We’re falling head-first through the month of December towards the two-and-a-half week long period known as “Winter Break”, in which school will be non-existent and therapy will be spotty. As we look back on the mere 3-day break around the Thanksgiving holiday and transpose that on a longer time-span, I have a confession to make – I have no idea what we’ll do.
Here’s the deal – for the first time since Jack was diagnosed more than 20 months ago, Jack had a 5-day long period of nothing around Thanksgiving. No therapy. No school. No social skills or special needs music class. Nothing but time. Time is our enemy, really. Rather than look forward to the downtime with anticipation, it causes my boy all kinds of anxiety. Anxiety that seems to crush him under its weight. Anxiety that I can’t seem to mitigate for him or help him manage. …continue reading
I am a sharer, some may even say I share too much. I remember getting in trouble in kindergarten for talking too much. I always want to hash things out , heal, and move on (much to my husbands chagrin). My daughter has already had talks with Mom about feminism, racism, religion, gay marriage, and disability. I share openly with just about anyone on my daughter’s SPD and my son’s autism. I believe knowledge is power; it helps us learn about others or make informed choices. For these reasons and many more, I share.
I know there are a lot of different opinions on this topic, and I do not think that there is a right or wrong. One of our therapists told me after our diagnosis that we do not have to share the diagnosis with anyone, it is our choice. I agree, it is our choice.My choice is to share it and share it often. I realize that once my children are older this may change as I certainly will respect their wishes, but my hope is they will be comfortable in their own skin and that by that time,society will be less judgmental as well.
I am upfront about autism and even look for opportunities to discuss it with others. I do not think there ought to be a stigma attached to it, and if I treat it like a secret then perhaps I inadvertently convey it is something “bad.” Putting a label on my children’s issues doesn’t define them. Bud is a child with autism, but he is also a child with beautiful eyes, an adorable skipping trot, and a keen mind for puzzles. Darling is a child with SPD, but also a fast-reader, great speller, silly dancer, and brave soul. If sharing the diagnosis changes someone’s opinion for the negative,that is their problem. …continue reading
