00:07 S1
This is Studio 1 on Vision Australia Radio.
00:16 S2
Hello, I'm Sam...
S3
And I'm Lizzie...
S2
And this is Studio 1, your weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view - here on Vision Australia Radio.
00:23 S3
This week we celebrate Mother's Day - a little late.
00:27 S2
Lisa and Sarah talk about their experiences as parents with a vision impairment, both the joys and some of the pitfalls.
00:33 S3
As we always say at this point, please do get in touch with the show. Whether you have experience of any of the issues covered on this week's episode of Studio 1, or if you think there's something we should be talking about, you never know - your story and insight may help someone who's dealing with something similar.
00:49 S2
Please contact us via email - studio1@visionaustralia.org - that's studio, number one at Vision Australia dot org.
00:54 S3
Or of course, you can drop us a note on the station's Facebook page by going to facebook.com. Radio network. Happy belated Mother's Day to all of the mums out there!
01:09 S2
Well, it is a bit late, but... funny thing is, is, uh, we don't go out on a Sunday, so... some parts of the, some parts of Australia we are repeated on a Saturday. But, though this is... late Mother's Day.
01:22 S3
Yes. And all the important people already know how much we love them. I know that you're listening. Mum. Oma. Grandma, I love you all. And yes, happy belated Mother's Day.
01:33 S2
So, what did you get up to on Sunday anyway?
01:35 S3
I actually went out for lunch with my Mum. We went to Vili's and we had the most amazing food and conversation. I think we spent near three hours there just chatting and eating and yeah, it was great. Funny story though, I ordered a flat white and my stepson ordered a hot chocolate. So to differentiate the flat white from the hot chocolate, some silly bugger decided to put paint on the lid. And so I had white paint all over my face and my hands, which I was not happy about.
02:05 S2
Oh well. Okay. It leaves you with a Mother's Day experience to remember, though that's...
02:10 S3
I'm not likely to forget it.
02:10 S2
So... my Mum is at the moment in Darwin and recovering from... a misadventure, as it were. But she does not like Mother's Day whatsoever. Why? She just simply says it's... got her own reasons anyway. So at some stage, I will have to give her a call just to see how she's going. But I tend to make sure that it's either... a day before or a day after. Otherwise, yes, I will get mercilessly... paid out for just calling her on Mother's Day.
02:40 S3
Right. Well, I think one of our guests will at least agree that Mother's Day is every day. And I guess it is, in a way.
02:48 S2
Well, I think both of them would agree. So last year we spoke to Sarah Evans about, well, dating blind. It was one of our more popular things. And Sarah... well, I'll leave it to her to explain what she does. And well, over to you, Sarah.
03:06 S4
Hi, Sam. How are you going?
03:08 S2
Oh. It's it's this funny middle stage of the year where it's not too not cold. It's not hot. It's just irritating. What's it like over in Brisbane at the moment?
03:17 S6
Look, we're just starting to get the cooler evenings, which is so pleasant. It's really lovely. And the days are sunny, as always, so. Yeah. Lovely.
03:25 S2
My memories of Brisbane are actually being rather cold, I've got to admit. Brisbane... is one of those places where it's all designed for warm weather. So it doesn't take much for it to feel cold. And especially from someone from Darwin like me. Everything's cold, face it. So even even Brisbane in summer can get cold. But anyway... well, let's just start with a statement that... well, my mother said once about Mother's Day because she doesn't like celebrating it. Because every day should be Mother's Day.
03:59 S6
I love that. I think she's she's she's onto something there. I'd love it if my my kids treated me like that every day. It'd be awesome.
04:07 S2
What is maybe your best Mother's Day experience? And maybe we can then talk about your worst Mother's Day experience.
04:14 S6
Oh, that's a really good question. So I guess on reflection, I think my best one was the... when the kids were in primary school, they do all their crafts and things like that, and they were also doing... Scouts after school. And so there was all these little gifts and trinkets and handmade things that they'd made soaps and... there was a washcloth in the shape of a teddy bear. Like all that kind of stuff. So that was really lovely. And, you know, coffee in the morning. So that was nice and...
