spectrumom

As an activist for many causes - feminism, people with disabilities, GLBT equality, and adequate medical care for all - it never fails to raise my blood pressure when people say "See!  You're getting angry again.  How can we resolve this if you keep getting angry." But, you know what?  Anger is a cue that something is going wrong. And it may not be with wrong with you. When people are getting fucked over.  If YOU are getting fucked over.  If your child or loved one is getting fucked over.  You get angry.  And you should. And you should NOT calm down just because those who have the power are telling you to. You can calm down when wrongs are righted.  When people's rights are not being trampled.  When people are not being fucked over. You need to call a congressperson.  You need to schedule a sit down with a teacher.  You need to send money to a cause.  You need to put in sweat equity. You NEED to stop sitting on yo...

I read once that becoming a parent was allowing a piece of your heart to walk around outside of your body. I think becoming a parent of a child with autism is having huge chunks of your heart routinely gouged out and hung on a spit over a roaring fire. It just doesn't appear as dramatic as it sounds. But, trust me, we parents are experts at hiding that kind of trauma. We have lots of practice. One of the things a parent loves to hear is "I love you too mommy." And it is one of the things that a parent of a minimally verbal autistic child craves. When we had Isaac, our 3rd and fairly normally developing (if extremely ornery at times) child, we were astounded to watch him do things that the other two never did or did profoundly late. Having him potty train at 3 was not early, unless you compare it to the 7 years it took the other 2. Man, 3 years worth of diapers and diaper changes avoided, priceless. Throwing a tantrum in WalMart because he wanted a toy? Excellent....