Thanks for the lovely welcomes. I don't feel like I am doing a wonderful thing, I feel I am doing the ONLY thing I could do! Initially I just muddled on, used to juggling family and work and feeling guilty and assuming that was how it had to be... but eventually I realised that not having the time to focus on DS when he really needed me was just too high a price to pay. I had agonised for a few months about how I was going to manage, feeling guilty etc but then I suddenly realised there was only one option for me and it felt like a huge relief to have the decision taken out of my hands overnight! I quit the next week, worked my 6 months' notice (which was fine because I couldn't afford to subsidise myself for much more than a year or so anyway), and have been 'free' since September.
I love spending the time with DS. He has lots of challenges, his verbal communication is quite limited and formulaic, and he is not very flexible so our leisure options are rather limited but he is affectionate, gentle and funny and I adore him. I have grieved so much for the different life we will all have but also, I think if he didn't have ASD I would never have stopped work and just appreciated this time with him. And ASD or not, it feels like a gift. I was always a career girl, I'd never have made this decision otherwise. It's really made me think.
Toaster, I actually admire you more for making the decision to do this without any specific impetus. There is more to life than money but it is hard to adjust your lifestyle when you have the option to earn a different standard of living.
Off to google NowTV and check out the options. I think we'll lose all the recorded stuff on the sky+ box if we cancel. Will have to have a telly marathon asap! might not get round to the ABBA documentary I recorded 2years ago but won't let DH delete