"A diagnosis is just a label" so some people say, it provides helpful information they explain. It may be so for some, but when a label is put on our children, it strikes a note, sometimes a chord deep in our beings. The label can be something simple such as tall or shy, or something closer to home like energetic or strong-willed. When the preschool lead teacher told me that my daughter was precocious, I went home and cried because I could not make sense of the word in relation to my precious child and I wondered if I was doing something terribly wrong.
We do that, mothers, blame ourselves for just about everything. When it comes to something deeper like a learning profile or a medical condition, the impact runs so deep and it is easy to feel very alone. While this piece by Shawna Wingert does not provide a comprehensive view of what it feels like to be parents of children diagnosed with Autism, it does provide a sense of camaraderie and a little much needed chuckle for some.
My favorite lines:
- 13. Being a student of my child has helped me learn more than any book, therapist, or website. Differences in brain function can be really hard to understand for the neurotypical momma. The more I pay attention to how my son thinks and responds, the more I begin to understand.
- 14. Autism makes my life weird sometimes. For example, I found myself in an aquarium store every single day last week. Every single day, for at least an hour a visit. It feels like a bizarre way to spend our time, but this is us, living our life well.
Here's to living our life well!
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