04:44 S2
All right, maybe not the worst experience, but maybe the most dodgy, because I think the dodgy experiences are the fun experiences.
04:50 S6
I think it's probably going to be this year because I've already I'd something I want to buy myself and the kids are like, okay, well, you can just do that because they're teenagers now and they're only going to spend my money anyway. So I think possibly this year. But I might be surprised. You never know.
05:05 S2
Well, I suppose get back to us, let us know.
05:07 S6
Mm.
05:08 S2
All right. Let's talk about you. So you, as we established last year, you are a Quality Living Coordinator. Now, what does that involve?
05:18 S6
Ah, it is an awesome role - I get to, you know, see people along their vision loss journey. So some of our clients are new to vision loss. So we support them through that journey, kind of show them what services and things are available to them when they're ready, you know, O&M, all that kind of stuff. And some of our clients are kind of, you know, long-term vision loss. And so they can connect with the community of people that they might not have connected with before. So it's coming together discussing challenges and strategies around vision losses as a group.
05:48 S2
So it's mainly just... group therapy, as it were. Do you deal with anybody... one on one if you need to?
05:54 S6
That's kind of a little bit outside of our scope. We do have one on one conversations to, you know, establish goals, kind of see where people are at, what they're wanting to talk about. And we do refer out. So for our over 65, we have the check in and chat. And then for people under 65 we can refer to, you know, counsellors, psychologists. There is a peer support program for one-on-one as well.
06:13 S2
One of the other things you do what the tele-link programs, I believe are.
06:17 S6
Yes. So I was a volunteer with that team doing a dating. So people interested, people with vision impairment trying to get back into the dating scene or into the dating scene. But I'm not sure if they've got a new facilitator for that one yet.
06:31 S2
What what particular issues? I mean, so is it mainly vision loss or... do we, you know, are we talking about other issues that might be facing someone like myself, for example, who is, you know, trying to get work or something like that?
06:43 S6
Yeah. We do. I've just wrapped up an evening group for working clients. So they obviously are working during the day, so that's not an appropriate time for them. So we do it in the evening. It goes for 1.5 hours and we talk about similar kind of topics, but as it relates to employment. So they may then we could talk about kind of feelings around that the the emotional adjustment and supports. But it's kind of from a... as well as maintaining work perspective as well.
07:12 S2
It can be quite a shock, especially if you've not held down a job before, to actually learn what it's like to actually, you know, the work culture. It is quite different to the normal world, isn't it?
07:24 S6
It is, a lot of learning. I know at our Vision Australia here, it's kind of a supportive environment, so I can imagine it'll be ten times harder if you're in a competitive environment.
07:33 S2
Indeed. I mean, even things like, I mean, how how you use your work email and... inappropriate conduct for people. So if someone annoys you, you don't just zip off an angry email to them. You might want to actually... which I've seen happen...so, yeah. I mean, is there anything that's actually without violating any confidentiality, is there anything that sort of surprised you... when dealing with these group sessions?
07:59 S6
Interesting. Yeah. I think some of the things people would like to talk about is kind of what you were saying. There is like how to relate to other people in the workplace. So disclosure like, who do I tell? Like because they're kind of on that... half-and-half, like they're just starting to lose their vision. So how much support do I get? Am I going to be taken advantage of if a colleague knows that I have a vision impairment? Is my manager going to allow me time to adjust or... do the training that's involved in, you know, using a computer and give me that time to be able to do my role... in this new way?
08:35 S2
Wow. And just like that, we've got sidetracked. Anyway...
08:40 S4
That's a whole 'nother topic.
08:42 S7
It is a whole 'nother topic.
08:43 S2
We should.... get you back to... talk about some of that when we go back to the world of employment. I think that would be absolutely fascinating. But I mean, so we're back to the topic of the day - parenthood, as it were. And you've kind of experienced parenthood as both a single and a non-single parent. Maybe we can sort of look into that a little bit. I mean, how is it different dealing with things on your own as opposed to as... being part of a couple.
