Judgments

I work with a lady who has a son with autism. He is not as high functioning as TC. She and I talk a lot about our boys. It is nice to bond with someone who "gets it". One lady who sits beside me started talking about bad kids the other day and I mentioned my autistic son. I told her I am sure I was judged for TC's behavior and she said, "Well your son is sick, you can always tell." I told her, "No, you can't look at my son and tell he is autistic. It is not like being in a wheel chair, it is not that obvious." I could tell she was just clueless. The thing is, this woman had a stroke a couple of years ago, she is in her 40's and she is so judgmental, I cannot stand that.

But anyways, that is our society. I talk to people everyday, and some of them are mentally handicapped. I try to treat every person I talk to with kindness and especially those who are a little slower mentally. They are people too and deserve kindness. That could be you or me, one thing could happen: a car accident, a stroke, ANYTHING could change your mental capacity. We have no control over life.

Having a special needs child is very challenging. It is frustrating. It can be sad and you wish things could be easier. I think of where TC should be instead of in a special needs classroom....barely learning to read. He should be in a normal 4th grade classroom next year. But he won't be and some days it is a hard pill to swallow. I don't think about it much but I do think about it. I don't cry about it anymore, I accept it. It has made me stronger, better, more understanding and that is a blessing.