#YouMightBeAnAutismParentIf: Solace for the #Autism Parent

Today is *kind* of a hard day to work, because I’m finding solidarity on Twitter.  The new hashtag #YouMightBeAnAutismParentIf is rockin’ and I highly recommend it!

You might be an autism parent if:

• From LaliQuin: you don’t mind riding up and down escalators at the mall because it makes your kid happy.
• you try to think ahead of what your child will do next…and really have no idea
• if you invent #interventions
• you don’t feel so alone after reading this thread
• you speak in acronyms regularly (ASD, SPD, OT, SLP) & have to explain them all to your friends
• your kid hates the shower because water hurts
• U put 100 “ball pit” balls in small plastic pool for your son & he dumps it out & lines them all up
• you take pictures when your 8 yr old writes his name on the wall with permanent marker
• the pharmacist looks at you oddly when you give a shriek of delight that the melatonin is in stock
• your child has taught you more about love, life and what truly matters, than the other way around

Look, we’re not trying to pull ourselves out of fray, put ourselves above anyone.  It’s just that those of us who have kids on the autism spectrum deal with things that we always explain to parents who only have neurotypical kids.  Have you ever had a day when your daughter would only kiss your arm, and sometimes not at all?  Do you still play hide and seek with your 6 year old and get peels of delight, but only if you play the way you taught her?  Did you jump up and dance and sing because last week she only said “Mu” when she needed you, and now she says, “Mum” and she’s 6?  Do you endlessly pine for the day your child learns to lie?  How about swallowing toys whole, munching on shells, or banging her head in a wall?  I heard this once referred to as “Navy Seal parenting”, and I think that’s on target.

Around here, parental sleep is a commodity more valuable than sex, utensils are purchased in super-sized packs because you may never see them again, and I can see the writing on the wall, because I gave up trying to clean it off.  Clothes are optional most days of the week for Zoe, so it’s always balmy in my house.  At my feet in my office lies a 5 inch deep pile of paperwork just for her, and I’ve got about my 10th or 15th meeting of the year next week.  “Glutens” are a dirty word around here, and don’t say “vaccine” unless you want to start something.

What will I remember from Zoe’s childhood when I’m long into old age?  The day she got on the bus, upset to go to school, so I gave her a hug, and out of the blue, she said, “I love you.”  What more do you need?  A damn good twitter stream… lol… check it out.

PS, I’m happy to link to you if you’ve posted, or add your own “you might be…” in the comments!