09:11 S6
Yeah. So I would say there is good and bad to both. So initially, my partner and I, when we had the kids, I could rely on him, I could kind of defer to him. But as the relationship went along, he kind of like, he like... one of the jobs he... sought out was to drive buses, kind of for schoolkids. And so when I needed him, you know, to take the kids to school and to pick the kids up from school, he was working. So then that fell to me. So, you know, you can rely on your partner a little bit. But then as a single person, it all comes to you. So I get to make all the decisions and I get to kind of... so there's yeah, good and bad to both.
09:52 S2
As a child of a single parent family, myself, one of the things is that you build up a very different relationship when it's just you and the kids. That's at least from my point of view. Have you noticed that?
10:05 S6
I have - so I do tend to the kids do have to do a little bit more in the home. Their, the expectations of them are a bit higher, when you're a single parent, I think that's for most single parent families where the labor gets dispersed differently. So, it can teach them... to be a little bit... more grown up. But in some ways, they're still kids, and they still want to, want mum to do everything.
10:33 S2
And where does that your disability come into that? I mean, you mentioned off air that there are two sides to that. And of course, you've got two... teenage kids now. So their their views of the world are changing as well. How does that relate to you as a visually impaired person?
10:48 S6
Yes, it's... I think it's always a negotiation...with the kids - because at the end of the day, they just want a parent. And so it's tricky for to know when... to ask them for help and when to, like, let them be kids. So... sometimes, you know, I'll need a menu read or we'll be out. And so it is good to have your own backup and technology and your own skills in place - so that if, you know, my daughter has... ADHD and my son has autism, and so they all have their own special needs as well. And so it's about negotiating who needs what, when... kind of thing.
11:29 S2
Well, and also they're coming up to that magical time. And that is driver's licence - I mean that must be fantastic. It might all of a sudden hopefully you're going to have somebody who can drive you around, at least for a couple of years.
11:40 S6
Yes. That is my hope. And we're having that conversation now. So my daughter's of the age where she can start... doing her learner's and stuff like that. So she's got the, she's passed the test, which is good. We need to get her some hours. So we're going to look at... either reaching out to family support because obviously you can't do that myself. I believe Pcyc do like... retirees help out and do some volunteer work and help low income families with driving and things like that. So we're going to look at options for that for her.
And then we are discussing where that boundary is about, Okay, if I purchase a car, how much time would you feel comfortable supporting me and how much can you use it for you? So there's a negotiation there.
12:24 S2
I've got to admit. And some... our friends have got kids now with driver's licence. And I was like, Can't you lend them to us to drive us around as well?
12:33 S6
Yes, that would be awesome. Although... my daughter, because I've said to her, you know, like you've got the experience to make a great support worker. She was quite adamant about having a career in film and television, so she's not inclined that way.
12:46 S2
How do they both go as far as... their empathy towards... people with disability go? And is that, do you think that the having lived with you for a long period of time, whether they just take it all for granted or... is it, do they respond differently to disability, you think, than other people?
13:05 S6
I think that is an awesome question. And again, I'd have to say there's light and dark. So in some ways, like when I remember when she was ten and we were walking through the shopping centre and she was had one one hand on the trolley and it was like going all up and down the aisle. And I'm like, what are you doing? Like you're all over the place. And she said, Oh, I saw a man with one arm. And I wanted to know what it must be like for him. And so I think she kind of has a natural empathy.
You know, when she was three and I was kind of in the kitchen doing things, and I just stopped and paused and I was listening because I'm like, what is going on? She's like, Oh, mum, there's a workman on the roof next door. And so she knew what I was listening like. She knew that there was a sound. I was trying to work it out and she gave me the answer I was looking for without a conversation. So in some ways, it's really, really good. They kind of demystify disability for them so they understand people with disabilities are just people living their lives. They've seen it every day. So they're not kind of scared or intimidated or awkward because they kind of know in other ways they can take advantage because they're still kids and they're pushing boundaries.
So when she was again, around that kind of ten age, you know, coming home from school and I was at this back gate waiting for them, they all looked the same in their uniforms. She altered her hairstyle to look different because she knew and so she could, like, run in front of me and then go play with her friends because she didn't want to go home straight away. So yeah, they can take advantage of it, but they can also be... empathetic... towards it as well.
