Hi, parent of two girls with ASC

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Hi all,
Would love to know of other parents with two daughters on the spectrum. I have a 4 & 7 yr old both recently diagnosed.
But i am not new to ASD as i grew up with it , having a mother DR. Wen Lawson, 2 brothers and various other family members.
I do find parenting kids with ASD a lot trickier than when i was growing up with it in my family....(guess i wasn't the parent then).
I find myself always second guessing and wondering what makes them tick and if i am doing the right thing.....
Girls are so good at masking, hiding and copying others. I look at my youngest and sometimes wonder who she is and if i actually know her as she has very severe echolalia and it's a really struggle as she also has the one parent box and i am it! My eldest has severe anxiety and heaps of friendship issues but would never hurt anyone and lives to please that she breaks down if ppl look at her crossly.......very complex.
Looking to touch base with parents who have similar age girls and are going through similar situations or who have been an can offer advice when needed.
Nice to say hi to a very valued community.
Katy

I am posting, just so you don't think you are being ignored. I have a son, and no daughters, but there are members with girls. You may just have to wait a bit for them to post. Also some of the moms on here are ASD or have tendencies in that direction and sometimes we can provide insight on ASD in girls.

Welcome.

Thank you ASDMommyASDKid,
That is ok, i am patient!
Your reply is much appreciated!
Kate

Just wanted to say welcome.

My guy is 4yr. We are in a HFA class and last yr one girl out of 10 preschoolers and this yr no girls. I am sure some of the parents with girls will post.

Welcome! At my son's school for Asperger kids, there are currently 7 boys and 1 girl. It must be frustrating trying to find other parents who have girls.

So sorry I missed your post; welcome!

(my ASD child is a 17 year old boy, I'm afraid)

I saw your post and wanted to say Hello!

I am a mom of girls, though they are older than yours...Mine are 16 and 18. Very long story short, my 18 year old was diagnosed with ASD this summer. She is a very "verbal thinker". Also has NVLD type of diagnosis from when she was very young. My 16 yr. old is said to be "gifted" by the school. My girls are similar in some ways, but very different in others.

I guess it was lucky that yours were identified early on. Mine really had all the signs, but even just as long ago when she was a small child I don't think Dr.'s or teachers (or parents) were as good at picking up the signs in girls.

So I don't have a lot of information about formal therapies, etc. But we pretty much took things as they came ...and tried to encourage her outside her comfort zone, but then learned to recognize when to let her be. She has grown up to be a beautiful, kind girl. She does seem younger than most 18 yr olds and she does struggle socially with her peers and with some anxiety....that is the hardest part for her and us too to see her go through the social struggles and anxiety about them. At home she is mostly talkative (especially about her favorite subjects!) and relaxed most of the time. She is attending community college and we are hopeful about the future for her. We are learning to take things one step at a time and follow her "timetable", not what society says it should be.

I would say try to enjoy your girls for who they are and keep encouraging them. It does take a lot of time and effort with them, I think more than an average kid, but well worth it!