tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47400389061004346052024-03-16T18:52:48.835+00:00Steph's Two GirlsStories of family life involving two gorgeous girls and a type of autism known as PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comBlogger925125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-15423675137955808512024-03-08T18:42:00.004+00:002024-03-10T17:46:46.996+00:00Life Stories Written by Remarkable Women {Book Reviews}In the last few years, I have read a lot of books. Most of them have been written by remarkable women who I greatly admire. Most of what I've read is not fiction, but real, true life stories that include an aspect of difference. I didn't have a lot of time for reading when my girls were young and needed a lot of attention, but I feel I'm making up for lost time now!For International Womens Day, Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-64689277803664881242024-03-06T12:46:00.000+00:002024-03-06T12:46:18.093+00:00Square Me, Round World {Book Review}There's a new book out now and it's called Square Me, Round World. Written by Chelsea Luker, an autistic/ADHDer psychologist and owner of Connect Us Psychology, and illustrated by Eliza Fricker from Missing the Mark, this book aims to share insights and prompt conversation around neurodiversity by sharing stories of 'growing up in a world not built for you'.(*Underlined text and the picturesStephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-81504979319071064412024-02-29T19:35:00.001+00:002024-02-29T19:35:20.870+00:00A Very Modern Family {Book Review}There's been a lot going on for us lately but there has been one book at the top of my pile to read and review as soon as I could, and that is A Very Modern Family* by Carrie & David Grant.(*Underlined text and the pictures in this post are affiliate links; as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but it won't cost you any extra!)I bought the audiobook as soon as it was Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-61222359949740162022024-02-26T06:30:00.004+00:002024-02-26T06:30:00.238+00:00Understanding PDA: For Kids & Grown Ups {Book review}Understanding PDA: For Kids & Grown Ups is another new addition to my ever-growing list of great books that have been published on the topic of Pathological Demand Avoidance. Written and illustrated by the Freeman family, this book is intended to help anyone and everyone understand more about the PDA profile of autism.The story is written from the viewpoint of a young boy called Ethan. He hasStephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-84084881451525336362024-02-16T20:15:00.007+00:002024-02-23T13:46:11.159+00:00PDA in the Family: Life After the Lightbulb Moment Book LaunchOur book, PDA in the Family: Life After the Lightbulb Moment, is out now! Lots of people who use social media will of course know this already (the publication date was in January 2024) but it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't yet updated this blog with the news.The pictures in this post are affiliate links; As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but it won't cost you any Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-70655930250666681962024-01-15T06:30:00.002+00:002024-02-23T13:45:39.892+00:00Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance: Celebrating 14 years of PDA in the FamilyIn January 2010, 14 years ago, I sat down at my computer and the 'Steph's Two Girls blog' was born. I had just returned from an appointment with a paediatrician, and I had been told that our 2 year old daughter was most likely autistic. I had, of course, no clue as to what our life was going to be like from that point on - who does?! I didn't even have much of an idea about what blogging wasStephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-33502339779269035272023-12-01T19:40:00.009+00:002024-02-23T13:46:58.243+00:0030 Unusual Gift Ideas for Children and TeenagersWe probably all know someone who is difficult to buy gifts for - this can often be the case for older people who have had the chance to accumulate a lot of 'stuff' in life. But it can also be tricky trying to think of gifts that work well for some children and young adults. This has been the case in our house, for one of our girls. She has never appreciated clothes, books, make-up, jewellery, Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-11636946224889173732023-11-20T07:30:00.001+00:002024-02-23T13:54:54.772+00:00What I Mean When I Say I'm Autistic {Book review}Having followed the Neurobeautiful Facebook page for some time, I was delighted to be offered the chance to review the author's book, What I Mean When I Say I'm Autistic*. Annie Kotowicz is an autistic author and advocate who was diagnosed at age 28. She began her blog at Neurobeautiful over six years ago, to help process her ongoing discoveries about autism and neurodiversity.*This is Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-87721115670427232542023-11-08T20:29:00.002+00:002023-11-28T22:20:35.151+00:0020 Advent Calendar ideas for autistic childrenThe days of buying advent calendars are finally over for me, a fact I'm both happy and sad about. For a few years the first of December would begin a period of joy in our house, with the arrival of our Elf on the Shelf. We had a cute elf to begin with, but that soon expanded into a family of four. Our elves definitely didn't threaten or scare the girls, they were just here to have fun! Our Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-49120684360083105042023-10-30T06:30:00.008+00:002023-10-31T15:49:28.012+00:00Pathological Demand Avoidance. What's in a name?Pathological is a word that wasn't in my everyday vocabulary, until I had a 'lightbulb moment' upon hearing the phrase Pathological Demand Avoidance many years ago. Our younger daughter had been diagnosed with autism but she seemed in many ways different to other autistic children (certainly those whose parents I met with at that time). Standard suggested approaches for helping autistic children Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-61388663660027248552023-10-25T06:30:00.002+01:002023-10-26T13:54:22.126+01:00I can see things in my own colour {Book review}Megan Horan is a young autistic adult who has written the book I can see things in my own colour. Megan was diagnosed with autism and anxiety at the age of 13, after an early recognition of speech and language difficulties when she was a toddler. She has been sharing her experiences for the last couple of years via her Facebook page, One Blog at a Time.I can see things in my own colour has 35 Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-733462317467047302023-10-23T06:30:00.005+01:002023-10-23T06:30:00.143+01:00Luka and the Food Cloud (ARFID Book Review)When this new book, Luka and the Food Cloud: A story about ARFID, turned up on my doorstep, I wasn't prepared to find out I would love it as much as I do!This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you visit a link and buy something (it won't cost you any extra).The book's main character is neurodivergent and the story is that "Luca loves judo, video games, and Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-70870448871213711942023-10-10T06:30:00.006+01:002023-10-26T13:53:58.044+01:00Not Fine in School. Week 18Already we are up to week 18 of the Not Fine in School series - so many stories of children and their families being failed by the education system have been shared and there are more to come. A bigger push from the Government to enforce high attendance levels is not helping those children who find it difficult to attend school because the environment is not right for them, or because the Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-78058092867757740042023-10-09T06:30:00.004+01:002023-10-09T06:30:00.138+01:00Low Demand Parenting {Book Review}Low Demand Parenting is a recently published book that I think many parents and carers of PDA individuals will find helpful. The author, Amanda Diekman, is a late-diagnosed autistic mother of three neurodivergent boys. 