FanBoy11 wrote:
I ask because my gut says that LM is very aware of what is being said about him and I make a point to mention this to teachers, therapists etc because I don't want any of the typically clinical and often limiting speech be used around him that would affect his confidence in himself. I also often wonder how much he understands of what we are saying to him, mostly, does he know that we love him and that we are trying our best to be there for him in whatever limited way we can as non autistic parents?
If I may jump in ...
LM may well have a remarkably higher IQ than most kids his age, and be highly sensitive.
In my case, thank God that nobody labeled me as an Aspie or autistic ... it was hard enough to learn when I started kindergarten that I had a "speech impediment" and have other kids laugh at me for the way I talked. Before kindergarten, I had been happily accepted, accent and all, by the friendly neighborhood kids. Good thing that I loved reading and learning, so I enjoyed school in spite of the social challenges. By second grade, I was labeled "gifted" ... meaning that teachers loved me and other kids in school tended not to like me.
As for whether LM knows you love him ... I would say, yes. And that the best "treatment" for his autism is your love. Take him to the zoo, take him to amusement parks, take him out for ice cream and movies, explore his interests (notice I didn't say "special interests"). My mom introduced me to reading and Spanish early on. My dad introduced me to astronomy and magic (coin tricks, card tricks, rope tricks). I was playing tunes on keyboards whenever I could find a xylophone toy or the piano at my grandparents' house. I was expected to help out around the house, mostly by doing the dishes. I was treated normally at home by my family while growing up, probably because I had no autism label.
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