Anxieties of a Parent with a Child with Autism
The Autism News | English
Every parent of a child with autism has concerns about their child’s future. And, inevitably, we compare our children with those neuro-typical children with whom they play in the park or at church. During any social situation, we can see how our children are behaving and reacting in comparison with other children.
When we first notice, we tear up, or at least I did. I would get choked up because I knew my child was different, and I knew the teasing, bullying, and ridicule he was going to endure while attending school. I could see the future, and it was not what I had hoped it would be. That was before I noticed the extraordinary things my son can accomplish.
At this point, I would get excited, seeing a future for my son as a scientist or engineer because his natural ability to puzzle out and complete tasks is well more advanced than is typical for his age. I would feel comfortable with the future that I could see, secure that there would be a place for my son in this world.
And then reality hit. The work that is involved in getting my son to the point where his natural intelligence can shine through the limitations of his autism is very real. It takes a lot of time to focus on his eye contact, working on responding when his name is called, or even keeping him focused on a task that needs to be completed. It is a frustrating point in my son’s development as he quickly gets bored. And I’m not just saying that as a biased father, because his teachers have all mentioned the same thing.
Please share your reaction! Give your opinion by filling out the form below.
Share this news with friends, family, or colleagues by clicking on the shortcuts below:
Comments
Deniece Miller-Haven says: My daughter is so different from her only brother and four older sisters. She is Autistic and they feel for her on how hard it is to teach our daughter who has Autism. We can’t take her to movies,convention centers for information on Special Needs kids,Disneyland,SeaWorld,etc. We can’t even get a babysitter so that our little family can go see a movie together because she does not like movie theatres. The tantrums are immense. People stare and say rude things to us. This, is why we keep her indoors all the time.
