Lawyer, 40, reveals how her five-year-old autistic daughter's speech and behaviour is 'blossoming' thanks to being 'showered' with attention by both her parents during lockdown

  • Emma Gill, 40, is a lawyer and mother to daughter Sophie, five, who has autism
  • Emma, husband Richard and Sophie are in lockdown at home in Bolton
  • Emma spoke about how Sophie has 'blossomed' during the time at home 

A mother has told how her autistic daughter has 'blossomed' during lockdown thanks to having more time with both of her parents.  

Emma Gill, 40, director of family law at Manchester-based firm Vardags, shares daughter Sophie, five, with her husband Richard.  

Speaking to FEMAIL, Emma, who lives with her family just outside Bolton, Greater Manchester, explained Sophie had benefited from having more time at home with her mother and father during lockdown.   

Emma Gill, 40, director of family law at Manchester-based firm Vardags, shares daughter Sophie, five, who has autism with her husband Richard. Emma, pictured at home with Sophie, told how her daughter had 'blossomed' thanks to having more time at home during lockdown

Emma Gill, 40, director of family law at Manchester-based firm Vardags, shares daughter Sophie, five, who has autism with her husband Richard. Emma, pictured at home with Sophie, told how her daughter had 'blossomed' thanks to having more time at home during lockdown 

She said: 'Seeing how Sophie's language is developing is the best thing. This is such a unique opportunity in her lifetime to have extended time with both me and her dad together, one on one, talking to her all the time. 

'She's like a little sponge at the moment. For example, we always ask her to take her plate into the kitchen. Sometimes it takes a little while for her to process it but then she goes and takes it in. 

'But tonight we were sort of looking at each other saying, "what's that noise?" and she was scraping her plate into the bin. And just seeing that bit of development... 

'She's obviously at home a bit more, she's seeing Mum and Dad clean up after lunch, breakfast and dinner. It's a really lovely thing to see her blossoming from being showered in this attention from her parents.'

Both Emma and Richard, a builder, usually work outside of the home while Sophie goes to school. During lockdown it was important for the family to maintain a routine in order to make the transition as easy as possible on Sophie, who was diagnosed with autism aged three. 

Both Emma and Richard, a builder, usually work outside of the home while Sophie goes to school. During lockdown it was important for the family to maintain a routine in order to make the transition as easy as possible on Sophie. Pictured, Emma in her home office

Both Emma and Richard, a builder, usually work outside of the home while Sophie goes to school. During lockdown it was important for the family to maintain a routine in order to make the transition as easy as possible on Sophie. Pictured, Emma in her home office

'Because Sophie is five and because of her level of understanding, she gets that something is different because she's not at school every day but she doesn't understand the magnitude of the crisis,' Emma continued. 

'She understands that she's with her Mum and Dad every day, that Mummy goes upstairs to work, but doesn't understand the magnitude of this, the fact that this is impacting every single part of the world. 

'So in terms of what we have been able to communicate is about the structure of Sophie's day. I get up with her, as I normally would, between 6.30am and 7.30am, we have our time together as we would if it was a normal school day and I was dropping her off before commuting into Manchester. 

'It's dress, hair, teeth, breakfast, all of that I do and then there's a handover to Daddy. And then her day starts with Daddy then and Mummy goes upstairs to work.'

Like parents across the country, Emma and Richard faced the struggle of balancing family life with work. 

Emma explained that, while she was fortunate to be able to work from home, it was also difficult to know that her husband and daughter were having time together that she can't always share in. 

Emma, who works for Vardags law firm, has continued her work from home. Pictured, Emma (centre) with her colleagues in the office in a photo taken before lockdown

Emma, who works for Vardags law firm, has continued her work from home. Pictured, Emma (centre) with her colleagues in the office in a photo taken before lockdown

'There have been highs and lows,' Emma said. 'What has been most difficult is having my husband and my daughter in the house every day but knowing I can't muck about with them. 

'Sophie does not see me working, which means she's used to having my undivided attention whenever I'm with her. For her to know I'm in the house but not with her is quite challenging for her and so quite challenging for me. 

'So much of the childcare pressure is now on him.'

Emma has spoken publicly of her experience as a parent of a child with autism on several occasions, including on Woman's Hour in February this year. 

The mother-of-one explained she wanted to treat her daughter's condition as just one of the 'shades of her personality', rather than her defining feature. 

Speaking on embracing autism, Emma added: 'We knew we were on a different path and being able to put a name to it was empowering, and I want Sophie to find it empowering and to embrace it. For me, it is just another shade of her personality, it is just one of the qualities that make up who she is.'

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