Life at Sensory Planet

People often ask how I manage to run a business, raise four kids, keep up with therapy schedules, and still find time to plan a wedding. The truth? I don’t “manage” it in the polished Instagram sense — I just keep moving, drink a lot of coffee, and celebrate the little wins along the way. Here’s a peek into what our week really looks like — the chaos, the routine, the meltdowns, and everything in between.

For many parents of neurodivergent children, sending your child to school is not as simple as ticking a box and packing a lunch. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of meetings, IEPs, therapy reports, anxious mornings, and teary afternoons. And sometimes, no matter how hard you advocate, the school just isn’t the right fit.

Let’s talk parenting styles.Not to judge. Not to lecture. Just to say — sometimes, gentle parenting looks more like a crime scene clean-up crew and less like a peaceful Pinterest board. And if you’re raising a neurodivergent child like I am, you’ll know the “gentle” bit isn’t always about volume — it’s about trying really bloody hard not to lose your mind when you’re running on 2 hours of sleep and your walls are covered in Sharpie.

Going through the diagnosis process is long.It’s heavy. It’s confusing.It’s a full-time job on top of parenting, surviving, and remembering to eat something that isn’t just your child’s leftovers.

It’s almost here. The shoes are polished, the uniforms are folded with military precision (well… close enough), and the lunchboxes are ready to be filled with things they’ll totally not eat. That’s right — school goes back on Monday, and I’ve got a mix of emotions swirling around like a fidget spinner on a sugar rush.

When you’ve got two children just 13 months apart — one with ASD and the other with very suspiciously undiagnosed ADHD — the phrase “school holidays” doesn’t bring to mind beachy serenity or Pinterest-worthy craft tables. It brings flashbacks. Noise. Chaos. Strategy meetings. And occasionally... bourbon and Coke.