To anyone who has ever looked at a child or a struggling mum and said, “But your child doesn’t look neurodivergent,”
I would like to take a moment to explain. Not just to you, but to the world around us, who often believes that neurodivergence is something you can see, something that’s obvious. If only it was that easy, us parents would have figured it out years ago and saved ourselves a lot of time, stress and worry in the process. But it’s not, is it? It’s never been that simple.
When I look at my child, I don’t see someone who doesn’t “look” neurodivergent. I see a beautiful little girl, struggling to keep it all together every single day. I see the child who fights a silent battle with every interaction, every task, every social situation. I see the overwhelming anxiety that fills their eyes, even when they’re smiling at tasks you might complete without even thinking about it every single day. You might not see it, but I do. I’m the one who watches the struggle when you’re not around, and takes the brunt of their emotions when their needs haven't been met.