Sometimes we forget.

Alex has been a very difficult child since last Saturday. He has been dry day and night for almost four months but last Saturday, he decided otherwise. Normally, he will come to us and ask us to help him in the toilet but for one whole week, he las been pulling his pants down and pee in the study or kitchen floor - never on the carpet though.

Both Jeremy and I are on our wits end - we tried scolding him, we tried ignoring him and we don't know what else to do. We asked him if he needs to go and he always said no. As soon as we turn our head, he will run to either of the rooms and start pulling his pants down. It's very very exhausting as we can't always watch him 24/7. At first, I thought it was attention seeking but then he had all the attention and still do it.

Last night, he woke up at 12 midnight and started to sing and talk to himself. I waited until 1am before going to his room. He pulled all his toys, blanket and pillow onto the floor and slept there. I decided to let him sleep on the floor. He did not go back to sleep until 3am.

While waiting for him to sleep, I started to analyse his behaviour. After looking back at the events that took place prior to his change, I realised that we took him for granted.

Alex is not like most children with ASD. He is quite versatile and able to accept changes but that does not mean that he don't need sameness. Because of his flexibility, we do things without first considering how it will affect him.

Two weeks ago, we decided that Alex should sleep in his own room - Jeremy did some minor changes in order to make his room tidier and calmer. After sleeping with Mummy for almost more than a year, it's hard to adjust to sleeping alone. He managed to make that change in a week.

Last Sunday, my friend Amelia and her son Anson came to stay for two nights. Alex was so excited that he woke up very early in the morning. And of course, when Alex wakes at 4am, the whole house wakes up at 4am too. Poor Amelia and Anson, I think this would be their last stay here - ha ha ha

Wednesday, Alex went to nursery and came home to a completely changed living room. Jeremy did some decorating, preparing for our new recliners to arrive next week.

Thursday, the buyer for my Ford Focus C-Max came to collect the car and I went to the dealership to collect my Toyota RAV4 (and very nice too).

Friday, we changed all the pictures around in the lounge and put a mirror above the fireplace. The lounge looked really nice now.

All in all, it's sensory overload for Alex. All his life, the lounge has been how it was, mummy's car has always been a C-Max. It has always been just Mummy, Daddy and Alex sleeping in the house and Alex always sleeps with mummy.

These changes may not be felt by a neuro-typical person but to Alex, his world is upside down. I cannot imagine what it's like in his head and how afraid he must be.

We are so sorry darling, next time mummy and daddy will think first before we make too many changes at the same time.