New member - whole Asperger's family

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My 9 year old son was diagnosed with Asperger's almost 2 years ago. It took us quite a while to realize there were problems because he acts just like his Dad. Well, after our son was diagnosed, the therapist looked at my husband and said "guess what - that explains your behavior too" and my husband ended up getting diagnosed also. I have recently started wondering about myself, and finally sat down and wrote out what my social interactions were like for most of my life. I did a lot of soul searching and wrote it all down. I gave it to my therapist. She would like my psychiatrist to confirm it, but she is willing to say that I have Asperger's also. So, our 7 year old son with severe ADHD is the only one in the family now that doesn't seem to have any Aspie traits.

So, I am struggling with parenting 2 challenging children. Dealing with a husband with Asperger's. And now, trying to figure out if my diagnosis changes anything.

How do two Aspies raise kids to have reasonable social skills? I have wondered for many years just how two very introverted parents were supposed to deal with my very extroverted younger son. And that was before any of us were diagnosed. I could tell that it was going to be a challenge to raise a child who is so much different. And, how strange it is to think that I consider my most NT child the "different" one.

I have seemed to kinda just let things happen over the past 2 years. My son was doing well in school, and didn't really need much intervention. But now, he is struggling with school and getting suspended for behavioral issues. So, I am starting to reach out and learn everything I can so that I can try to help him. My new over-focus in life is on Asperger's and how it is affecting my whole family.

I look forward to meeting people on here and I hope to share what I have learned while I learn from all of you.

Ann

Welcome. I am a male Aspie, and I have four children. Don't worry too much. You are not a worse parent because of your AS.

Hi. Welcome to WrongPlanet.

Welcome to the right place on this wrong planet.

Hi Ann,

You do it with a hell of a lot more insight then those that can't begin to fathom what is really like.

Shocker, isn't it? You are having an AHA!! moment, when things now will begin to make more sense, why they happened and all of the stuff that goes on with such revelations, about yourself and others that we hold dear.

To get this far we learned things, things that didn't work so well for us and things that did. Just remember, no two of us alike, what failed for us, might work for another. Just keep thinking out of the box. We do anyway. It's in our genes.

Ready for another shocker? AS often comes with friends, keep your eyes open, like I said, no two of us alike.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Thanks! Actually, now that I really think about it, my husband who seems so totally socially inept, actually has a much better grasp on social behavior than I do. He just made a choice early in life to be who is was and not specifically try to fit it. So, he understands, and logically chooses to act his own way. I want to fit in, but have a harder time understanding some of the social behavior. Interesting combination of social dysfunctions. I hope we can each pass something on to both of our kids, and maybe they will end up with the best pieces of both of us.

Welcome to WP!

Oh, you're welcome. Kids are pissers, wanna strangle the little s**ts one second and love em to death the next. (sigh) Grandkids you get to send home, there is light at the end of that tunnel, keep the faith.