7 Things Parents of Special Needs Children Don’t Need to Hear
The Autism News | English
My eldest, who turned 10 this weekend, is on the autistic spectrum. He was diagnosed at age 2, which means that we’ve run the gamut of therapies and special evaluations. We’ve done the special preschools and dealt with the issues that come along with it as best as we can. It’s not always easy, this autism stuff, but there are plenty of things that make it worse.
Namely, unsolicited advice and opinions. Much as I love to hear differing opinions and ideas, there are times and places when I’d rather you shut your mouth and move along. Especially when it comes to my son, who is perfect just the way he is.
Here’s a handy reference list of things not to say to parents of special needs kids:
1. “I would NEVER allow my child to eat from the white-stuff-only food group. You should serve everyone ONE meal and let him go hungry. He’ll learn to eat.” I’m not denying it — my kid is a terrible eater. If there was some award for bad eaters, trust me, we’d have won it YEARS ago. However, I’ve tried the whole, “If you don’t eat this, you’re going to be hungry,” and guess what? He went hungry. Then? He got hysterical. Then I got hysterical. Not worth it.
2. “Why is your kid lining things up and counting them? I mean, Hot Wheels cars in rows don’t look right on a banister, you know?” Gee. Thanks. And I suppose your habit of leaving stacks of mail or pop cans around is just “decorating.” It soothes the kid. And if you happen to fall over a couple of Hot Wheels, well, don’t say you didn’t see it coming.
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