'Dropping Demands, Restoring Calm and Finding Connection with your Uniquely Wired Child' is the strapline and this describes precisely the whole ethos of the book - the aim being Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-46996028529052200522023-10-03T17:08:00.005+01:002024-01-26T13:52:07.979+00:00PDA in the Family (Book)PDA in the Family: Life After the Lightbulb Moment is our family's story of living with the type of autism known as Pathological Demand Avoidance.PDA IN THE FAMILY is out now and can be ordered from Amazon by tapping on the book cover image above or by using this link*: PDA in the Family book. There is an audiobook version and other options are available at the foot of this post.Our younger Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-91531199370716431122023-10-03T06:30:00.032+01:002023-10-26T13:53:23.833+01:00Not Fine in School. Week 17Not Fine in School is a phrase far too many families currently relate to. Is it children or parents at fault, or is it perhaps the education system that needs an overhaul? School refusal is a phrase which has been overused for many years - throwing the blame firmly at the feet of the children who are unable to attend. School anxiety, school-based anxiety or school induced anxiety are sometimes Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-9936350822841475412023-10-02T06:30:00.024+01:002023-10-26T13:53:04.967+01:00Helping Your Child With PDA Live a Happier Life {Book Review}Helping Your Child With PDA Live a Happier Life is written by Alice Running, autistic mum of two autistic boys. Both her boys have been assessed as fitting the criteria for Pathological Demand Avoidance and this book is packed full of insights and practical advice on how to support PDA children.Alice begins with an introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance, expressing it as "a permanent Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-18364534381668766122023-09-26T06:30:00.123+01:002023-09-26T06:30:00.155+01:00Not Fine in School. Week 16The phrase 'Not Fine In School' describes the current situation for too many children in this country. There is a one-size-fits-all approach that clearly doesn't suit every child or take into account any varying needs. It feels like our school system is becoming more demanding and less flexible as the years go on, and what were cracks are turning into chasms. I have been contacted by many Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-12152898653563130562023-09-22T16:51:00.006+01:002023-10-26T13:55:51.608+01:00Where Do I Start? {Book Review}Where Do I Start? is a newly published book by Kate Laine-Toner, the founder of charity Bristol Autism Support. Apart from the fact we have both written books, Kate and I have something else in common - our daughters were both diagnosed with autism at the age of 2, and they are both teenagers now. In the years following her daughter's diagnosis, Kate was diagnosed autistic and also has ADHD; she Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-28134872211876845932023-09-19T06:30:00.001+01:002023-09-19T06:30:00.150+01:00Not Fine in School. Week 15There are many children who are not 'fine' in school, despite their parents being told they are. Welcome to Week 15 of sharing experiences from families whose children have NOT been fine in school. So many people have contacted me, keen to tell their stories, but we all know there are so many more who simply cannot write about what has happened to them. That might be because they are too broken, Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-74774340245660710482023-09-17T17:17:00.000+01:002023-09-17T17:17:21.966+01:00Travelling solo to New York CityTalking about solo travel to New York is not the usual kind of content I have on my blog but after years of writing I've realised that whilst this is a place I hopefully help others learn more about Pathological Demand Avoidance, I can also use it to keep our memories and talk about different aspects of life. So apologies if this is not the kind of info you usually come for but please do come Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-64092692164284302942023-09-12T06:30:00.001+01:002023-09-12T06:30:00.162+01:00Not Fine In School. Week 14Time for Week 14 of my 'Not Fine In School' series. For those who are wondering what this is about, I started this series to share real experiences of school and education, from those families who have found the whole system far from 'fine' or even 'fit for purpose'. There are too many children experiencing distress within our current education system. Some families are told that their Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-568532244650567082023-09-05T06:30:00.004+01:002023-09-05T09:39:51.833+01:00Not Fine In School. Week 13September is always full of those three little words that strike fear into lots of families across our nation (August for those in Scotland): Back To School.For many children and their families, this is an exciting time. The chance to enter a classroom full of peers and teaching staff and talk animatedly about what you've been getting up to over the summer holidays can be a fun experience for Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-41247409916928073212023-09-04T14:48:00.000+01:002023-09-04T14:48:05.965+01:00September. Back To School.. for some.September. I have a love-hate relationship with this month. The weather is often lovely; less hot than full-on summer days (ha, although we had none of those here in the UK over this summer anyway!). But September carries with it those three little words that mean so much to many families: Back to School.There will be some families who are exhausted from full days and nights of caring for their Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-67468486821119785592023-07-17T06:30:00.057+01:002023-10-26T13:55:20.160+01:00Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome in Children {Book Review}When I read the book Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome in Children for the first time, I had emotional tears in my eyes. I wondered how the authors had managed to write as if they had been in our house, watching our younger daughter and her reactions to life. As soon as I finished reading it, I wanted everyone else I knew to read about it so that they would understandStephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.com4