I am finding this a rather difficult read. On one hand, it is very funny and tender, on the other the situation is insuperable.
One of my young friends, a single mother, has an ASD son, but he is high functioning Asperger's'. Nevertheless she encounters many similar problems to Ben and Jonah with the various government agencies; and no end of problems with the secondary school he goes to. We have the 11+ and he sailed through, but the grammar school he has been sent to, supposedly an "autistic-friendly" school, can't deal with his many anxieties and his self-harming etc. It is a dreadful situation for her to find herself in.
She also has had breast cancer and has to face her early demise - what to do with the boy? Will he be able to look after himself in adulthood? should she appoint guardian/s for him? how much will he be able to cope with? all unanswerable questions at the moment.
Some foods are still relatively cheap….
Monty Don is retiring from Gardeners’ World
Already getting Christmas emails
Andy Burnham illustrates how much he cares about Homelessness
