Posted by AskEllie.co.uk
If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling through a Facebook SEND group at 1am, coffee in one hand and your sanity in the other, you’re not alone. In fact, some of the most honest, relatable, and heartbreaking moments in the SEND world are shared in those late-night comments. This week, we’ve pulled together the real questions parents are asking right now – because we believe that even just knowing someone else gets it can make the world feel a little less heavy.
1. “Does anyone else’s autistic child never want to leave the house… ever?”
This is such a common post it should probably come with its own auto-reply. Whether it’s the safety of their bedroom, the joy of Roblox, or just avoiding the sensory horror of the outside world, many children with SEND find peace in staying in. But it doesn’t make it easy for parents — especially those with other kids who need to get out and run wild. The juggle is real, and there’s no magic solution. But it’s okay to admit that it’s hard. Because it is.
2. “What do you do when your kid is perfectly ‘fine’ at school, but completely melts down at home?”
This one hits deep. The ‘masking’ conversation is gaining ground — but many parents are still gaslit with lines like “They’re doing great in class!” or “We’ve never seen that behaviour here.” Meanwhile, you’re scraping your child off the kitchen floor in pieces. If you’ve felt that disconnect, we see you. And so do thousands of other parents.
3. “Is it normal to feel like I’m grieving the parent I thought I’d be?”
Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes. You are not weak. You are not failing. You are human. The truth is, SEND parenting often means throwing the rule book out the window and rewriting life with a pen that keeps running out of ink. Mourning the version of parenting you imagined is part of the process — and it doesn’t mean you love your child any less. It just means the road is different. And sometimes, it’s okay to pull over and cry about it.
4. “How do I get my child reassessed when I know the last report wasn’t right?”
Parents are pushing back more and more — and rightly so. Whether it’s being handed an inconclusive ADHD report or watching your child get misjudged because they had a ‘good day’ during assessment, these stories are everywhere. Keep records. Keep pushing. You are the expert in your child. Even when the system tells you otherwise.
5. “How do you cope with two completely different needs at once?”
Shoutout to the parents navigating both neurodivergent and neurotypical children. The emotional tightrope walk is exhausting. One child needs calm, the other needs chaos. One wants silence, the other is beatboxing through breakfast. You can’t split yourself in two — so stop expecting yourself to. You’re doing your best, and that’s enough.
You’re Not Alone – You’re Amongst Legends
We believe in humour as a pressure valve. That’s why we’ve created our nostalgic Ladybird-style parody books, poking fun at the madness we all know too well. Because sometimes, if you don’t laugh… you cry into the EHCP paperwork.
👇 Take a look at our latest SEND-inspired Ladybird-style book covers here:
🔗 Browse our collection – guaranteed to make you smile
💬 What’s the one question you’ve been too scared to ask out loud?
Drop it in the comments. Odds are, someone else has asked it too — they just haven’t found the courage (or Wi-Fi) yet.
We see you. We hear you. And we’re right here beside you.
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