December Edition of The Parenting Autism & Aspergers Newsletter

loretta — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:29:58 +0000

I find your blogs helpful. My son is in the process of “ruling out aspergers” Keep up the good work.I think it is important to encourage parents to have themselves teasted as well. It has helped me understand my son better and myself. I have always felt he was just like me except more exaggerated.

December Edition of The Parenting Autism & Aspergers Newsletter

Elizabeth Hensely — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:21:47 +0000

Social services may have done the right thing. My Mother was further along the spectrum that I was. If I tried to climb in her lap she would push me off. If I tried to get a hug she would shove me away. She would read to me to shut me up but I wasn’t allowed to touch her. She sat in a chair and I had to sit in another chair or my bed. My voice was a sensory issue for her. I wasn’t allowed to have other kids come in the house or go in their houses because, “then we’d have to reciprocate.” As a toddler she lost me twice in public because the responsibility for not losing her fell completely on me. And boy did I get scolded when she finally found me! My Father was also along the spectrum. He would not let us have a phone or go anywhere where he would be expected to know who they were. (he was very face blind as am I). So we didn’t go to church, PTA meetings, weddings or even funerals. Because we had no social contacts we went to a doctor I found out later many people knew was a quack so Mother and I received little medical care. He did not run tests and thought everything was in people’s heads. Let a lady go blind from a treatable condition, “because she’s depressed.” (didn’t like “weird” people so definitely didn’t like my Mother and me). My Father lacked the mirror neurons to realize other people’s pain was real so he ridiculed both of us if we complained of chronically not feeling well, which we didn’t. (Both had undiagnosed thyroid problems, depression and gut problems). Mother hoarded spoiled & rotting food and garbage. My Father saw nothing wrong with that. I had allergies. I needed a clean house. I didn’t get one. I asked my Mother why she wouldn’t throw the garbage away. She said, “Because I love the trash and the garbage more than I love you. She didn’t even understand that saying that would hurt me. She was just being honest.