You are an AMAZING parent
Do you ever find it fascinating when people post on social media about their amazing kids and then pump their own tyres about how they are incredible parents and so blessed, lucky, blah blah blah!!!
Sometimes it’s enough to make me feel sick! Seriously! You’re amazing?! If you’re amazing with two ‘normal’ children, then what the hell am I? I’m an Autism Mum, and I’m an absolute superstar just to get through each and every day!
Parents with neurotypical kids, I’m sure, have their challenges with their children too, but compared to what we go through with our atypical children, it doesn’t even register on the Richter scale.
I have one of each. An atypical child and a neurotypical child, and I know from experience that my ‘normal’ child is a walk in the park in comparison.
At 13 he gets himself up, has a shower, gets ready for school making his own breakfast and lunch, and then either rides or walks with friends. He’s not perfect, but he gets most of his school work done on time, he is quiet, respectful, caring and a pleasure to parent. There are the rare occasions when I have to tell him off for some minor things, or he can be a bit lazy and needs a gentle nudge to put his clothes away or help with chores, but this is nothing if you compare him to his atypical brother.
My autism child needs constant reminding to do simple tasks. He struggles to know what day of the week it is. He needs reminding to get up in the morning and get ready for school and he certainly doesn’t take himself. He has difficulty communicating in a neutral tone he’s often angry, loud and obnoxious. School is a constant battle to get to and actually do the work. Functioning in a classroom is difficult and problems at school and at home are constant. Life is hard, nothing about daily life is easy or normal. Each day has its own issues and it challenges me as a person and as a parent.
I have to remind myself that I am an amazing parent and all I can do is to do my best. I do so much for him and although he doesn’t realise it, and he doesn’t say thank you, and probably never will, I have done an incredible job of being there for him every day even when I feel broken, tired and I just want to go to bed a cry. I’ve done everything I can to give him the best life, to support him, to get help for him and to teach him. I am AMAZING, and if you’re an autism parent, or a parent of a child with special needs, then you are AMAZING too!
SASI Guest Parent Blogger
Image courtesy of pixabay.com
