2011

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is categorized into three levels based on the amount of support an individual requires. Level 1 indicates the least support needed, while Level 3 signifies the most substantial support requirements. Verywell Health Levels of Autism Spectrum Disorder Understanding the levels of ASD helps in tailoring support and interventions. Level 1 — Individuals require support but can function independently in many areas. Level 2 — Individuals need substantial support, showing more pronounced difficulties in social communication. Level 3 — Individuals require very substantial support, often exhibiting significant challenges in daily functioning. Diagnosis Criteria — The levels are defined in the DSM-5, which guides treatment and support strategies.

NOTE (08-18-2026): I'm losing my mind with writing the new story and writing in general. Like the genius I am, I spilled water on my computer and sent it to meet its maker. Whilst recovering the most important data, I came across this story I’d published a while back. All I remember is that I didn’t like it and someone had pointed out a few minor things I could improve. Whoever that was, I’d like to thank them. When I write, I just delete everything and throw it all out, so I thought I’d repost this one as it is. I’ve found some other old stories, but in time I’ll decide whether to publish them or keep them to myself. Sorry for the pointless note, but I felt the need to write it. I also apologize for the other story; I want to do it properly and I need to find the right approach. This story was translated with the aid of ChatGPT and DeepL. Enjoy and thanks for reading! --- Ava couldn't stop darting her eyes from one point of the beach to another, no matter how hard she tried. The joyful cries of the children, the indistinct chatter of the adults beneath the nearby umbrellas, and the hypnotic rush of the water brushing against the shore were making her uncomfortable. She clenched the hem of the light yellow dress her mother had told her to put on before leaving the house and bit her lower lip. Had anyone noticed? As she walked beside her, she could feel the curious glances of the passersby. Damn it, she shouldn't have asked her mother to put it on her before they left! Mom was helping Tommy put on sunscreen. Her little brother turned his back to let her spread it there, laughing heartily and squirming because of the tickling. A slight feeling of envy washed over Ava as she watched them. After all, Tommy was seven years old and needed different kinds of attention than she did. She wondered if Mom would have put it on her too if she had asked. She turned her gaze toward the other sun lounger. Michelle was also putting on sunscreen with Dad's help: he was doing her arms while she did her legs. Like Ava, her younger sister was wearing a pink swimsuit with floral patterns around the shoulders, neck, and legs. It was pretty and colorful, like a rainbow in a clear sky. "Aren't you going to put on some sunscreen, sweetheart?" Mom asked, peering at her from behind Tommy. She joked, "If you thought you could sneak into the water without putting any on, you're very much mistaken!" Ava smiled at her and shook her head honestly. Her eyes involuntarily fell on the skirt — like part of the dress. She let out a conflicted sigh. The dress she was wearing wasn't doing a very good job of what she had hoped it would. It was too obvious! "I-I don't feel like going into the water right now," she stammered, tugging the dress forward without success. "I-It's just that... I'd rather stay here in the shade." "But we're at the beach!" Tommy exclaimed excitedly. "We're here to have fun, not to sit around!" She nodded again. He was absolutely right; she couldn't argue with him. Under normal circumstances, she would have covered herself in sunscreen and thrown herself into the water without caring about looking anyone in the eyes. But now, with that underneath her clothes... Her mother met her eyes and gave her a caring smile. "At least I have someone to keep me company." Great! As soon as they were finished, Dad would take Tommy and Michelle swimming, and she'd have to stay there with Mom. Sweat was beginning to make its way through her hair and down her face in the shade. Mom would surely ask to take a look at it, just like she used to when Ava was little and was learning to use the potty. How embarrassing! Suddenly, a sharp clap made her jump. Dad looked at her and her siblings, then finally at Mom. "Who wants to go swimming?" Tommy and Michelle chirped eagerly at the prospect, like little chicks waiting for their mother to feed them. "All right," he said, walking toward the call of the waves. "Last one there is a sea cucumber!" He dashed off, with Tommy and Michelle squawking excitedly behind him. Ava watched the scene helplessly, wrinkling the dress between her fists with all her strength and blushing. She wanted to cool off and have fun with her dad, Tommy, and Michelle too. A huff escaped her lips. This was unfair. Her mother sat down beside her. "I know that look," she began, gently massaging her back with slow, rhythmic movements. "I owe you an explanation and an apology." That serious voice, softened by such sweetness. Ava could have listened to it forever if she'd had the chance. So she pressed her lips together and let her mother's words wipe away her sulky expression. "You're probably wondering why I asked you that question before we came here," she said, looking at her and brushing a hand over her freckled face. "Your father and I want you to feel comfortable with yourself at all times. Taking the first steps isn't easy, especially with that underneath your clothes." She lifted her head toward