New member - ASD son

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Hi,
I was given this link by another friend.
I have an almost 3 year old son who has been diagnosed autistic. Thankfully, he's high functioning, but he still does my head in.
I have some friends with ASD kids on another forum, but no one in real life. It's not the easiest thing in the world, but hey, it's better than not knowing - for ages I was just told "Oh, it's the terrible two's!" Much easier knowing that it's not my parenting that's causing it.
Looking forward to getting some tips!
Ker.

Another Aussie to swell the ranks. Welcome.

I'm glad he's got diagnosed so early. I wasn't diagnosed untill I was almost 18. By that time I thought that I was a bad person because I thought, well, everybody's weird, so just must not be trying hard enough. I thought I was weak. Now I know I can do anything, just not the same way as everybody else.
I would pay very close attention to how he does things, try to learn how he thinks. As he get's older, he will have to learn how to act in an NT world, and you, as his mother, need to make a safe place for him to just be his ASD self. My father still has trouble accepting that I can't always talk about things when HE wants to or get right up and do house work, because I focus differently, and sometimes I'm just in the wrong gear for the job he wants me to do, if that makes sense. You're going to need to learn how to find roads you can drive in 2nd gear when everybody is driving to the same place in 5th. He's not going to have any idea, and it's not his fault. It's not yours either. Let me assure you that the more you come to know him, the more he will suprise you and show you beauty in places you never thought of before. Yah, it's going to be hard for all of you, I won't lie. But it will be worth it. Before I knew I was different, I knew I was blessed.
I would also suggest educating his teachers- the most trouble he will have in his life will be in school. He won't need nearly as much teaching in the classroom as he will on the playground, and teacher's don't realize that it's their job to do that as well. Supprisingly, kids accepted me more often than adults in school. I was "stuborn." IM me or e-mail me if you have any questions about what's it like to be autistic in public school. I have too many stories to type here. LOL.
Anyway, I hope you are now looking forward to the journey you have ahead of you.

Welcome to WP!

Tim

Hi Coopsmum
Welcome to WP

Coopsmum welcome to WP! I was 12 when I was diagnosed, after I was nearly mis diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and even tourettes at one point as I had a wicked way with the f, b, p, c, etc words! By the time I was diagnosed I had alreaddy developed a very bad self image as nobody had the answer as to why I had no friends etc, so I used to go round thinking I smelled bad or had lice, loads of horrid stuff. Then when the diagnosis came, it took me years to accept it. Your son however has been given a chance I never was, and that is a reason and a hope for the future.

Good luck.

Nice to meet you, Coopsmum.

Welcome! Remember to always question authority. A lot of consultants don't know what they're doing. Sometimes you have to go with your own heart and common sense.

Hello there and welcome! You will find wonderful support and advice on WP. It is great that you received his diagnosis at such an early age. Many of us waited for answers about our kids for many years and it is harder to teach coping skills as they get older. My sons were diagnosed at 16 and 13, and my 7 year old daughter is just now being assessed. It is so much easier now that we know why they are different and why I am different.

Hang in there! You're in excellent company!

Lauri

Just wanted to say Hi to you. I'm the "single-as-soon-as-I-get-around-to-filing-the-paperwork-mother" of a 6 year old autistic daughter. And all her theraptists have reached the independent conclusion that I'm proably an "Aspie" (had to research to find out what it was and it lead me to WP Thankfully) My daughter was DX'd at 4 and she is the complete and total light of my life.
She makes me laugh all the time and even her small accomplishments are wonderous to behold. Shes in the "Autistic Class" at school and can allready read. Lucky for us that our community is pretty supportive.
Just let me say that it will get easier, or at least it did for us. Shes a "Visual Learner" (as am I) and needs lots of vestibular and sensory input. Must say that Occupational Therapy and speech therapy have helped ALOT, and maybe you should look into them for your son. Once you find out what kind of learner he is and figure out ways to help him acheive YOUR goals. (I had to figure out how to get her to get in the car for school every morning. Her actions but MY end goal met,) your life will be a lot less stressful. Hang in there !

Welcome to WP!

Welcome!
I was diagnosed early, but I'm honestly not sure how much different my life would be without it.

Hi Coopsmum,
The good news is that there is so much more awareness of autism/spectrum issues than ever before and help available to kids like your son. I was 38 yrs. old before I was diagnosed. Had it not been for the love of my parents I probably wouldn't have made it. Loving your son no matter what is the best gift you can give. I can tell that you're a good father.

Welcome coopsmum,

Trampled at the support site I see. Methinks we all have parent issues, and a Mum like you is our dream wish.

There have been questions, AS, the long version, Aspie,

why don't we just tell the truth, it is Aussie Syndrom.

Not understood, cant tell when you hear a joke, cant tell one, misunderstand others, given to staring at the wrong places at the wrong time? You have Aussie Syndrom!

Hi, welcome to WP! My daughter wasn't diagnosed til she was 12, and I was diagnosed in June at the grand age of 36!

Welcome to WrongPlanet!