14:35 S2
No one's tried to, I don't know, sneak something into the shopping trolley without you noticing or...
14:40 S6
All the time.
14:41 S2
Aha.
14:42 S6
Yeah, but it's good now because they take care of the online orders. So I get to check.
14:47 S2
One of the concerns that, I mean, if someone is in a situation where they're in a marriage that is not working or something like that is that they might... not be able to cope as a single person with the kids, but also separating personal life from family life, as it were. How did you go with that? Was it okay?
15:10 S6
To be honest, it's not easy. It's really hard, especially initially. But I would say the relationship breakdown was a natural consequence of my confidence increasing. Okay, so I was probably in a better place to separate. And that kind of spiralled - so the more confidence I got, the more I wanted to do things for myself and the more things I did for myself, the more confidence grew. So it's about kind of skill development, I guess, and just having the trusting yourself that you... can do this.
15:44 S2
And I'm going to put something else to you here. A friend of mine used to sort of define herself by, um, whether she was with somebody else or not and how successful that relationship was. How do you now... approach that as... well, as someone out there in the world with a with a disability?
16:05 S6
Oh, I don't have time like that, to be fair. I just I don't have time to consider, like, I've got the kids. I've got myself. I'm working. There's a little bit of studying there, too... running a household, like. Yeah, I don't know where. I mean, I would like to date... and I'm happy to do that, but it'd have to be with someone who will fit into our lifestyle. I don't... yeah.
16:29 S2
So if there's somebody out there and... they're willing to to do a lot of hard work themselves, then maybe you'd consider it.
16:35 S6
Yeah, yeah, they'd have to bring something to the table - just as I have, so...
16:40 S2
Thank you. Sarah... It's been... great having a chat and... happy Mother's day. I hope that special present that you've been semi-promised materializes.
16:51 S6
That's all good. And if there's anyone out there who'd like to join our Quality Living groups for parents, we have those available too. So... give us a shout out at Vision Australia, and we can pop you into one of those groups.
17:01 S2
And we'll include the links on our podcast notes. Thanks again. Sarah.
17:05 S6
Thanks, Sam.
17:11 S3
So what is your plan for Mothers Day today?
17:13 S8
Just catching up with the grandparents, with my son there as well. And just have a little Mother's Day with my grandmother. So there's usual Sunday thing to do, but... probably have some Mother's Day cake or something. Another excuse for my grandfather to buy cake.
17:32 S3
And do you... have Leo's bought you any presents?
17:34 S8
I know he's got me a couple.
17:36 S3
Oh, but you don't know where they are. Or do you?
17:37 S8
I do know what they are. Because everybody kept asking me, like, What do you want for Mother's Day? And I'm like, Oh, well, that's easy. You're gonna know what you're gonna get. So what are you getting? So I'm gonna get flowers and chocolates and a Bluey onesie pajama thing.
17:56 S3
Oh, well, at least you'll be cosy in winter.
17:57 S8
After last summer? Yeah.
S3
So how old is Leo now?
S8
He is seven and a half years old.
18:05 S3
Seven and a half. Now, being a mum is hard enough as it is, I should imagine.
18:11 S8
Yes, definitely. I imagine that.
18:12 S3
Being a mum with vision impairment can be harder. So when you told people that you were pregnant, what were their reactions, especially given your vision impairment?
18:22 S8
Well... a lot of people were like, but you're vision impaired. And I'm like, Yeah. And like, my eyes don't affect my fertility. It's history. My vision doesn't affect my... want to become a parent. Yeah. And... I mean, my grandfather was rather excited because Leo is the first great grandchild. And, yeah, on the day I found out I was pregnant with Leo, I told Grandpa the next day because he'd actually had the stroke on the day I found out I was pregnant. Yeah. So I wasn't going to tell anybody so soon, but I had to tell him to give him something to look forward to.
Other people's reactions were, you know, you get some people, you know, they're really happy for you, particularly if they've known you long enough to know that the vision impairment is really not going to be the problem with becoming a mother. Yeah. And... others were, you know, questioning, Well, how are you going to do this if you can't see and all that? And I'm like, Well, I'll find out a way.