her and sighed. "I-I'm afraid it might..." "That you might have an accident?" Her cheeks turned red, her eyes dropping toward the ground. "Mom..." "Sweetheart," her mother continued firmly, "that's what diapers are for. Even though you don't have any problems with incontinence, unlike Tom, who wets the bed." "But I... I'm thirteen," she admitted as though she were under torture. "I shouldn't be wearing one, and I shouldn't have said yes when you asked me at home. What if someone saw it? They'll already be laughing and saying, 'Hey, that girl still wets herself!'" A brief silence followed. Tears were fighting to spill down her cheeks, and her heart wouldn't stop racing. She could already imagine the loud, mocking laughter of everyone on the beach. Even the fish would have joined in if they'd had the chance. "Do you know why you wanted me to put it on you?" Mom asked without losing that tone. "You wanted me to take care of you, as well as give your bottom a good clean!" She burst out laughing along with her mother. The shouts and chatter of the passersby gradually faded until they disappeared altogether. She felt as though she'd found her good mood again, and gave her mother a genuine smile. Mom continued without taking her eyes off her. "This is the face I want to see: happy and cheerful. Remember that we love you just the way you are, even if you're wearing a diaper. With or without it, you'll always be my sweet Ava." She spread her arms wide, looking like an eagle with its wings outstretched. Ava studied her mother's loving, expectant face, waiting for an answer. Tears plunged down her burning cheeks. She opened her mouth slightly, uncertainly, then leaned forward and rested her head against her mother's stomach. She wrapped her arms around her with all the love she had in her. "What if I don't like it anymore?" she whispered. "What if I want to go back to being a big girl?" "All you have to do is tell us, and we'll take it off." Mom pulled her back and placed a hand beneath her chin, making their eyes meet once again. "You don't always have to wear it. Think of it as... as a dress for special occasions." Ava raised an eyebrow. "Is this a special occasion?" "In a way, it is." Mom chuckled. "If we ever leave the house and you want to wear it underneath your clothes, you need to be prepared for what that will involve. Do you remember the little backpack I asked you to pack? That's your diaper bag, although there are some in there for Tommy and Michelle too." Her dark eyes darted toward the purple backpack at the foot of the umbrella. She gasped when she heard their names. She clearly remembered putting three diapers in her size inside it, but were there really some for Tommy and Michelle too? Why had Mom thought to put them in there without saying a word to any of them? She whispered breathlessly, "You think they..." "I'm sure they want to follow in your footsteps," Mom replied, certain that was the case. "You're their big sister, after all. That's why, before we go home, all three of you are going to stop by the bathroom, where we'll talk about this. I want all of you to be and feel comfortable with yourselves, starting with you." Ava lowered her eyes to her yellow dress. She still had to get used to the snug fit around her waist and the occasional plastic rustling it made when she walked. Up until now, she had been calm and was glad to have it on. "Have you peed?" Mom asked softly and lovingly. She looked up at her, offended and as red as a tomato. That list was now adding questions that could come up even in the worst possible situations! Before she could answer, Mom grabbed the backpack and gestured with her head for Ava to stand up. She said, "We'd better move somewhere more private, don't you think?" Ava could only nod. After all, her mother was right. The intrusive and curious looks from the passersby were beginning to get on her nerves, so she took her mother's hand and let her lead her away to a more appropriate place to talk.   ---   The only source of light was a small rectangular window positioned directly above the changing table attached to the wall. In that dim, gloomy room, the rancid, disgusting stench from the toilet filled the nostrils of both her and her mother. Ava held her hands over her nose. She spotted the white porcelain seat a little farther away and was bewildered to discover that it was clean and gleaming like a block of marble. Where the smell was coming from remained a mystery. A metallic click echoed behind her, followed by a hesitant rustling that caught her attention. Her mother had pulled down the long, yellowed white board and planted its two side legs on the floor to make it stable. She dropped the backpack to the floor, ran a hand across her forehead, and ordered her wearily, “Come on, Ava! I don’t want you to get a rash.” “Really, Mom,” she stammered pleadingly. “I don’t need changing.” “I want to make sure that’s really the case,” she replied, slightly irritated. “Just a quick check, and then you’re free to do whatever you want.” “Do I really have to come over there?” she protested in a childish voice. Her mother rolled her eyes at the decrepit ceiling of the room, walked over to her, and led her to the changing table. “Until we find some diapers with wetness indicators, I’ll have to check you this way. Besides, I’ve already seen you without clothes. So you have nothing to hide or feel embarrassed about. I’m built the same way, in case you’ve forgotten.” Ava wished she could be anywhere else, anywhere but there. She swallowed hard as saliva filled her mouth. The sooner her mother checked her, the sooner they could get out of that smelly little utility room. She sighed miserably. “All right!” “It’ll take two seconds, I promise!” Her mother helped her climb onto the white changing table, its faded, yellowed surface showing through the paint. As soon as her padded bottom came to rest on the cold, ridged surface, a small cloud of dust was violently stirred up into both their noses. "Since when do public restroom changing tables have so many specks of dust?" Ava sneezed and wiped her nose with her wrist. "Aren't they supposed to be cleaned and sanitized all the time?" Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mother move to her left. It was like catching sight of a cartoon in the middle of a thousand pages being flipped through in a matter of seconds. The smile etched across her mother's face was enough to chase away the little tantrum she'd thrown a few minutes earlier. Ava clutched the hem of her dress and tugged it down, trying to cover the small white sliver peeking out beneath it. She was breathing nervously, her heart pounding in her throat. Please. Please, let this be quick! Her mother placed one hand behind her head and the other on her belly. Maintaining a calm, focused demeanor to reassure her, she gently guided her until she was lying flat on the table. She asked curiously, "How is it?" "Um... hard," she answered honestly. "Oh." Her mother positioned herself in front of her, facing her legs, which were partially hidden beneath the yellow dress. "You're going to have to grit your teeth, sweetheart. Just for today, this is where you'll be changed." "I prefer my bed," she admitted, pulling the dress toward herself. Now the milky-white diaper was exposed. "That's soft!" Her mother stifled a laugh, looking away and politely covering her mouth with one hand. Then she proceeded to tear open the diaper's fastening tabs. Ava could feel her heart pounding relentlessly. Loud thuds, nervous breathing, and her teeth clenched between her lips. Hearing that sharp, distinct sound plunged her even deeper into anxiety. “It won’t take long,” she told herself, “not long.” A light breeze brushed against her private parts; her mother had just lifted the front of her diaper. The pounding grew louder, to the point where she thought she’d gone deaf. Thirteen years old. Thirteen years old, and her mother was checking her private parts to make sure she hadn’t wet her diaper. She’d take this secret to her grave. She felt her thighs lift off the ground; a second later, her legs, along with her bare feet, were above her head, forming a V. A rustling sound followed. The soft, warm sensation had given way to the hard, cold surface of the changing table. What was Mom doing? She had pulled the diaper out from under her bottom. Ava tried to ask for an explanation but stopped herself. Her legs and feet disappeared from her field of vision, and her ears picked up familiar sound waves: sounds and noises like paper mixed with soft, plastic-like notes. “Could you sit down for a second, sweetie?” her mom ordered, bent over the backpack next to her. “I need you to help me pick out the right swimsuit.” Questions suddenly multiplied in the vast field of her thoughts. Were there swimsuits in the diaper bag? Was that where she had hidden the dry diaper she had been wearing just moments ago? Would she go into the water with or without a diaper? “Swimsuit?” she asked uncertainly, driven by a morbid desire to know. “What kind of swimsuit?” “Before coming to meet you at the beach umbrella,” she began, rummaging through her bag, “I stopped by the shop down the street. I’d forgotten to pick up some sunscreen for your sister, so I took the opportunity to stop there. After finding it, I went looking for the checkout. That was when I came across this.” She pulled out a pack of diapers, very different from the one they had at home. On the front it said “Pampers Splashers,” followed by a picture of a smiling one — or two-year — old girl sitting on a beach towel. She raised an eyebrow in confusion: those diapers were far too small for her. “Mom, I don’t want to make you angry, but…” Ava stopped speaking, frightened. “Well… I don’t know if you noticed… Those diapers are too small for me.” Her expression suddenly darkened. She slowly turned the plastic package over in her hands, studying it as if she were seeing it for the first time. Ava could feel laughter welling up inside her, so she covered her mouth with both hands to hold it back. It was rare for Mom to make such a glaring mistake as this! Or so she thought. Mom put on a teasing smile. She rotated the package once more and pointed to the bottom-right corner with her index finger. She tapped it three times to drive the point home. Extra Extra Large, 27 kg to 57 kg. Ages 8 to 15. It can’t be… Those diapers fit me too! “The clerk told me that Pampers doesn’t normally sell these sizes,” Mom explained. “The reason they carry them is that many parents who live around here have children with special needs. Do you know what that means?” Ava lowered her hands without changing her expression. “They always wear diapers?” Mom nodded. “Exactly. When I asked if they had your size, he asked me a few questions about you: how old you are, how much you weigh, and how frequently you have accidents.” She sighed. “I told a few lies and bought them.” Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. In the mind of that stranger, who knew absolutely nothing about her just as she knew next to nothing about him, she was a little girl the size of a preteen. She lowered her gaze; she was still naked below the waist. “Am I a little girl?” Her voice sounded faint, anguished. “Tell me I’m not, Mom. Please!” Her eyes glistened, tears ready to spill over. She made a decisive movement toward her. Her smooth, gentle hands guided her to bring her sorrowful face against her mother’s reassuring, loving one. No matter how hard she tried to be a thirteen-year-old, inside she was a younger little girl. “You are, and you always will be, my little girl, Ava.” Mom answered firmly, but gently. Her thumb brushed away a tear that was rolling down her cheek. “I know you’re growing up, but sometimes you need to feel small. It’s a defense mechanism that shouldn’t be underestimated. It means you need to take a few steps backward before you can grow.” “You’re entering the most delicate phase of your life, and it’s my job to be by your side. There will be days when everything feels hard and ugly, and others when it will be easy and beautiful. Diapers or no diapers, you’ll always be my little chick.” She kissed her on the forehead, and Ava felt her love run through her soul. She was number one — her hero. She slipped the diaper between her legs and pulled it up to her knees. Ava hopped down from the changing table and let her mother finish putting it on her. It was soft and silky, similar to the diaper she had been wearing just a few minutes earlier. “How does it feel?” she asked curiously. “It’s perfect!” Ava’s eyes lit up with happiness. “Thank you, Mom.”   ---   Ava and Michelle collapsed onto the sun loungers, exhausted, protected from the blazing rays of the Sun. Between breaths, they exchanged a tired glance; they didn’t need to speak to understand that they were both completely worn out. “Damn,” Michelle said, sitting up, “Mom and Dad weren’t kidding when they said they were really good at playing bull.” Ava found the strength to get up and grab two colorful towels hanging from the thin white joints of the beach umbrella. She tossed one onto her own lounger, quickly unfolded the second, and wrapped it around her sister just as their parents had done. “They really are.” She ruffled her hair with one hand, then picked up a towel and rubbed her head with it. “I’ll admit, I was scared when it was just me against the two of them. I don’t even want to imagine how full my diaper is.” Michelle shivered slightly, though she was still trembling from the cold. She blushed and whispered, “Are you really wearing one right now?” Ava nodded as if it were the most normal thing in the world. After all, she was glad she had it on and that her mother had put it on her. “Mom thought it would be better if I wore one. In the end, she was right: I had fun without worrying about having to go to the bathroom.” Michelle made an envious face. “I want one too!” Ava’s eyes widened in surprise, and she reacted automatically. “What do you want?” Her little sister turned her head toward her. “I want to wear a diaper under my swimsuit too.” A tender smile escaped her. “Why don’t you go ask Mom? I’m sure she won’t say no.” Once again, Michelle looked astonished. Her large dark eyes scanned Ava’s face, searching for the slightest detail that might confirm whether she was telling the truth. Ava kept smiling, her eyes tired but calm, her expression sincere and, in some ways, maternal. Did Michelle really think she was teasing her? Ava, who had a diaper full of pee between her legs, hidden beneath her swimsuit? Michelle’s expression fell, and she looked troubled. “Maybe it’s better if I don’t. You know what Mom’s like.” Ava let out an annoyed huff. She sat down beside her sister, placed a hand on her shoulder, and fixed her eyes on the sad, conflicted face before her. “How can you be sure if you don’t try?” she asked gently. “I know, but…” “But?” “I’m scared… I’m scared she’ll treat me like a little kid,” the troubled girl admitted, biting her lip. “She never would.” Ava replied confidently. “Mom wants us to feel good and be happy. Look at me, for example. She caught me buying diapers in secret, I confessed everything to her, and she let me wear them whenever I want or whenever I feel I need them.” “Is that why you went to the bathroom before coming to meet us?” Michelle asked, puzzled, her forehead still dotted with drops of salt water. “Because you felt you needed one?” Ava shook her head slightly. The confusion in her sister’s mood was the same confusion she had felt when Mom had caught her in her room taking that diaper off. Doubt had pounded inside her head, along with the fear that had squeezed her until she could hardly breathe and the desperate wish that none of this had ever happened. How had Mom helped her? She thought about it. In her mind, avalanches of thoughts and insecurities lay abandoned at her feet. A surge of anger ran through her veins. Michelle needed her, and she had absolutely no idea how to help her! She took a long breath. Time seemed to slow down, and the weight of the chaos disappeared completely. Yes. Now she knew how to pull her out of that vortex of uncertainty. “Yes,” she said cautiously. “I needed one. It may sound strange, but I didn’t know that I needed one. These things, the diapers, are making me understand several things about myself: I’m a shy girl; sometimes I’m moody because that’s just how I am; I get emotional easily because I’m sensitive. But most importantly: I want to be someone you and Tommy can look up to.” Michelle smiled affectionately. “Someone we can look up to?” “Do you remember what Mom said this morning?” she asked. “Our family is like an open sea filled with lighthouses and boats. We are the lighthouses that allow our boats to reach their destination. Every lighthouse is important, just as every boat is. We’re all points of reference for one another.” She hugged her. “If a lighthouse isn’t working the way it should, we all have to rush over and get it working again. Yesterday, my lighthouse stopped working, and Mom and Dad got it working again. How? With diapers. Now my lighthouse is working better than ever. Do you understand? We help one another, and we can’t do without each other. We’re a team, and if one of us loses, we all lose.” Michelle smiled broadly in return. “I don’t want us to lose.” “Then let’s make a commitment and help each other.” Ava gave her a little kiss on the cheek. “Diaper or no diaper, you’ll always be my tough little sister.” “I love you too, big sis.” Michelle returned the gesture in the same way, but more slowly and affectionately. “Would you help me… help me ask her?” Ava flashed a huge, ear-to-ear smile and emptied her bladder once again. She would cross the most dangerous seas just to see her light shining across the sky.   ---   The rhythmic rumble of the car had never stopped drilling into her ears since they had left. Ava squeezed her eyes shut three times before opening them fully and leaving the world of dreams behind. She felt even more tired than before, worse than a factory worker after a long shift. She stretched her exhausted arms upward and turned her head to the left. Both Tommy and Michelle were still dozing, his head resting on her shoulder. For a moment, they looked to her like two domino pieces about to set off a long chain reaction. She smiled; it had been years since she had seen them this close. She wanted to capture the moment before it was too late. She looked away. An insistent tingling spread throughout her body all the way to her fingertips. She leaned forward, carefully slid the zipper open, and slipped a hand inside her backpack. She pulled out her phone and pointed it at them. In a quick, precise sequence, her fingers bounced across the glowing screen, taking several pictures. Finally, she studied them one by one, tongue sticking out in concentration. The images flashed by quickly. They seemed like microscopic pieces making up a movie scene, and Ava let out a little squeal of delight. Even though Tommy and Michelle had moved only a few millimeters between one picture and the next, she didn’t waste precious seconds examining their minute differences. She had already decided that those tiny details would determine which photo was the best. “I see someone woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, huh?” Her father glanced back out of the corner of his eye, keeping his gaze fixed on the road. “How’s everything back there? All good?” Ava looked up from her phone and met her mother’s curious, calm face. She whispered, “They’re sleeping.” “I can see that, silly! More importantly, tell me why you’re laughing. Are you watching funny videos?” Ava shook her head enthusiastically and honestly. She replied in a low voice, “I took a picture of the two of them, and I’m choosing the best one.” “Did you take any funny ones?” “No,” she said in surprise. “I took so many that it’s like I’m watching a movie where they’re just sleeping. Look!” She turned the phone around and quickly swiped through several pictures with her finger, creating the illusion of moving images. For a moment, Ava thought she had discovered something new, but she didn’t care much about it. Instead, it reminded her of when she was little, back when she was constantly discovering new things. “Yes, you’re right, sweetheart.” Mom laughed heartily. “Changing the subject, do you need to be changed? How are you feeling right now?” Ava blushed awkwardly at the question. She lowered her eyes toward the space between her legs. Her dark shorts were dry and slightly puffed out. Everything seemed fine; she couldn’t feel any cold or wet sensation against her skin. No warning from her bladder. “I think I’m dry,” she answered uncertainly. “But… but it wouldn’t hurt to check.” Mom smiled and nodded with her usual loving, understanding manner. “All right, sweetheart. While Dad fills up the car, we’ll make a quick trip to the bathroom. Okay?” “Okay, Mom.” She turned her gaze toward her siblings and watched them for a moment. “Are they coming with us too?” “They have to,” she replied wearily. “Especially Tommy. I can tell from here that he’s had quite a lot.” Ava lowered her eyes to her brother’s shorts. The bulge between his legs was more pronounced than hers, confirming her mother’s suspicion. She felt a slight pang of sympathy for him. “When will all this end?” she asked, exhausted. “When will what end?” “Tommy’s thing.” Mom’s face fell slightly as she turned her eyes toward her. She let out a sigh and replied, “I don’t know, Ava. Why do you ask?” Her heart tightened and her stomach twisted. Just as she had done for Michelle beneath the beach umbrella, she was trying to find a way to help him. To be there for him. She had to be there; she just needed to find the way, like a pirate searching for lost treasure. “I don’t want to,” she admitted anxiously. “I don’t want to hear him crying or getting angry because he wet himself.” “Ava, you know it’s not easy to accept the fact that you had an accident while you were sleeping.” Mom’s tone hardened, ready to reprimand her if she said something inappropriate. “It’s a difficult time for your brother: a new school, new friends, a new home. You know better than any of us what that means.” “I don’t wet the bed, Mom,” she protested, puzzled. “I don’t understand where you’re going with this.” “That’s true, you don’t wet the bed while you sleep; but you were the first one to take the hit.” Mom gestured toward her shorts. “The diapers are helping you deal with it. It’s too early to say for sure, but I’m seeing the first results with my own eyes.” “The fact that he, Michelle, and I are wearing diapers?” she asked cautiously. “Think about it carefully, sweetheart,” Mom warned her. “If a lighthouse isn’t working the way it should, the others have to do everything they can to help it. Can you tell me why?” Ava nervously bit her lip. “Because… because we’re a team?” “Exactly.” Her mother’s voice softened. “A team works hard to achieve a goal. It can’t do it alone, which is why it needs us to get through this turbulent period.” Ava turned her gaze toward him and placed a hand on his shoulder. She pushed the thought of the diaper between her legs out of her mind. Poor Tommy. Starting this new chapter of their lives had to be difficult. A hiss from below caught her attention. Both hands immediately moved to press down there. Shame appeared on her face: glistening eyes, flushed cheeks, and lips pressed tightly together. Was she… was she really about to cry? Cry in front of her family for the second time in barely twenty-four hours? She let out a shaky, hiccupping sigh. Not to mention that she had just wet her diaper… “M-Mom?” she called in a trembling voice. “Maybe… maybe I need to be changed.”   ---   Ava struggled to ignore the looks of the people inside the rest stop. A mosaic of eyes that fell, even if only for a few seconds, on her and her family. She found comfort in the loud, overwhelming buzz of their voices, certain that no one could hear the sounds coming from her diaper with every step. They don’t know, she kept telling herself. Everything will be fine. She turned her gaze toward Tommy on her left. His face was lit up with curiosity, his eyes darting from one side to the other as though drawn by some invisible force. Despite being just one of many restaurants at a service station, it seemed as though he were visiting a museum. Ava felt envious. Like her, he was wearing a diaper soaked with pee and walking around as though he didn’t give a damn. How did he manage to ignore the cold, unpleasant squelching of wetness against his skin every time he moved? Ahead of them, Mom and Michelle had been talking ever since they walked inside. What their conversation was about remained a mystery. Mom was probably explaining something about the diapers all three of them were wearing or clarifying some of the rules she had laid out the day before. “When are we getting to the bathroom?” Tommy’s little voice was tense. “In a few seconds.” Ava gave him a reassuring glance. “Everything okay?” Tommy shuddered, looked away for a moment, and squeezed her hand tighter. “I-I’m starting to feel uncomfortable. And besides… I need to pee.” Ava immediately looked up. Beyond the rows of tables scattered here and there, the family bathroom was still a long way off. For her brother’s sake, they needed to pick up the pace. She hurried forward and touched her mother’s shoulder. “Tommy needs to pee,” she said worriedly. “Since we’re moving at a snail’s pace and our diapers are driving us crazy, couldn’t we walk a little faster?” Before long, Ava and her family reached the family bathroom. As soon as she stepped inside, she let out a long sigh of relief. No eyes watching her, no chance of being discovered, and no possibility of being mocked by strangers. “Kids,” Mom began in a general-like tone, “since this bathroom has two changing tables, I suggest we split into two pairs. Tommy and me, and Ava and Michelle. Once I’ve taken care of you two, Ava will be next, and I expect you two not to disturb us. Understood?” While Tommy and Michelle confirmed that they understood and prepared to be changed, Ava looked around curiously. The bathroom was well lit by a large lamp protected by a sort of metal cage. There was a changing table beside the toilet, while the other was next to the sink. I’ll change Michelle here. She slowly approached it and studied it for a moment. Attached to it was an instructional sheet explaining, with simple illustrations, how to use the fold-down changing table. Three simple but important steps. “Okay, okay,” she sighed nervously. “Pull the lever, do what I have to do, then push it back up. Easy, right?” “It is easy, actually.” Ava jumped in fright and sprang toward the wall, both hands pressed against her chest. Her eyes fell on Michelle, who had stepped back a few paces, holding a clean diaper and a packet of wet wipes against her chest. What the hell had gotten into her? If she wanted to give Ava a heart attack, she had almost succeeded! Ava hadn’t even heard her approach, just like those tiny insects that occasionally appeared in her bedroom. Ava sighed to calm her nerves and slow her heartbeat. “I see Mom gave you everything you need. Wait, where’s the diaper rash cream?” “You should have it in your backpack,” Michelle said, pointing to the bag at Ava’s feet. “Mom said it’s in there. She and Tommy are using the spare one.” Ava gave her a puzzled look. A spare tube of cream? Had Mom really thought about the possibility of them running out? This was the first time Ava had ever gone out wearing a diaper! Even when she was little, Mom had never been this prepared for emergencies. The same went for Michelle and Tommy. That really was strange. She put the thought aside and proceeded to pull the small blue lever. A sharp metallic sound echoed through the air, putting both her and her sister on alert. Uh-oh… Did I break it? A long white plastic panel detached from the wall and unfolded horizontally between them. Ava studied it for over a minute; it looked identical to the changing table in the beach bathroom. She crossed her fingers that her sister wouldn’t complain once she climbed up onto it. “Ready?” she asked. Michelle turned bright red and looked away from the table. She muttered something under her breath before taking another step backward. Oh, come on! Ava immediately opened her arms as if to hug her and tried to move closer. She didn’t want to waste another minute trapped inside a cold, dirty diaper! She spoke in a calm, reassuring voice. “I know this is something new, but I don’t want you to back out now. I used to change you all the time when you