Welcome to 2024!
This means that Awesome Archie is now heading into its fourth year 🙂 THANKYOU!!!
This Christmas break, superhero sibling Daisy decided that our website needed to do something to entertain the kids. In her words ” it’s all a bit grown up and boring!” So, in her defense, she got right to it and created a simple game to brighten up the site. We are so proud of her achievement.
“Awesome Archie pop” which can be found under the games heading on this site, is a take on the well known ” whack a mole” and has a simple but fun game play. This game can also be played on the mobile phone and is FREE so enjoy 🙂 More games will be added to our site as the kids get creating!
Finding head-space as a parent carer.
Having your own space when you have a child ( or in our case children) with additional needs can feel impossibly difficult to achieve . Every person’s idea of finding head-space is different. For me, an hour painting (its usually a disaster but the process is what I need) or 20 minuets reading can sort me out! The issue I find is that that time doesn’t come often enough and I regularly get overwhelmed. For me , this quickly escalates into a feeling of failure as a Mum, wife and a real resentment for the life I live having to put others before myself… ALWAYS! It’s only now I know that these feelings are normal. Its ridiculously hard being a parent carer and so why wouldn’t I feel overwhelmed a lot?!
I would also love to normalize sharing the moments of sheer misery. I get so tired of seeing peoples social media pages full of picture perfect moments that WE ALL KNOW are just a small glimmer of what life is really like.
Of course, it’s also important to create a support system for yourself as a caregiver. If you are able to, depend on friends or family members who can be a listening ear for you. Consider joining online support groups where you can share your experiences and learn from others who understand what you’re going through. It’s ok to say no to social invites if you can’t face it! Your true friends will understand that looking after your own mental health is ESSENTIAL for you to be a good parent/carer and remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
You are all welcome to join our facebook support group, link here👇:)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3650909864922453/
And finally Our Awesome Archie pledge to you for 2024
We as an organisation have changed so much over the last 4 years. We started off with 3 assembly diary dates in local schools, chatting about the books Archie and I had written to get discussions going about ASD. Fast forward to now- our academic diary for 2024 is almost FULL!
We have been recognized at the BBC Radio Solent ” make a difference awards” . We have rubbed shoulders with super kind and generous celebrities like Harry Redknapp, Fred Dineage, Alun Newman, PDAdaduk . We have our books in the local library and are still proud affiliates of the Dorset Children’s Foundation. We hosted and live streamed a carol concert for those unable to be out in the cold. We continue to work with other HUGE charities like Autism Unlimited and Place to be, whilst still volunteering in school with FREE TA 1:1 support.
WE ARE SO PROUD AND GRATEFUL!
We pledge to continue this important work throughout 2024. To keep talking about Autism, the challenges, the joys, the gifts. To keep creating HONEST and lived experience content to support those who need it. To keep supporting both schools and parents and most importantly, keep trying to make the world a better place for our neurodivergent children.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL 🙂