The joys of autistic children

[EternalOptimist]

serious question - are their any joys. real joys ? I dont think I have ever spent much time with kids with these problems. does it affect much the way you feel

[BrilloPad]

serious question - are their any joys. real joys ? I dont think I have ever spent much time with kids with these problems. does it affect much the way you feel

The elder one is - his autism is not too bad. But the younger one is a real pain. He only wants to know his parents when he wants something. If I go in the kids play room he will say "bye daddy". Even when bottle feeding he refused to make eye contact - he would look over my shoulder.

I only really notice when the one year old (my wife childminds for) clings to me very tightly like he needs me.

I still take him out every Saturday to give his mother a rest. Favourites are the zoo (where he can choose his own way round in safety) or the train where I let him do his own thing.

He interacts better with his brother & sister.

But he is VERY happy. And he will be independent when he grows up.

Of course they are my kids and I will stand up for them. It is not so bad for me as I had issues before I went to school. But my wife finds it tough.

[doomage]

serious question - are their any joys. real joys ? I dont think I have ever spent much time with kids with these problems. does it affect much the way you feel

Everyone has a different story I guess. We 'recovered' our son who was diagnosed autistic spectrum at 30 months. By the end of his first term at reception he was fine. It nearly bankrupted us and is a hell of a lot of work but obviously worth every penny. There are no projects more challenging or rewarding than your own children.

To me, as they 'go into their own little world' it is tragic to watch. It's like losing the child. We had no language from him for ages, not even 'mummy' or 'daddy'.

But when the treatment starts to work, and he moves from pointing at pictures to words to sentences it's wonderful. It's indescribable the feeling you get as the eye contact returns, and seeing them interacting with other kids and knowing he'll be ok.

[mudskipper]

On a serious note, if I'd heard my childminder telling a kid another child is stupid, I'd have had my kids out of there pronto. There's some busybodies who would report it, which would be devastating for her.

Sounds like she needs a break - take a couple of days off and despatch her for a spa weekend with a friend.

[MarillionFan]

What's the opposite of this 'going into themselves and not talking?'. Mine run around shouting all the bloody time!

[mudskipper]

Mine brought his report home from school. The kids have to write a comment.

He wrote:

"I notice some of the teachers have described me with words like 'keen' and 'enthusiastic'. I think this is because I get over excited and a bit too loud".

His head had written underneath

"Enthusiasm for learning is a good thing!"

I think my son was spot on with his analysis!

[mudskipper]

What's the opposite of this 'going into themselves and not talking?'. Mine run around shouting all the bloody time!

Get them labelled 'hyperactive' and drug them with ritalin. They'll be good as gold.

[BrilloPad]

Sounds like she needs a break - take a couple of days off and despatch her for a spa weekend with a friend.

She did that just before Christmas! Regretably some serious long term recuperation is needed.

Mrs BP only does the childminding as a favour for a neighbour. She would love to give it up. The money is not great.

I might add that the children's mother is useless. Totally indulges the child who has no discipline.

[MarillionFan]

Get them labelled 'hyperactive' and drug them with ritalin. They'll be good as gold.

I suppose if you've it a kid with Aspergers at least there's someone on hand to help you hack into the CIA and you can blame it on their condition. Crafty.

[SueEllen]

I suppose if you've it a kid with Aspergers at least there's someone on hand to help you hack into the CIA and you can blame it on their condition. Crafty.

Not all people with Aspergers and Autism are more intelligent than average.