were a baby, after all. I’m your big sister! I want you to feel comfortable. Especially now, since… you know, right?” “I… I’m not a little kid…” Michelle shuddered. “None of us thinks that, and none of us ever will!” Ava replied convincingly. “Look at me! I’m wearing one too, and I’m thirteen! Do I look like a little kid to you?” From the other side of the room, Mom called out teasingly, “Outwardly, you’re a big girl, but deep down you know you’re still a little girl!” Ava laughed nervously, while also wondering why Mom had felt the need to butt in. Mom was right: deep down, Ava still felt like a little girl, in need of her parents’ attention and always eager for games and fun. Maybe Michelle felt the same way? Was she hiding that side of herself, trying to appear different in front of Ava? “There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” she continued cautiously. “If you’ve had an accident, no one will know. Only you know, unless you tell someone or someone finds out. Are you feeling confused?” Michelle lowered her head, staring at the floor. She looked like a kicked puppy. “No? Actually, yes, but…” She sighed deeply. “Y-Yes?” “There’s nothing wrong with you,” Ava began slowly. “You’re just curious and trying to be like me. Am I or am I not your big sister?” She smiled faintly. “You are.” “See?” Ava placed her hands on her shoulders. “I’m here to help you. Always, even if you make the biggest mess.” Michelle looked down for a moment, shuddered at the thought, and shook her head in horror. “I’d never do that! Not even if every bathroom in the world disappeared!” Ava burst out laughing. Her sister certainly wasn’t lacking in determination or spirit. Who knew, maybe one day she’d even end up pooping in her diaper… Her hands slipped silently beneath Michelle’s armpits. Ava picked her up and carried her over to the changing table. A strange feeling of melancholy washed over her. Damn, it had been years since she’d held her sister like that. “Everything okay, Ava?” She nodded and smiled reassuringly. “Everything’s fine. Ready to be changed? If so, lie down and relax. I won’t take long. I promise!” Michelle obeyed and let her big sister take care of her, just as she had when she was younger.   ---   Ava threw her bag and backpack onto the bed in exhaustion. Her legs, trembling with fatigue, gave out and brought her down onto her knees. She rested her head against the side of the bed and relaxed for a moment. The trip home had completely worn her out. She hadn’t expected her parents to come prepared with games to play and songs to listen to and sing at the top of their lungs. If she ever had children of her own, she’d take them on vacation just to have fun together in the car. Tommy and Michelle had also had a wonderful time. Their joyful smiles and hearty laughter had made her wet her diaper again and again. Dad’s jokes, despite being painfully stupid, had managed to pull her out of the melancholy of having to leave and return to everyday life. With one hand, she pressed lightly between her legs. The diaper was cold and damp; if she had to pee again, it would surely end up on her shorts, considering how full it was. Ugh. She sighed and tried to get back on her feet. I have to tell Mom. She sat down, the cold, wet grip of the diaper sending shivers through her. If she made a sudden movement, she might soak her clothes. Damn! I shouldn’t have drunk that whole bottle of soda! She stood up with some difficulty. Her legs were still sore, and walking toward the door felt like an enormous effort. She took a few unsteady steps, then began walking normally. She pulled the door toward her, and the dim lights from downstairs slipped into the semidarkness of her room in the blink of an eye. Her mother was only a few steps away, one hand ready to grab the doorknob. Ava couldn’t help noticing the dark circles under her eyes and her exhausted expression. If only she could have said goodnight and gone straight to bed! “You’re still awake?” Mom asked, running a hand over her face. Ava nodded with slight embarrassment. “Well… I have a little problem… down here.” Finally, she nodded toward her lower body. Her mother’s lips curled into a tired but caring smile. “Does my Ava need a clean diaper?” “Can I… really?” Her eyes lit up. “I-I don’t wet the bed…” “That’s true, but if you want Mom to put a diaper on you before bed, all you have to do is ask,” she replied, glancing beneath Ava’s shorts. “Oh, yes. You definitely need a good cleanup.” Without saying another word, Ava slipped off her shorts and walked over to her bed. She moved the bag onto the floor, handed the backpack to her mother, and turned toward her. “What do I do now?” Mom pulled out the last diaper and opened it. “Lie down, sweetheart. I’ll take care of you now.” Ava obeyed, her heart pounding in her chest and ears. For the first time in her thirteen years of life, she was going to wear a diaper to bed. She bit her lower lip and tried to remain calm. Mom tore open the tabs, wiped her with a wet wipe three times, and slipped the clean diaper beneath her. Finally, with loving care and attention, she fastened it securely and adjusted the leak guards along the sides. “There we go. All ready for bedtime. See you tomorrow morning, sweetheart.” “Goodnight, Mom.” Ava jumped to her feet and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.” Mom returned the gesture, planting a kiss on her forehead. “I’m just doing what’s best for you. Sweet dreams.” Before pulling the door almost closed, she added, “If you need to be changed, don’t hesitate to wake me up. I don’t want my little girl sleeping in a smelly diaper all night.” “See you tomorrow, Mom,” she replied, then closed her eyes and drifted off into the world of dreams.

