A common question...
By wiccania
@wiccania (3360)
United States
February 1, 2009 11:23am CST
At least once a week, I'm telling someone about something my son did and inevitably I get asked the same question, "how do you deal with a child who has Autism?" My son has his good days and his bad days, but in the end, he's just a child. I deal with it pretty much the same as I would any other child. There are concessions here and there because he doesn't understand why something he did is wrong, and I have to take the time to figure out how to convey WHY his action was wrong, not just THAT his action was wrong.
Being sick and tired of this long explaination which generates more questions, my new response to the question is "I'm thinking of taking up drinking." Most people realize I'm joking and don't bother me with that particular question again. Some people seem to think I'm serious. Either way, I don't get the question as often as I used to.
How do you answer that all too common question?
5 responses
@twistedangellinda (174)
• United States
3 Feb 09
I have two sons who have Aspeger's Syndrome and one of the major problems I have run into is that even the so called professionals don't know what Asperger's is or even what the Spectrum is. They don't understand there are different degrees of Autism and this may also be what you're running into. Depending on your mood you could always say, "Well how do you deal with your child? I deal with mine the same way!" or you can educate them. I find that most people get bored when you go into a spiel about what Autism is, how is form is rated on the spectrum etc. What really ticks me off is when the word Autism is used a lot of people still act like it's some kind of contagious disease. I feel the more we educate people about Autism and the spectrum the better they are able to cope with having Autistic children within the school systems etc.
@twistedangellinda (174)
• United States
3 Feb 09
I forgot to mention that if you are a reader I'd like to recommend a book. It's called Elijah's Cup by Valerie Paradiz. This book was written by a mother who has an Autistic child. I personally could identify with much of what she said in the book.
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
1 Feb 09
Either way, I don't get the question as often as I used to.
LOL and thats the key thing..My nephew is Autistic and though I've not spent much time with him at all (being in a different country) I have to say that it doesnt SEEM like it would be TOO hard once you get the hang of the moods, swings, quirks etc...Just like with ANY special needs child IMO...I think its harder for ppl on the outside of the situation to get it because they are on the outside...does that make sense?
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I guess you drinking is better then my line about getting us matching white coats that buckle in the back and come with ID tags to the local nut house. Or my "well he's easy, it's you parents of normal kids who have it rough"
*sigh* I have two children with special needs. One with ASD and another with Global delays among other things. It gets to be long and drawn out if I don't just keep it simple. "A day and a doctor at a time"
@riah13224 (96)
• United States
22 Feb 09
i rember one time i was at the store with my cousins cain and lalya
cain has autism
so when his mom was wateing in line
i took him to the front of the line
because he hate wateing
cain was taping on the counter and singing
a lady gave me a dirty look and said could you stop him plese
well no he will get upset and have a melt down i said ever so politly
as we walked out of the store cain started screaming and everybody stared
he sat on the floor near the doors and kicked me
peopled stared and i picked him up and began to walk out he calmed down and we walked out
as we did a lady that was watching us said
you sdhould teach your kid some maners
i said hes autistic whats your accuse for being rude she gave me a dirty look and walked away
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
16 Feb 09
You should tell them the same way any parent deals with their child. People are stupid. Think of how often you have had to explain your answer to them and secretly laugh! I know dealing with an autistic child is stressful but it's just simple parenting because your child is just on a different cognitive level. He or she may only act 2 or 3 and in reality be 5 or 6 so you go to simple parenting.(Treating him like a 2 or 3 year old.)
It doesn't do any one any good trying to treat them beyond what they understand. The people who ask you that question are good examples.