19:16 S3
What about like, people in the medical profession? Because like, obviously you have to go to the same appointments and things like that. Were they open-minded?
19:22 S8
So the medical profession actually was a lot better than I was expecting. I mean, I knew my doctor would be good. So when I went to see her and tell her that I was pregnant and all that, she was fantastic. She sent me on to doing all things, because I had a missed miscarriage beforehand. You know, we did early ultrasounds and stuff like that. Yep. And, yeah, I can't really see anything on the ultrasound. So I was lucky with some of the technicians were good at describing stuff for me and all that. Yeah.
The hospital, I already had a long hospital record with the Women's and Children's Hospital because of my vision impairment when I was younger. So they pulled out my file, vision impaired before I even got to the to the appointment. They already knew it all, and they were quite good when I was in... giving birth and just after and all that, they allowed my partner to stay afterwards... more than what they allow other... parents to... assist with vision issues and all that. And yeah, I had a really good experience from the medical professionals, but I know that's not always everybody's experience as well.
20:27 S3
Yeah. And your son has a few different issues.
20:32 S8
Yes. My son has been diagnosed with autism. Yeah, he has global developmental delay. He did inherit my vision impairment. And he's got astigmatism on top of it. And in the early years, he was having a lot of seizures. Fortunately, he's grown out of them.
20:48 S3
So there would be a lot of appointments to go to.
20:56 S8
Like, I take him to hydrotherapy and physiotherapy and speech therapy. And the appointments early on were ridiculous because obviously we had a lot of diagnosis appointments and vision appointments and stuff with the Women's and Children's Hospital. Yeah, I was in the hospital at one point, like six out of the seven days. Mind you, some of that was when Leo had had an accident and bit through his lip. Ooh, mmm. And he had to have surgery to fix that one up. But, yeah, we, uh, early days were a lot of the, uh, paediatrician. The vision, the developmental delay teams.
And then eventually we went through the child development team to having diagnosed with autism. And once all that was done, yeah, we had speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy. He started hydrotherapy a couple of years ago. Now that he's at school, the physio and speech go to the school. So that's two less appointments we actually have to worry about.
21:46 S3
Oh that's great.
21:47 S8
But... yeah, I take, I have to take Leo to his occupational therapy and his dad takes him to the swimming, so he split that nicely.
21:54 S3
And what about when it came to putting him through school? Like, did the school have any hesitations about taking on a child with vision impairment? Or the fact that you were a mother with a vision impairment?
22:04 S8
So they obviously sat down and discussed it all with me. Obviously, particularly in regards to accessibility for forms and stuff like that, because obviously I still had to sign all the same forms every other parent does. And... they were good because they'd sit down and read the forms out to me. The school that my son goes to is to just a kilometer away from where I am, so it's easy to walk to us. And he is in a special options class. And they have involved other schools like Sassy and Kilkerran, and also guide dogs into his supports in the school.
And they're really good at supporting him. And yeah, whenever forms come out and all that, if I need help, they'll read it out to me. They'll tell me where I need to sign. The school has been very supportive and it's actually expanding its... special needs options and all that within the school as well to accommodate more students.
22:55 S3
So let's go backwards a little bit... to when he was a new bub. What about feeding and clothing him and stuff like that? Did you have any challenges?
23:03 S8
So initially I did want to actually breastfeed. I had no problems with milk supply, a big milk supply, but that's when I realised everything that all the other mothers could see. I couldn't, but the nurse would just say, Oh, I see he's in this position. I'm like, Nope, can't see it. And I mean, I keep forgetting how vision impaired I actually am because when I'm in a familiar area, I've got a lot of visual memory, so I may not see something, but my brain will fill in the gap because it knows what's supposed to be there. It's when I'm trying to see something that's brand new. The brain just goes, I can't fill in the gap. You're going to have to help me here.
And so things like feeding, changing nappies and all that was very much a quick learn. And it's also where I started to learn how much more I actually rely on my sense of touch. And I'm actually cognitively realised. Yeah. Because I also developed carpal tunnel in both hands from the pregnancy. And it's not unusual to end up with carpal tunnel from pregnancy, but it usually goes away after pregnancy. Yeah, unfortunately my body didn't get the memo for that and I was I was completely numb on the fingers. Now you try and change a nappy when you can't feel that you're touching the nappy straps and stuff like that. And it became quite a problem.