i have also enclosed the aforementioned Uploading of the enitire sory with some typos etc more fixed ; pdf and word doc ( extra pages at end for when i get the thing professionally bound ; you can find them all also up to Chapter 114 as well as all in one PDF '; online now also at at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MXx4074F30IKQvy4imWI2IxdObrUHPdv?usp=drive_link    Chapter 114 – welcome to May 2026, Jeff back to work and how many school days off while Lisas fourth pregnancy (third her plus one adopted) and Helping other Mothers and Fathers too – third week of May 2026, part 1; Lisa’s and Suzy’s family Monday 18th May second half After their lunch; and them also being given tonight’s dinner choices, it was very similar to the arrival of Smithson and Kohn families (see Chapter 75-76 for Smithson and Chapters 92-93 for Kohn) they were walked over to The Annexe, during said time ;   Suzy said she will try to go a bit easier on them, with them going through a lot! After stowing their stuff in the room ; walking down for their Introductions at the sitting   / waiting area; explaining all the usuals , such as you only sleep here, Welcome Pack, rules in brief and Wi-Fi details and the like ; not too many questions to which Suzy explained the extra details of those things  BUT enquiring if heading home does not happen; is there a Plan B ? Suzy explained nothing else known yet; so they have fingers  crossed ! HOWEVER you will ALWAYS be welcome here to at least see us again ; as long as your parents are fine with it ? They said that was very kind of them. Suzy enquired if the situation with your parents happened before; they said a 3 or 4 times; some nice Foster families,  some not so nice families BUT this first time when we get four days away from getting home! After walking back through the boys were in mood for some  Mexican; a couple of suggestions  but Suzy really enjoys Wee Mexico (and the Jarros soda!)  so was arranged for a teatime delivery (17.30) that evening;  with Suzy once again knowing most regular orders!    (ED: very similar to the also independently owned Nana Mexico in Cambridge, both independents; I used to LOVE their Big Ass burritos too in Cambridge)  They proceeded through the rest of the main downstairs stuff  before having a chat with Byrony and a few others downstairs; along with Suzy leaving for the School Run (picking up nursery , primary and secondary school kids) ;  during Daddy Jeff was also introducing them to the others, including Byron’s  taxi and when Suzy arrived with the kids not still at home, he did the same for everyone. Suzy’s Mother and Father both really liked meeting, as did the majority of the rest of the home to be fair! Inner Circle replies included a lot of wishing them well, with Dr Reynolds hoping to do a flying visit Tuesday or Wednesday after work and school…   Dinner arrived soon enough (Suzy’s choice a Mexi Munchy Box and a couple of Jarros sodas , afterwards ice cream from the freezer!)   At Jeff and Suzy’s bedtime ; they said ”Can’t believe someone go awol on a kid when only four days till they go home” “ I know right Daddy”     Lisa’s side  Not much out of the ordinary Monday bar work and responding to Suzy’s good news…   Baby Suzy at 35 Babies Having Babies 4 c.pdf Baby Suzy at 35 Babies Having Babies 4 c.docx 000 famfix.pdf

thanks so much! Glad you enjoy And you'll have to wait and see 😛 though that does make sense Be careful! Sometimes those 'gut feelings' are just future messy diapers!

What are the different levels of autism? I was never given a number, but my diagnosis was in 2006. Stress is a major part of how much pee I can hold and can vary widely combined with a small bladder turned it into a nightmare. The other fun thing with stress and one of my medications I end up constipated to the point it puts pressure on my bladder cutting how much my bladder will hold before feeling it. ASD ups my CNS sensations, textures of my clothing, I can't wear socks as they drive me up a wall. The type of diaper, texture of the plastic and thickness of the diaper. I sort the texture of the plastic with Depends as there are differences with each order and sleep in the one I want for that night. The other thing you mentioned with interrupting activities is a MAJOR reason I went 24/7 years ago, it's hard to pick back up where I left off for all kinds of activities. It was a reason why I was wearing at work and a massive distraction and have seen other people that are ASD or ADHD talk about the same problems. It's hard enough to stay focused on one task. I just use my diaper in that case. The sensory parts for this as mentioned cause me to start and stop, I have this reaction when using the bathroom or a diaper is to clamp down when I feel flow and after a sync problem is when my bladder contracts while I can't relax to go, causing pain. I had one med help with the start stop and allowed me to hold more urine but the urge to go is stronger.  As for making it to the bathroom, I find it is so much easier to not wear pants. It's more comfortable and one less thing in the way at the toilet, I do the same by pulling my snake out the side as I would in underwear. For me a thinner diaper is more practical as the better diapers are too wide in the crotch and crush my boys. The aim of one's part is important to and need to experiment For the cost, my insurance does not cover my costs so I wish they would cover some of it, so I gave up some small luxury stuff. One thing with cloth diapers most people do not consider is the cost of washing them, the detergent, water and the energy needed to wash and dry them.