Woke up at 6am again, not sure why this is my new routine, but here we are. River joined me at 6:25am, bright-eyed and full of energy. First breakfast was served with an iPad (essential), so we had a peaceful start.

He’s definitely getting sick. He was coughing through the night and told me, “There’s a booger in my nose.” (Thanks YouTube)

There’s not a booger. His nose is blocked but try explaining congestion to a four-year-old who’s learning language on his own terms.

I always know he’s unwell when we enter the Baby Shark reenactment phase:
“HELP! MUMMY! I’M SICK, I’M SICK!”
shouted on loop.

River has echolalia, he repeats words and phrases he’s heard, sometimes from people, often from TV. It’s how he processes language and emotions. It’s also how he communicates feelings that he doesn’t quite have the words for yet.

The first time it happened, I came running in panic with towels, buckets ready for the worst.
Now I know it’s a scene from Baby Shark, where the shark goes to the doctor.
It’s his way of saying, “I’m not okay.”

So, I join in:
“Is River sick?”
“Yes, I need a doctor.”
“Okay then… River needs a doctor.”
Out comes the toy doctor’s kit.

I mean, I’m not saying it’s from licking the London Underground…
…but I’m also not not saying that.

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The Mission: Primark Parcel

I had one thing on the calendar today, pick up a parcel from Primark (Summer’s holiday clothes). So we loaded up the pushchair, dropped Summer at holiday club (her choice, obviously) and off we went.

The walk was calm, and River allowed me just enough time to enter the shop, find the lift and grab the parcel before the “bye bye shop” began.

Shopping with River isn’t really a thing, probably a mix of overstimulation and complete boredom. Luckily, I’m not much of a shopper either. Online life suits us just fine.

We stopped for a snack on some colourful benches set up for the holidays. There was a sandpit nearby, but he wasn’t interested. It was just us and one lady with a baby, which helped keep things calm for him.

Then after, we had a quick parkour session on some other benches and a detour to WHSmith which mainly consisted of me saying “Look, don’t touch” and “No thank you”.
He’s getting better about not touching everything, but yes… I caved and bought one of those ridiculously overpriced kids’ magazines I said I’d stop buying. This one had a pizza shop toy attached, and he’s been saying “pizza” a lot lately so… why not?

Naturally, now that we’re home, he has zero interest in the pizza toy. Standard.

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Tesco, Meltdowns & The Lanyard I Didn’t Want

At Tesco (forgot the butter from the online shop), I remembered the sunflower lanyard. For those that don’t know, people wear them to show others that they have hidden disabilities and may need extra support.

I’ve resisted getting one. I don’t fully know why.

Maybe there’s still a small part of me in denial, even though I’ve fought harder than anyone to get his diagnosis, support and the recognition he deserves.

Maybe it’s because I don’t want people making up their minds about him before they’ve had a chance to know him before they see the incredible, funny, sensitive boy he is.

Maybe it’s because I have a hidden physical disability and I’ve spent most of my life quietly getting on with it, never wanting to make a fuss. (I’ll share more about that another time)

Maybe it’s all of those things.

But after a full five-minute Tesco meltdown because he couldn’t enter through the exit. I sat on the ground trying to soothe him while avoiding the stares.

And I thought: it really can’t hurt.

So I asked. And we got one.

Will it help? I don’t know. But maybe people will be a little more understanding, at least, for us.

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The Afternoon Shift: Calpol & Halloween TV

Back home by 11:30am.

Lunch has to be served between 11:30am and 12pm, or things fall apart. But today, he wasn’t interested.

I knew then, he really was sick.

He curled up on the sofa, quietly requesting “Halloween TV.”
That means a playlist of Halloween-themed YouTube episodes. It’s been his special interest since last July. I know every episode by heart.

Then came the Calpol battle. I hate it. But there’s no way around it. While he’s yelling “NO MUMMY! I DON’T LIKE IT,” I have to time it just right and shoot the liquid down his throat. He splutters, looks at me horrified and swallows.
And then I get to do it all again because apparently, one correct-sized syringe is too much to ask.

By 1:20pm, he ate lunch.
The Calpol had kicked in.
The energy returned.

Back to iPad and the familiar rhythm:
“Mummy… Mum… Mummy…”
every 2 to 3 minutes. It’s his way of checking in. It tells me he’s okay.

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iPad Time, Skeletons and Switch Games

The next two hours were pure iPad with a soundtrack of:
“Mummy! It’s a skeleton!”
“Mummy! Mummy! It’s a ghost!”

On loop.

If I repeat it back “Yes, it’s a skeleton!” he’ll usually calm, and move on. Not always, but often.
A little River parenting trick I’ve learned.

We tried the magazine, let’s just say it was met with resistance. I started to read it while sitting next to him and slowly his attention turned to me. Finally we started doing the pizza stickers.

Kike arrived home around 3:30pm. River loves watching him play that skateboard game on the Switch, so I took that as my cue to slip out for a breather. I was going to go for a walk, count my steps and all that but it was raining, so I just… walked to the pub.

Yep. A little quiet pub moment: a podcast, a scroll through TikTok (don’t shame me) and just watching the rain. Honestly, it was the reset I needed.

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Evening Rescue Mission: No Naps, Just Pizza

When I got back, Kike was in the kitchen (yes, he’s a keeper) and River was… falling asleep. At 4:45pm.

Absolutely not, my friend.

Emergency banana bread. Full-strength mango juice. Minions movie. Trampoline session.

We pulled it back.

Back on track with pizza night. We make our own now, sadly I can’t eat tomatoes anymore (don’t get me started, my gut is dramatic). Homemade never beats takeaway but when you have to tailor it to your body it’ll do.

Dinner. Movie finished. Calpol (this time, Dad’s turn which obviously wasn’t half as dramatic). Bedtime.

Then time with Summer, our precious NZ Traitors catch-up and Primark fashion show – she’s so much cooler than me.
She needs her mum too, and this little moment at the end of the day means a lot to both of us.