And that's when I realised, Oh my God, I'm so reliant on my sense of touch. So I've had to have Operation Both Hands to correct that. Thankfully it worked. And then as Leo started getting older, I started realising, you know, when he's moving around and all that again, not realising that I actually have such a restricted field of vision as only because he wasn't in my field of vision. Then I realized, Hang on, I can't see. Yeah. And, um, so I had to be a lot more diligent looking around for him.
His first time, he disappeared in the shop. He was only just just barely crawling. And I put him down on the floor to do something with the pram because I wasn't working. And I look around and where is he? I'm like, oh, God, he's gone on a blind spot again. I'm looking around. No, he'd actually ducked underneath the clothes rack. Oh no. As we have his little heart attack trying to find him. And fortunately, he made a noise. I was able to track him down and he's a little older, he's probably toddler age. He... started figuring out that I can't see in the dark. And so he'd hide in the darkest part of the room at night time, and I'd go in. I could go in to check on him, and he sort of figured out.
But luckily for me, he can't keep quiet. She said he started giggling. I turned around, looked at him like in the dark. I knew he was right there. And he goes, Oh-oh, yeah, get back in that bed. And even though I was with him being seven, he's figured out I'm very good at listening. So he tries, he'll come into my room, he'll close the door, and I go, What are you up to, Leo? He's like, I'm gonna do it. And I'm like, You know you're not supposed to do that. Yeah, so I just want to try and close the door.
25:45 S3
So despite, you know, his various, like, disabilities and other issues, he is still, as you know, messy and mischievous and cheeky as other kids.
25:56 S8
Yes.
25:57 S3
So how do you deal with, like, when he makes a mess in the kitchen or when he tries to pour himself a bowl of cereal and the milk runs over and...?
26:04 S8
Oh my God, how many times has he done that? So some of the things that I'm starting to do with him is if it's bigger packaging, he's not allowed to do it himself. But I am starting to like figure out which sort of one would say which cereals he likes most in the morning, and if he wants to do himself in the morning, I will scoop up the cereal into little containers and so that he can tip the container in there. And also because I buy the milk in the three litre bottles. Yeah, I've got a little 500ml little container. It looks like a clear milk, like, you know, those... carton of milks. Yeah. But it's just clear plastic so you can actually see the milk in it. And I pour some of the milk into that so that he still maintains his independence and all that. But then I don't have to worry about trying to find a big mess.
So not to say that I don't find big messes when he doesn't do what he's supposed to do, and it's usually I've stepped in it or, you know, put something in it. The countertops I have are dark, so when milk spills on it, it's easy to see. But if it's on the ground because my grounds are light colour, I can't see it. So I have to tell I'm trying to get him at the moment to remember to, if he makes a mess, he needs to tell me so it can be cleaned up.
27:06 S3
Now you said the school is walking distance. Do you have any help getting to and from school again?
27:10 S8
So at the moment I do have help with a support worker who has quickly become my friend as well. Yeah. And... most of that is just for supervision because Leo likes to sort of walk on his own and he doesn't always walk in front of me. He likes to walk behind me. And I also use a guide dog. So, you know, trying to keep an eye on the dog and the kid at the same time, particularly on a Tuesday where it's been night and most of the path is blocked off by bins. Yeah, it's nice to have that extra set of eyes on him.
27:39 S3
Absolutely.
27:39 S8
Yeah. The afternoon? Not so much. But by the time the afternoon goes sort of wound down, a little bit of the energy and he's happy to tell me about his day and all that.
27:48 S3
Yeah. And you said the other day that when you've been sick, he's quite helpful.
27:52 S8
I've been sick and he's actually come in and he's actually, maybe breakfast in bed. Mm. He comes in. Mummy, do you need a drink? And you know he'll bring in the Pepsi Max or whatever else. Like I usually do a Pepsi Max because it's a closed can. He's not going to spill it. Yeah. He'll feed the the guide dog for me. Oh, and like, he and I usually if he does those days, I give him a little extra pocket money because he's gone above and beyond for helping Mummy. But yeah, he's a real little champ and helping Mummy out.
