It is easy to see why so many relationships break up over a child with special needs. I can see how thin the line is between coping and not. And as i have said, we have it good.... lots of support from friends, a great city to live in, plenty of medical and allied health support, a generally happy baby. Yet, even for us, it is sometimes tough. I think we need to allow ourselves and our partners to have flaws, and to sometimes be unable to cope, or to vent, or to put down tools and take a break sometimes. And to give ourselves and our partners credit for all the things we do. Maybe this will be a salutary tale, an exposition of mistakes. But hopefully not. So far, we are doing okay.

I realise that there are plenty of people in tougher places than me. Plenty whose relationships break down. Or whose children are mostly sad or angry or frustrated. Or who get treated badly in their worlds. Not much i can say to console, except that i think there is some pride and even joy from living well, from giving love to your child when its challenging, and from sharing the moments of happiness with him/her. Often this feels like small compensation, but maybe we have no choice but to allow these feelings of pride, these small joys to be enough. For all my fellow parents, I hope there will be many moments of joy for you in the new year, and in the years ahead..