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.

Raising an autistic child often means your calendar looks like a game of appointment bingo—OT here, speech there, psychologist next week. Now toss in a baby or two, two preppies who need support with their early learning, another child mid-diagnosis, a house that never stops, and a partner who’s gone from 3am to 6pm. Sound familiar? You’re not alone—and you’re doing an amazing job, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Ah, the school pick-up run. A time that should just be: “Kids in car, home for snacks, done.” But if you're parenting a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder — plus a toddler, plus a baby, plus another school child — the simple after-school dash can turn into something between a hostage negotiation and an Olympic sprint.