28:23 S3
What's breakfast in bed?
28:24 S8
Yeah. Usually he brings me in nutrigrain. Sometimes with milk, sometimes without milk. I honestly, I like it without the milk when he brings it in. Because I don't want an accidental milk spill in the bed. Because, yeah, when you're sick, you don't want to have to clean up the bed.
28:37 S3
No. That's lovely. And what I mean, has he made you breakfast in bed before for Mother's Day, or has he attempted to?
28:45 S8
Attempted to?
28:46 S3
Yes. What... has he made you? What's the worst Mother's Day breakfast you've had?
28:50 S8
Fortunately, he had supervision, so it hasn't really been that bad. But he did do something like toast with jam on it and stuff like that. But he hasn't tried any... cooking or anything because I'm not real big eater of breakfast anyway. So toast. Toast with jam or cereal is usually my go to breakfasts Anyway. Yeah. So at least then that limits the destruction. Well, not just the destruction, but the getting something you're not quite wanting and still have to pretend it's... Oh it's lovely to you. Mm.
29:23 S3
So does he always make you feel special on Mother's Day though?
29:26 S8
He makes me feel special every day. His favourite saying is Mummy, I love you. And he goes Mummy I love you even when you're yelling at me.
29:34 S9
Oh, that's lovely.
29:36 S8
And I think it comes from because when... I get upset with him I'll tell him off and all that. But I say But mummy still loves you. So he's doing that now. I'd still love you even when you're yelling at me. But yeah, he... last Mother's Day, he just kept going Happy Mother's Day all day. And I think that's the autism, that it's really sweet.
29:55 S9
It is. Oh, that's lovely.
29:56 S8
But the sweetest thing he's ever said to me. I was having a bit of a down day. Found out something I didn't want to know. And... he had no idea. I found it out. He just came up to me, climbs onto my lap, and he goes, Mummy, you're my hero.
30:09 S3
Oh.
30:10 S8
I burst into tears just over that. No, kiddo, you're my hero.
30:14 S3
He's so sweet. He's such a sweet kid.
30:17 S8
He is, he is. He hits it off with his Mum.
30:19 S3
We'll have to get him once you go on one day.
30:21 S8
Oh, I'm sure he'd love to talk. You might not be able to shut him up.
30:26 S3
That's okay. Well, thanks for chatting with us, Lisa. I hope you enjoy the rest of your Mother's Day.
30:30 S8
No worries.
30:31 S3
Thank you. And... eat all the chocolates before he gets to 'em.
30:34 S8
He's got his own chocolates.
30:36 S3
Oh, no. But if he's anything like Jesse, he'll give you chocolates and then ask you two hours later if he can have one of your chocolates.
30:42 S8
Oh. So that was a long gap. Usually it's like, two minutes later.
30:45 S3
You're... Mum, I got you chocolate, but can I have three chocolate?
30:48 S8
Pretty much.
30:48 S3
Yep. Ah. All right. Well, go and enjoy the rest of your Mother's Day.
30:52 S8
Thank you.
30:53 S5
Well, that's a wrap for this week. A big thank you to Lisa and Sarah.
30:57 S3
And of course, thank you for listening. And that includes our listeners on the Reading Radio Network. As usual, you can find this program along with some extra content on Apple, Spotify, Google or your favourite podcast platform.
31:10 S2
Next week for Volunteer Week, we ask... What are the benefits of volunteering?
31:15 S3
We hear from a couple of friends who give up their time to make radio shows. Kind of like this one.
31:21 S2
But between now and then, please do get in touch with the show. Whether you have experience of any of the issues covered on this week's episode of Studio 1, or if you think there is something we should be talking about, you never know - your story and insight may help somebody else who is dealing with something similar.
31:35 S3
You can reach out via email at studio1@visionaustralia.org - that's studio, number one, at Vision Australia dot org - or of course you can find us on all the good social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram by searching for VA Radio Network. We want to hear from you.
31:53 S2
This program was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more by going to CBF[?]. Bye for now.
32:02 S3
Bye.
