked to make awareness posts on Saturdays using the tag #specialsaturday.

Bloggers are asked to write about their experiences of achievement by people who have additional needs or autism on Saturdays. Members of Facebook are asked to write status updates that help spread awareness on Saturdays.

Members of both Facebook and Twitter are asked to use the Twibbon that’s designed to spread awareness of the Special Saturday can be found specialsaturday twibbon to add to your profile pictures. Please add your friends and help us spread awareness. People with additional needs have struggled for too long to be accepted as equal members of society and this MUST change.

Please read what is specialsaturday and why I started it