Category: Autism

ASD Book Review #4 & Film Review: “The Reason I Jump” is the reason we all jump — to express ourselves

boy jumping near grass at daytime
~ Kelbungy ~ 2 Comments

There he goes again. Jumping up and down in rapid succession, shaking his hands as he bounces in delight. C does that each time he gets excited. Like watching his favourite TV cartoon series Paw Patrol, especially when his favourite 'Paw Patroller" Rubble swings into action. It's like my son's senses are being dialled up … Continue reading ASD Book Review #4 & Film Review: “The Reason I Jump” is the reason we all jump — to express ourselves

How one special needs father’s response to bullying is about society’s “greater good”

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Photo by Morgan Basham on Unsplash As bullying incidents go, the one that made headlines in Singapore this week wasn't unusual. After all, most of us are already predisposed to believe that bullies will always exist, just like bad hair days. And we all know there are more incidents like this not reported or made … Continue reading How one special needs father’s response to bullying is about society’s “greater good”

Do I say “my son HAS autism” or “my son IS autistic”? It’s really up to him

~ Kelbungy ~ 1 Comment

Photo by Alireza Attari on Unsplash It was rather unexpected. There we were, at what was only our third or fourth meeting in 2019. As mentioned in an earlier post, this rag-tag bunch of fathers who have special needs children, were still getting to know each other. Gathering to bond over shared parenting experiences and … Continue reading Do I say “my son HAS autism” or “my son IS autistic”? It’s really up to him

Even with special needs dads, it’s still about men ‘doing’ not ‘being’

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Photo by MD Duran on Unsplash This is a cautionary tale about what happens when men come together. Cautionary, at least, for men like me who are more into 'being' than 'doing'. Let me explain. I still remember the meetings. A few of us fathers with special needs children started coming together in 2019 to … Continue reading Even with special needs dads, it’s still about men ‘doing’ not ‘being’

My Monday Metrical Musings #16

man carrying baby drawing their foreheads
~ Kelbungy ~ 1 Comment

Autism happens daily Autism happens dailyIt never goes away.Ten years have passed soDon't tell me It'll leave.That you got no right to say. For I see itI live itI breathe itEvery single day. With my sonHis toy road humpsSprawled on this floor Or that tableEvery which way. Autism happens dailyIt never goes away.We're still learning … Continue reading My Monday Metrical Musings #16

ASD Book Review #3: “Dad, is my ‘exile’ into the land of autism eternal?”

shallow focus photography of man wearing red polo shirt
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This is potentially the "mother" of all autism questions! And were you to ask me if there was another more frightening one for a parent, I honestly can't think of it right now. All I know is that this question never crossed my mind before. Not until I came across it recently in an account … Continue reading ASD Book Review #3: “Dad, is my ‘exile’ into the land of autism eternal?”

Warning letter for the new school year – from an older, wiser me!

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Hey man The new school year is underway and you're probably starting to feel the heat, am I right? Well, let's get straight to it and figure things out, shall we? Remember when J used to say that Primary 2 (P2) was the best year ever? Well, he's right. Cos the change from P2 to … Continue reading Warning letter for the new school year – from an older, wiser me!

“An Englishman in Bedok” – Letter to C as he turns 10

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Dear C Earlier this week, on the way to school, you started humming along to Sting's "An Englishman in New York" on Spotify. But instead of "New York", you later replaced it with "Bedok", a town twice removed from where we live, and at least two million times removed from the Big Apple herself! When … Continue reading “An Englishman in Bedok” – Letter to C as he turns 10

To “get” my son’s autism, I must go “small”

man in blue and brown plaid dress shirt touching his hair
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"BUT WHAT CAN I HOLD?!!" My peaceful early morning was shattered by those five words, belted out at the top of my son's lungs. They were followed by a mumbo-jumbo of incoherence that I couldn't quite catch. Not from where I was comfortably seated in my morning "throne room" anyway. But I needn't strain too … Continue reading To “get” my son’s autism, I must go “small”

How this stay-home-dad braved yet another first day of school.

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Dear C In the blink of an eye, you've moved up another primary school level. Congrats!! And your school even made the distinction very clear this time by moving you to a totally different campus. So, not only must you adjust to a new class with new friends and teachers, you have to adjust to … Continue reading How this stay-home-dad braved yet another first day of school.