156.No Choice but to Live Apart-Supporting a Child with Additional Needs Vs Defence Life

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;" xml:lang="EN-GB">On this week’s Military Life *Parents Edition* podcast episode, I speak with Defence Partner Chrissy who went on a blind date with an ADF member 13 years ago and never looked back.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;" xml:lang="EN-GB"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;" xml:lang="EN-GB">Chrissy and I also talk about;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;" xml:lang="EN-GB">-Why, after backpacking solo for five years, the Defence lifestyle really suited her</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;" xml:lang="EN-GB">-How her attitude to the unknown of defence life changed once children came into the picture</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;" xml:lang="EN-GB">-Balancing Defence life with career & the needs of her son, who is autistic with a mild intellectual disability</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;" xml:lang="EN-GB">-Why their family is now living apart after her RAAF husband received a posting to Richmond</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;" xml:lang="EN-GB">-The reasons that forced her hand when it came time to decide whether to post with her husband</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;" xml:lang="EN-GB">-The lack of support and services available for Defence families with a child with additional needs</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;" xml:lang="EN-GB">-How living apart has been going and being faced with living apart for another 7+ years</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;" xml:lang="EN-GB">-Questioning whether choosing stability and sup