well finally watched this (thanks to lemonice- superstar). For me it was the programme on autism that most reflects my life. From the snapshot we saw of him - my son is very like the younger boy (although I suspect they are quite different- but in 5 mins look very similar).
I thought the builder and estate agent woman were a bit lame. Wish they'd stuck to talking about the houses really. When they headed into autism territory they didn't have much to say. "Just think this family can't all go to McDonald's". Well no, but to be honest when you have an autistic kid the last thing you worry about is not being able to go to McDonald's. Ds2 has never been to McDonalds (as DS1 can't go) but I don't really think he's missing out.
There were so many things I identified with. When they went to the house and the dad answered the door- I noticed the front door was locked. That can be a real problem when we go to other people's houses- the door has to be hard to unlock from the inside or we have to shadow ds1 every second we are there. The whole emphaisis on living their life around safetly- exactly the same here.
I could understand why the family wanted to go somewhere remote. I often feel like sticking two fingers up at the NT world and heading off somewhere where we can just be "us", but I think I would feel more isolated there- away from other autistic families. As the mother said- you are isolated anyway with an autistic child- and I think that is true in that you are isolated from normal people (and I think the programme showed why- the 2 worlds don't even touch) - BUT you are noit isolated from other autistic families. By going somewhere so remote- surely you do become the only family with lunatic kids (as the father called them- and as we often do). At least here in a city I only have to drive for 5 minutes to be able to spend an afternoon in my friend's house with her dd who is as mad as my son. Plus she has an NT son - a smiliar age to ds2- and we hope they will get support from each other as they grow. That sort of support would be missing in an isolated area.
I thought the programme made a bit of a big deal about the older son's meltdown at the end- it didn't look anything out of the ordinary to me. He's a big boy which must make it harder to handle but my son woulud have that sort of meltdown several times a week - usually over something much more minor (at the moment raindrops on his shoes- drives him mad for some reason).
FOund myself agreeing with the mother about her son and his school as well. He did seem very well managed at home- so the shcool must have been making some sort of pigs ear of it (unless he was simply unable to tolerate larger groups and larger rooms etc).
Also thought there was a bit of an undercurrent that they weren't thinking about the little girl- maybe not- but it seemed hinted at. The point being the little girl can be adaptable - the boys can't. DS2 has to do everything to ds1's terms really- it's just the way it is. He can, ds1 can't. I don't think having an autistic sibling is that great really- but I think children with autistic siblings probably learn a lot in the process. Not sure whether that makes up for it- but time will tell.
Oh and funnily enough I've been to the llama farm. If I'd known it was up for sale I would have been tempted. Although I suspect I know why they rejected it- it's very close to a (fast) main road.......