Yes....they know I have a son with autism, but then later I come to find out, they thought they knew enough to judge me.
I've often thought about how to explain to a parent of neotypical (normal) children, what is like to raise a child with Severe Autism.
Did I mention?
- He can't talk?
- That the Obsessive Compulsive routines and behaviors are a constant battle?
- He needs the exact routine, everyday, every minute of the day?
- The digestive distress, the undigested food, the constipation, the diarrhea?
- Self injurious behaviors-head banging, hair pulling, self punching?
- The proneness to wonder away from home?
- The special diets?
- The vitamins and mineral supplements?
- The doctors who refuse to treat him like a person?
- The sleepless nights, when he goes from crying, to giggling, then to jumping on the bed, or the nights when at 5 o'clock in the morning after being up since 1:30 am, I just watch him stare at the television set, wondering how will I be able to get up in two hours?
- The socially unacceptable behaviors of stripping naked and the smearing of feces all over walls and on himself?
- The self imposed isolation, which might seem extreme to some, but it's the only way I can make sense of my life-not to mention how devastating it is to see other families apparent normalcy and know that, that life is not even a remote possibility ever again?
So I say to you who dare to think you know what my life is like, that unless you have a fifteen year old in diapers, you can't even begin to understand, and much less judge me!
