My son Adam is four years old. He has Autism and ADHD. We first noticed signs soon after his first birthday, but like many parents, we weren’t sure where to begin or how to find the right support. The NHS diagnosis process can take a long time, sometimes years, and when you’re trying to help your child as early as possible, waiting can be incredibly difficult. When Adam turned three, we decided to seek a private assessment to finally get clarity.
Parenting a child with additional needs can be beautiful, but also overwhelming. You find yourself facing questions you never expected to ask. What support does my child need Who can guide us Where do we start And beneath those questions is the quiet worry that you might not be doing enough or acting quickly enough. I’ve felt that guilt too.
I created Bayabaya to share Adam’s journey and to document the things we learn along the way. My hope is to build a community where parents can learn from one another’s experiences and support each other. The goal is simple: to give our children the best chance in life and help them find happiness.
Adam doesn’t use many words yet, but one he says often is “bayabaya.” He says it when he’s playing, when he’s talking to himself in his own expressive way, and often when his mum is telling him off as if he’s answering her back in protest. It has become one of the sounds that defines him, so it felt right to make it the heart of this space.
Writing here also helps me make sense of my own emotions and worries. Maybe by sharing openly, I can turn those feelings into something positive for Adam, for myself, and for other families walking a similar path.