“The Many Faces of Autism (and the Night My Daughter Said ‘I Love You, Mum’)”

🌈 Understanding the Spectrum: The Many Faces of Autism

When people hear the word autism, they often picture one kind of child. But living in our house, you learn pretty quickly that there’s no such thing as “one kind.”

Our Miss 6 is diagnosed Level 2/3 on the autism spectrum. She’s verbal — to an extent — and when she’s feeling comfortable, she can be chatty and funny and wonderfully blunt. But there are days when words just don’t come. Sometimes she echoes what we’ve said, and other times she goes quiet altogether. Her silence isn’t stubbornness — it’s her brain processing the world in its own way.

💬 Words, Repeats, and Everything In Between

There’s a whole range of how autistic kids communicate. Some talk non-stop, some are completely non-verbal, and some — like our girl — fall somewhere in between. Echolalia, the repeating of words or phrases, might sound unusual to others, but in our home it’s a bridge. When she repeats something, it’s her way of joining in, of connecting.

Every child finds their own way to be heard. Whether it’s words, gestures, or a look that says, “I’m trying, Mum.”

Miss 6 didn’t say Mum until she was three and a half. I still remember the moment like it was yesterday — I was so ecstatic that she’d finally said it. Later, when she repeated “I love you” back to me, I celebrated that win too, even though I knew she was just echoing my words. It didn’t matter. Every repetition felt like a crack of sunlight through the clouds.

Then one night, I was tucking her into bed when she looked up at me and said, “I love you, Mum.”
She said it first — and she added Mum. I froze, smiled, whispered “I love you to the moon and back,” and then backed out of her room, straight into my husband’s arms, and just full-on ugly cried.

Now, when I tuck her in, she grins and says, “Okay, get out now, Mum,” and honestly, it’s the best kind of full circle.

🧩 The Levels — But Not the Limits

You’ll sometimes hear autism described in “levels”:

• Level 1 — requires some support

• Level 2 — requires substantial support

• Level 3 — requires very substantial support

These levels are useful for doctors and schools, but they don’t tell you about the sparkle behind a child’s eyes, or how fiercely they love. Miss 6 can manage beautifully in some environments, but in others she needs extra support — and that’s okay. Her level doesn’t define her, it just helps us understand what she needs.

💖 Why Every Child’s Autism Looks Different

Two children can share the same diagnosis and still be worlds apart. One might crave deep pressure hugs while another avoids touch altogether. One might love flashing lights and chaos; another might cover their ears at a whisper.

It’s not “more” or “less” autistic — it’s just different. Just like how every child has their own favourite toy, every autistic child has their own sensory and emotional map of the world.

🌻 Our Family’s Takeaway

If there’s one thing our journey has taught me, it’s that autism isn’t something to “fix.” It’s something to understand. Every child — verbal, non-verbal, or somewhere in between — deserves to be seen for who they are, not what they can say or do.

In our home, we celebrate progress in all its forms. Sometimes that means a full conversation; other times, it’s a shared look, a giggle, or a moment of calm after a storm. Those little wins mean everything.

Because behind every “level” is a child with a story — and ours just happens to sparkle a little brighter in her own way.

🌈 Why I Started Sensory Planet

Our journey with Miss 6 is exactly why I created Sensory Planet. I wanted to build a space where families like ours could find the right sensory tools, fidgets, and calming supports to help every child — whether they’re verbal, non-verbal, or still finding their voice — thrive in their own world.

Because every child deserves to feel understood, supported, and celebrated — exactly as they are.