Title: "Mum, How Come You Didn't Realise? I Wanted My Food Blue!" - Reflections on My Eldest Daughter's Autism Journey

While my younger two children were diagnosed with autism relatively early in their lives, my eldest daughter's journey has been one of gradual discovery and late realisation. It wasn't until she was sixteen that we began to suspect she might also be on the spectrum.

Looking back, there were signs, now glaringly obvious, that we simply didn't fully grasp at the time.

Her childhood was marked by a fascinating blend of quirks and talents. She had an intense fascination with the color blue, a fixation that extended even to her food. Mealtimes were often a battleground, as her limited palate craved only the blandest of fare: plain rice, pasta, and little else. I vividly recall a visit to my aunt in Adelaide, who confidently declared she could get my daughter to eat mashed potatoes. The attempt ended in predictable fashion, with my daughter politely trying a bite and promptly throwing up.

The pool was her sanctuary. She was a water baby in the truest sense, spending hours swimming with an almost obsessive dedication. Socializing, however, was a different story. School was a place of quiet observation, where she preferred her own company to the hustle and bustle of the playground. Yet, despite her introverted nature, she excelled academically, particularly in subjects that required rote learning, like languages. Her ability to absorb information and apply it diligently was remarkable. This dedication led her to a Selective School, where she continued to thrive academically.

Interestingly, she struggled with English and reading, despite possessing the ability to comprehend complex texts. It wasn't until later in her school years that she discovered a passion for writing, specifically a style that leaned towards the dark and mysterious. Her writing became an outlet for her inner world, a canvas for exploring complex emotions and unconventional ideas.

Her social interactions were often marked by a bluntness that stemmed from her difficulty interpreting social cues. This was in stark contrast to her exceptional talent in martial arts. She became the youngest female black belt in Taekwondo at the age of six, a testament to her discipline and focus. Team sports, however, held little appeal, highlighting her preference for individual pursuits.

And then there were the animals. Her love for all creatures great and small was a constant throughout her childhood. This passion culminated in the arrival of her beloved horse. He became her confidante, her escape from the social complexities of the human world. She would spend hours in his company, grooming him, riding him, and even taking her school books to study for her HSC exams in the peaceful solitude of the stable.

Jeff and Bonk

Now, at eighteen, she's navigating university life with a quiet determination. Anime, Korean Skin Care and K Pop are her current passion, and she shares her life with pet axolotls (Jeff and Bonk) and a loving boyfriend. Socialising remains a challenge, but she's slowly finding her tribe.

It's only with the benefit of hindsight, and the experience of raising my younger two children, that the pieces of her autistic puzzle have fallen into place. She often looks back with a wry smile and says, "Mum, how come you didn't realise? I wanted my food blue! You had to use food colouring!"

Her journey is a poignant reminder that autism can present differently in girls, often masking itself behind layers of social conformity and learned behaviours. It's also a testament to the power of late diagnosis, the validation it can bring, and the potential for growth and self-discovery it unlocks. It's a story that's still being written, and I can't wait to see what amazing chapters lie ahead.