Chaos, Compasses & Carpool Karaoke: Life Behind the Wheel with Leo

If anyone ever joined us on a road trip, they would probably need a stiff drink and a quiet room by the end of day one. Anyone following behind us might even Think I’d kidnapped a child, with all the thrashing about and noise!

For me though and I dare say another SEN parent, this is normal. It is life with Leo, and life in Benny, our beloved motorhome. The noise, the squeals of delight that sound like a crime scene, the sudden dancing, the sign language conversations mid-roundabout, the music turned up to maximum volume, all while I am trying to navigate hairpin bends and wild Highland sheep.

Sometimes it feels like I am in one of those old Japanese endurance shows Clive James used to comment on, except this is not a challenge I signed up for. This is my everyday reality.

Leo is clever too. He hijacks my satnav, unplugs my phone so he can charge his, plays the same line of a song over and over until my ears beg for mercy, and thrusts random objects into my hands while I am driving, water bottles, iPads, toy guitars, because his fine motor skills are not quite there yet. He calls people at random before I can intercept the dial tone, and they always ring back.

It is chaos, it is noisy, sometimes my anxiety skyrockets as I try to stay calm, stay focused, and keep us both safe on the road. He also likes to get out on the forecourt while I get fuel, to do some kind of meet and greet! But it is also life with Leo, and to know him is to love him.

I would not change it. Not for all the tea in China.

New here? Follow our adventures at #TheWonkyCompass for more road trips, chaos, and the occasional heart-stopping moment with Leo behind the playlist controls.