![BOTH MY BOYS COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED BOTH MY BOYS COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED](https://cdn.magzter.com/1395484245/1728892704/articles/-TXI3BK2w1728978970834/BOTH-MY-BOYS-COULD-HAVE-BEEN-SAVED.jpg)
Gazing at the framed photo of my sons, beaming happily into the camera, I smiled with sadness. Just young lads enjoying primary school, they were innocent and carefree. Back then, the biggest worries they had was who would get the last chocolate biscuit in the pack. And any pain they had was easily fixed with a magical kiss from me. I longed to go back to that time. Before life had got too much to bear for them. More than anything, though, I just wished to still have them both with me.
When Sam was born in July 1994, followed by Matthew, in August 1997, other than their love of football, they couldn’t have been more different from each other. Sam was a bright, popular boy, whereas Matthew found it harder to make friends.
‘He’ll find his way,’ everyone assured me and their dad Lee. We hoped they were right. Then when they were six and nine, Lee and I separated. The boys found it hard, but we settled into a routine.
But when Sam started secondary school, things started going downhill. Although he was popular, he never felt like he fitted in. His grades slipped, and nothing seemed to hold his interest. But his teachers insisted he was a brilliant student, and I just assumed he’d eventually find a passion.
Besides, there was something else that needed my attention.
Matthew was coming to the end of primary school, and his teachers were concerned about him.
‘We think Matthew might be on the autistic spectrum,’ they said.
While we waited for test results, secondary school was a huge challenge for him. He became angry and difficult, having regular meltdowns about seemingly nothing.
It took over a year to get his diagnosis.
‘Matthew has Asperger’s,’ the specialist eventually said. Neither me or Lee were surprised, and after a lot of effort we got extra support for him.
CONSTANT WORRY
この記事は WOMAN'S OWN の October 21, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は WOMAN'S OWN の October 21, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
![MUM'S LEGACY WILL LIVE ON MUM'S LEGACY WILL LIVE ON](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5907/1931655/vUyssfvsU1734434033968/MUMS-LEGACY-WILL-LIVE-ON.jpg)
MUM'S LEGACY WILL LIVE ON
For Victoria Hislop, her mum’s festive spirit is the best gift she could have hoped for
![HOW THE OTHER HALF DO CHRISTMAS HOW THE OTHER HALF DO CHRISTMAS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5907/1931655/Y1ikkSKx51734433813987/HOW-THE-OTHER-HALF-DO-CHRISTMAS.jpg)
HOW THE OTHER HALF DO CHRISTMAS
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on posh Christmases, bums and jumpers
![HE TOOK MY TWIN FROM ME HE TOOK MY TWIN FROM ME](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5907/1931655/wExlgC5kX1734433561854/HE-TOOK-MY-TWIN-FROM-ME.jpg)
HE TOOK MY TWIN FROM ME
For Nicole Rawlings, 31, the new year only brings painful memories
![Get the GOSS! Get the GOSS!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5907/1931655/IRGvOnb5O1734433471696/GET-THE-GOSS.jpg)
Get the GOSS!
Your round-up of this week's biggest showbiz stories
![I MADE MY HUSBAND CHOOSE ME OR HIS PARENTS I MADE MY HUSBAND CHOOSE ME OR HIS PARENTS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5907/1931655/kQSYBtRgN1734433239660/I-MADE-MY-HUSBAND-CHOOSE-ME-OR-HIS-PARENTS.jpg)
I MADE MY HUSBAND CHOOSE ME OR HIS PARENTS
Amanda*, 46, gave her husband a seemingly impossible ultimatum
![SWAPPED AT BIRTH SWAPPED AT BIRTH](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5907/1931655/km8qQx_s91734432881239/SWAPPED-AT-BIRTH.jpg)
SWAPPED AT BIRTH
After 55 years, two women discovered they'd been living a life that had never been meant for them
![CLEVER COCKTAIL SWAPS CLEVER COCKTAIL SWAPS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5907/1931655/u_dfQXupI1734432188160/CLEVER-COCKTAIL-SWAPS.jpg)
CLEVER COCKTAIL SWAPS
Christmas is just around the corner, which for many of us means a drink or two to celebrate.
![Happy New Year! Happy New Year!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5907/1931655/U85MOro631734431970156/HAPPY-NEW-YEAR.jpg)
Happy New Year!
From hitting the town to a cosy night in, say hello to 2005 ina suitably stylish look
!['MARRIAGE ISN'T IMPORTANT TO ME' 'MARRIAGE ISN'T IMPORTANT TO ME'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5907/1931655/2DztBU0g81734431731817/MARRIAGE-ISNT-IMPORTANT-TO-ME.jpg)
'MARRIAGE ISN'T IMPORTANT TO ME'
Emmerdale's Lisa Riley on her relationship and why she won't leave the soap again
![ALISON TO REPLACE CAT? ALISON TO REPLACE CAT?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5907/1931655/1S35qVtU-1734431514572/ALISON-TO-REPLACE-CAT.jpg)
ALISON TO REPLACE CAT?
It seems there's trouble at This Morning as Cat Deeley is said to feel 'overlooked' by bosses