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When People Realize My Son Has Autism

She smiled at me, a mixture of pity and kindness in her eyes.

My son was talking jibberish (something that sounded like a mix between a cat’s meow and beeps…I am not even sure how to describe it). He was wearing his over-sized, bright orange, and looked like he could be a prisoner picking up trash on the side of the road t-shirt (he ironed on a Camp Half Blood logo from the  Percy Jackson website and it is his favorite).

So…she knew.

When People Realize My Son Has Autism #autism #autismmom #specialneeds

As he gets older, it’s becoming more and more apparent that my son has high functioning autism.

When we first got the diagnosis, it was not obvious. In fact, many people thought we were exaggerating or had just seen an over zealous doctor. For years, most of my son’s behaviors were only obvious at home. Either that, or because he was younger, he just looked like any other kid throwing a tantrum or being silly.

There was actually a time when I said to my husband, “Sometimes I think it would be easier if it were obvious to others. If they knew he had autism, people might judge us less and be nicer to him.”

Be careful what you wish for, I guess.

When People Realize My Son Has Autism

As we have learned more and more about how to help his sensory system synch up, he feels better. Feeling better means less meltdowns and is, without a doubt, an answer to so much prayer.

Feeling better in his own skin also means he feels good enough to verbally stim, and speak nonstop about his interests to anyone who will listen. As time goes on, he is just more obviously “different”.

When People Realize My Son Has AutismA gal who works at the pet store asked me last week if he had Aspergers. A little forward, yes. But also an indication that times are a changing.

It’s not that I am embarrassed by his behavior, I am not. Please allow me to repeat, I am not at all embarrassed.

This is about me not being able to cling to my last little bit of denial anymore.

This denial allowed me to believe he’s not that bad, no one can even really tell except me, maybe the doctor was wrong, maybe I just overreacted!

It’s crazy, I know. But I think this All.The.Time.

With this shift, I am learning to let go of the last little bit of “maybe not”. I am also beginning to read and research and question how best to help him socially and in public situations.

I am grateful for so much progress.

I am relieved that my son is more relaxed and sweet and happy.

And I am struggling.

I am struggling because I am getting a first glimpse of my son as an adult in a world that doesn’t understand him.

He is growing up.

He will be thirteen in less than six months.

He will be eighteen in the blink of an eye.

Five years.

I pray I spend them well. I pray I am able to pay attention and not be so tired. I pray I can help him and his little brother and my marriage and my heart survive all of this. I pray I do it with joy.

My son has high functioning autism. This will not change. Ever.

Living with this truth however, is changing me. Forever.


 

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3 Comments

  1. I am 15 years old and autistic. He is not alone in this. I am willing to be one of his allies if he is willing to accept my assistance.

  2. My daughter is almost 13. I am so grateful for everything she can do and all her little quirks that make her, HER. And my heart breaks for the things I know will be difficult and different for her as she grows up. This was encouraging in your honesty. Thanks for sharing your heart.

  3. We dared to go on a field trip to the fire station with our local homeschool group this last week. The EMT’s were a little too enthusiastic over the ambulance for the group of young kids, and by the the time we finally moved on to the fire trucks that my 4yo Aspie son had been so excited to see, all he wanted to do was sit on a running board and rock back and forth. And I’m the only single mom in the group, and barely know the other moms… and all I wanted to do was yell, “he has autism, he’s not just being a brat” And wish we had never gone at all. And then promptly turned down an invitation to another loud strange place this weekend, because I can’t handle doing it again this week.

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