Just starting off – with autism
She’s a young mom just starting off. Her first child was a girl her second a little boy.
“Why all the tests? We never had to do these for my daughter at this age.”
” We are trying to determine if…”
” Determine if ? What- I want to know. What is wrong??”
How many hallways have heard the echoes of these words, the panic, the uncertainty.The – why me???
What can we do for this young mom? Should we just tell her ” toughen up your child has autism?” Sure if you want to push her over the edge.
I recently was told a sad story. My friend has autistic twins. Yes – she has her hands full and most days are “over the top” for her. She is part of a wonderful support group for autistic families. One of the young moms was at the end of her ability to cope. Obviously the group didn’t know how close to the end. One day after her child’s therapy, the mom hung herself on the therapy equipment. Do you think this mom was making a statement?
I heard her cry and I didn’t even know her
“I hate this!!! ” “I can’t do this anymore!!!!!!”
At the End
Have you ever been at the end of yourself??? I have – but I never had a child who needed me every minute of the day for what seemed like forever. I never had someone tell me that one child would be a full-time job just to work with therapists, the teachers, the experts… I never had to juggle an autistic child with the lives of my other children who have needs too!
I worked for years in a group home for children. These children were there because the families could not take care of a child with special needs and take care of their other family members. They all agreed it was just too hard. Parents who are each day making the choice to raise their autistic children are heroes.
Autism Awareness
This is National Autism Awareness Month. Please look for ways to help families in your community. There are so many ways you can help. Be part of the support system that a family needs so that they can get through this autism thing. Also remeber at the end of the month people are still dealing with autism every day of their lives.
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Thank you to the following for the beautiful photographs:
JTravism
Meg Yarsh
penned in moon dust 
wonderful post…pulled my heart strings…
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Really love your passion for the special needs community. We have several friends that are bringing up special needs children and they are all amazing – more than that, the children are amazing. Thank you for your posts.
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