So, it might seem like I’m super confident here, but I almost stumbled at the starting blocks when deciding how open and vulnerable to be in sharing our experiences on the Raising PDA Kids social pages.
- I was a little worried about what other people would think.
- I was a little worried about accidentally offending my friends and family.
- But most of all, I was worried about what my son would think when he is older.
Creating this venture didn’t just happen on a whim. I had to really think this through a lot.
Worrying about what other people think was pretty easy to move past. I’ve gotten really good at challenging social conventions, cultural expectations, and belief systems of late. Letting go of what other people think has been the most liberating part in my journey raising a PDAer!
Worrying about accidentally offending my friends and family was higher up on the worry list. Let me just say that my time and energy is spread so thin these days that if you are in my life, you are high on the priority list, you are so important to me, and I’m grateful that you are here. If you interpret something I write as offensive, that is not my intent, more likely I just didn’t express myself quite right.
Worrying about what my son would think.
This was the one that almost stopped me from embarking on this journey.
Would he feel embarrassed or ashamed of what I write or be upset that our family photo is on my website?
Initially I felt that my son’s story wasn’t mine to share. I considered trying to just make it all about me, but what I realised is that our stories are so intertwined, it’s impossible to tell one without the other.
So, I thought maybe I don’t tell it at all?
I sat with that for a while.
Then I realised that if people don’t talk about PDA, if they continue to struggle through it on their own, nothing will ever change.
What would it suggest if I didn’t talk about PDA? What would it suggest if I hid my feelings?
When things can’t be talked about they create feelings of shame, like it is something that needs to be hidden, that if you experience those feelings there is something wrong with you.
So, this is where I landed.
Because I care so much about my son and advocating for a world that is more accepting of PDA, I have to do this!
I set up Raising PDA Kids to…
- Support other mums of PDAers. I want to validate how you are feeling and share my experiences so that you know you aren’t alone. We stand in solidarity.
- Empower mums of PDAers. I want you to find a state of calm within your home. I want you to be able to manage your worries. I want you to be able to look after your wellbeing. I want you to feel confident in guiding your child through life.
- Advocate for PDA. I’m starting with the mums, but I have big plans. I want to reach teachers and professionals and generate awareness of PDA so that that kids and families get the support they need.
In doing this…
I hope that I’m also teaching my kids that it’s OK to speak openly about emotions and struggles.
I hope I’m teaching them the importance of speaking up and raising the voices of neurodivergent people.
I hope I’m teaching them how to create a world where people show a little more acceptance, compassion and grace.
I hope that my son will understand that this is a worthy cause.
That because of his story, our family’s story, the lives of others have been improved.
