I’m not sure how things are for your autism family.
Maybe you’ve figured out how to have your kiddo whipped into shape. I have a future story to correlate with that statement but that’s for another time.
So if you’re not there yet, you’re not alone!
Of course, I believe it’s pretty rare to have a perfect family.
Everyone is unique. Autism or not! Every family is unique. Autism child or not!
Researching, I found another promising website with autism information, altogetherautism.org.nz. I say promising only because I haven’t fully had an opportunity to delve in yet. But I’m looking forward to reading more. I’m all for gathering information because you never know when that knowledge can be useful.
On the site, I found this great list that we all too often set aside because of the chaos and exhaustion that comes in dealing with autism.
- Autistic people may display a range of strengths and abilities that can be directly related to their diagnosis, including:
- Learning to read at a very early age (known as hyperlexia).
- Memorizing and learning information quickly.
- Thinking and learning in a visual way.
- Logical thinking ability.
- May excel (if able) in academic areas such as science, engineering and mathematics as they are technical and logical subjects that do not heavily rely on social interaction.
- Having an extraordinarily good memory (being able to remember facts for a long period of time).
- Being precise and detail orientated.
- Exceptional honesty and reliability.
- Being dependable in regards to schedules and routines.
- Having an excellent sense of direction.
- Be very punctual.
- Strong adherence to rules.
- Able to concentrate for long periods of time when motivated.
- A drive for perfection and order.
- A capability for alternate problem solving.
- A rare freshness and sense of wonderment.
Each child may not have all these strengths and abilities. Guaranteed as you read them, you see specific ones that warm your heart as you see they explain your child.
In the chaotic, and occasionally calm moments, I see a variety of his strengths shining through. Even if it’s as simple as bringing a smile to someone else’s face.
Homeschooling has given me the ability to see almost all of these since I see him more throughout the day.
One thing I still have not figured out, is how one of these strengths will shine through one time and yet another time, it is no where to be found.
The only thing that makes sense is the internal things going on that day; lack of sleep, tummy or body aches, emotional state, and what might be going through his mind at that exact moment.
I just wish there was a marquee giving me advance warning of the “danger ahead”.
It’s crazy how a near meltdown on one of the listed items can co-exist with a different strength showing with success.
Then I think of “normal” human beings.
We too can have our “meltdowns“. Things that didn’t or aren’t going as we expected them to go. Yet in that “hot mess“, we are successful with another part of the situation.
“I was a hot mess!”
Have you heard that phrase? It seems it’s becoming more popular by adults to explain their “meltdown”.
Society, and even individuals, tends to rate things and situations as “normal” or “abnormal“.
If you find the book that states every exact situation and it’s correlating response, emotion, and thought, PLEASE let me know!
I’ve missed it even with all the online data that is now available.
You too?
Let me remind you, not just today, this holiday season, or next year but every single day . . . Your normal is YOUR normal.
Your child’s normal is THEIR normal.
I started this post, “I’m not sure how things are for your autism family.” But I will end by saying, you make the decisions that work for you! No one else’s opinion matters. That also goes for what you consider normal!
Getting My Joy Back 