Nojomo 17. The eggs will break. in The season for arachnids. Autumn 2016

Tonight is the last night that T will be away. This week has been lovely, L has blossomed, and I’m seeing the L I used to know. The one who isn’t scared of being teased and punched. She’s even commented herself, she’s happy to have a week without being punched. We’ve done some nice stuff together, including snuggling up to watch tv, making pizza from scratch and making her own football using scrunched up paper which was then covered in duck tape (union Jack patterned!). It’s a really good football and she constantly dribbles it around the house!

This afternoon L had football training straight from school. Usually T and I do something together but, as she’s somewhere in Wales getting muddy, I took my running kit to school and changed into it as soon as I’d finished work. I got some gawps from school kids, getting their coats and bags, as I came out of the staff room in my multi coloured sugar skull leggings and bright pink, animal print top heh heh heh!

I’ve been arriving at school without stress and we’ve all been so much calmer at home. I hasn’t realised how much her autism affects all our lives.

On the other hand, every time I’ve walked past her bedroom I’ve had a little panic because she wasn’t there and when I’ve looked for my make up it’s all been exactly where I left it! I’ve missed our bedtime stories and stuck hugs, our shared giggles and protecting her when she feels unsafe out and about.

She’s going to come home tomorrow. She’ll be absolutely exhausted and exceedingly grumpy but it will be good to have our family whole again.