I just need to get this off my chest. Sometimes, good-willed ppl make comments that hurt...not because the comments are hurtful or because the people are insensitive...it's because people don't see the full picture. Once an occupational therapist made an off handed comment about how "high-functioning" Tyler was.....after working with him for weeks and weeks and weeks on a goal and many tantrums, he performed the task she wanted.
Sometimes people talk about how normal Tyler seems, even though they have never tried to have a conversation with him or give him a hug. I have to watch my son struggle every day. I receive the blows and kicks from his tantrums. I am the one who gets rejected when trying to get a hug from him. I am the one that witnesses him slap himself and beat his own head with his fists. I guess what I am trying to say is that comments that minimize Tyler's deficits and disablilty----well, it hurts. It's like icing on the cake of the pain that I feel every day. I have even had people tell me that they he was mis-diagnosed. To these people I say, "Live a day in my shoes!" Then, tell me how normal he is. Being Tyler's mom is hard. I don't want sympathy, just understanding. You DO NOT know autism unless you live with it day in and out.
If you want to know Tyler and know autism, volunteer to babysit him for a day. You will get an education.
