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What a rollercoaster of a day it’s been! As a lone parent to my incredible 11-year-old boy, life is a constant mix of joy and challenges, especially when autism is part of the equation.

My plans for a smooth Friday shopping trip took an unexpected turn when I realized my voucher had expired just two days prior. Annoying, right? A call and an email to the school followed, but resolution had to wait until after the weekend. So, it was cupboard food until either the voucher got reinstated or my payday arrived.

Working in the gig economy as a Viewber has its ups and downs, particularly around Christmas. The flexibility is a godsend for me as a lone parent, allowing me to be there for my son. It’s a job I love, connecting with properties and relishing their unique backstories. But, of course, life isn’t all about work.

Saturday night’s attempt at creativity led to a delicious curry, but as any parent of an autistic child knows, food preferences can be a hurdle. This resulted in a bit of chaos, setting the tone for a challenging Sunday.

Living in a less-than-ideal property with its own quirks, including an ongoing low-frequency vibration, adds an extra layer of difficulty. The hum, weather-dependent and seemingly uncontrollable, required brown noise for sleep. With winter discomfort and a poorly-insulated flat, our morning was far from pleasant.

The day unfolded with school refusal and a reluctant rise from bed, accompanied by snowfall—our only silver lining. Persuading my sensory-aware son to wear a coat in the cold became a delicate negotiation. Then came the hunger and thirst, with a compromise involving a school canteen run (which couldn’t happen due to school rules) and a subsequent visit to Waitrose.

Returning my son to school after a hearty meal, I finally found the time to focus on work and my plans for the day, including delving into affiliate links. Unfortunately, affiliate application rejections from Thortful and Eufy added a layer of frustration. Navigating the world of affiliate links, contrary to popular belief, isn’t as straightforward as it seems.

Despite the setbacks, I’m committed to providing authentic and relatable content in my blogs. The road to affiliate success, as I discovered, demands more than just a handful of posts and followers. It’s a slow and steady process that requires patience and perseverance.

So, as I sit in my chilly flat, contemplating the day’s events, I can’t help but wish for a magic shrinking potion to join my cat, PicklePuss, in the warm airing cupboard. Life may throw curveballs, but in the end, it’s the journey that defines us.

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Now, let’s talk about my book. I decided to open a new Amazon account to keep things separate, a decision that proved more complicated than I anticipated. Before Christmas, I delved into the publishing process with a few low-content journals, only to find myself banned by Amazon last week. Cue a flurry of emails, back and forth, as I grappled to understand my misstep. Amazon, it turns out, doesn’t mess around, and my dyslexic brain had missed crucial details. My logic of having two accounts didn’t align with Amazon’s policies, so it was back to the drawing board.

Yet, amidst the setbacks, I see this as a gift from the Universe. Without this hiccup, I wouldn’t have explored alternative self-publishing avenues—a topic I’ll delve into in another blog post. Today, I’m simply indulging in a bit of rambling. Life throws these challenges our way, often serving as a reminder of the intricacies faced by a neurodivergent household in a neurotypical world.

On a positive note, signs of spring have begun to emerge. I stumbled upon what appears to be a catkin tree in the early stages of budding. It’s the little moments like these that bring a glimmer of joy.

Now, I’m on a quest to find that elusive shrinking potion, so I can cozy up in the airing cupboard with PicklePuss. The clock has ticked past 4 pm, and my boy is home from school, happily singing along to Alexa after a snowy Pokemon adventure. It’s as if the challenging morning never happened.

That’s the latest update for now. If you’re in the UK and reading this in January 2024, stay warm, stay well, and take care.

Speak soon,

Rebecca