About my parents

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I quite often attempt to think about how my parents viewed me from childhood on. Their struggles - what were their struggles - was it difficult - did they talk with other parents about me and how they had it more difficult with me - did other parents talk to my parents about me? It's not an option to discuss this with my parents. For parents who might be interested in helping me, could you share your perspectives on your autistic and Asperger's kids? I recently joined, Dan and am a graduate student in Cambridge, am hoping to disseminate word of this brilliant community among many at Cambridge.

I do recall - a painful recollection - of some very close parent-friends of my parents having a conversation in my house that I overheard - well some of it - and they said "yes I hear many comment about his parents saying Dan is so lucky to have been raised by a wonderful mother leading to his attendance at Princeton and then Cambridge, like his mother at Harvard then Cambridge - and she was so patient to endure what she did." This is what I don't have a clear notion of. I tend to imagine but find it difficult to imagine things like this clearly.

And if by chance anyone knows of others who take part here on Wrong Planet at Cambridge University I'd be quite interested to connect with them.

Hello and welcome to WP!

I am a mother of 3 sons aged 9, 7 and 4. My 9 and 7 year olds have been diagnosed with Asperger's.

Frequently I am on the receiving end of judgement looks/advice with regards to my sons' behaviour.

Before I joined WP I felt lonely/isolated as a parent. I didn't believe other parents understood life with 2 Asperger's children (eg rigid adherence to routine, frequent meltdowns etc). Fortunately, with WP I don't feel that lonliness/isolation anymore.

I also worry at times that I'm not good enough as a parent. I try to do my best for my sons, but sometimes lose patience.

I also juggle a fine line as a parent: I want them to function in society, but I don't want them to spend too much time thinking about social skills and lose what makes them unique.

It's that line I'm always walking, always questioning whether I'm doing the right thing.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Helen

Hi and welcome.
I also have 3 kids. My nine year old has HFA.
He is a wonderfull, unusual and gifted boy, and he has taught me to be very, very patient! This is for a great part because he also has ADHD and temporal lobe epilepsy.
Having a child with autism/AS is a gift and a great learning experience, but it can also be hard work, as it involves a lot of thought and can mean a great change in lifestyle, to the less spontaneous and extensively planned.
Autism and Aspergers are now topics I am very interested in, and use a great deal of time studying.
It has surprised me how little other parents talk to me about my son's autism - with exception of other parents with autistic kids.
We received many evil stares when my son was younger, but as he grew it became evident to others that he is a little different... special mannerisms and a singular way of speaking...
What do you study, by the way?
We parents would LOVE to hear your story... could be inspirational

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Hi, Dan. There is a news module from the Cambridge administration about a new support program they just started for students with AS. It is supported by Simon Baron-Cohen, who teaches there. He talks about what a strong presence AS students have on the campus, especially in the hard sciences and engineering. I think this is the address- www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2007062903. Or just google Cambridge University and Asperger. It sounds like you are going to be meeting alot of people you'll be able to relate to. Please bring any of them you can onto the Wrong Planet.