For those of you who have a child with autism. ?

Question

How often does it really throw you a sucker punch? My daughter is 9-1/2 and moderately affected. I am at a great place of acceptance, but yesterday got a major autism slap. She was outside playing with the neighborhood kids, got upset, and was having a tantrum, hitting the side of her head and screaming ala Rainman at the airport. I guess I was getting to comfortable with things. Who else has had this experience, and about how often does it happen to you?

Answer 1

My son has Aspergers.   Thankfully as he's gotten older those times happen less often.    

However, once in a while it's like a slap across the face when I see that he's not like other kids.    

Answer 2

Honestly, almost daily. Just because acceptance has been reached does not mean that you can't be surprised often. My daughter is 10 and falls into broad spectrum autism, has mild CP, and is severely cognitive impaired. She speaks just a few words but mostly communicates by grunting and screaming LOUDLY. She likes to sneak up behind me when I'm sitting and scream in my ear, so I get lots of surprises. My daughter functions at about a 15-18 month old level, and has no idea how to play with other kids at all. I get the most "sucker punches" knowing that my daughter has no physical limitations, and is very strong, and I fear for the future of her growing physical strength without the thought behind it to back it up. She has already hurt a few family members (not too seriously yet) and I walk a tightrope looking out for their safety as well as hers.

Answer 3

It happens to all of us. We've even had experiences where we were both in tears by the time we got out of the mall or some other place where a melt down has occurred. I call these my break-down and cry moments.  

Answer 4

Oh Kathi ..every time we go shopping and Thomas wants everything in the shop ..he just screams and throws himself to the ground spitting and screeching and kicking..so i sit by him holding his legs down so he doesn't kick anyone i have had many people coming over asking me if it was necessary to handle him like that 'yes else he will hurt someone or himself' and then the classic 'He needs a good hiding' or another 'Is he spoilt' i gave up explaining to people and don't see why i should have to, its tough but if people do not understand that's not their fault either ..i just get up calm thomas down and get on like nothing happened .. well i try !

Answer 5

My son is 9 and in a regular classroom with excellent grades.  He works with a behaviorist over 40 hours per week.  He has made tremendous progress so we signed him up for Little League.  Not good.  He was benched even during practice and was more interested in hunting for gophers than playing.  Yet he wanted to join and when we told him we were going to stop attending, he threw a fit.  So we crawled through the season.  The other kids would grown when it was his turn at the plate, he had a tantrum during a game, and the looks on the parents faces is something I will never forget.  I never cried behind my sunglasses so much in my life.

But he is in karate now and doing fantastic!