As an Autism Parent for over a decade, I've experienced all kinds of judgement and ridicule. The world can be a very unforgiving place for parents like me. We do things that people don't understand or frankly, misunderstand because it's what we have to do in order to survive.
I've made a decision today and I'm encouraging all my Autism famiiles to do the same thing.
From this day forward, I will no longer apologize or feel guilty for doing what I have to do in order to survive an impossibly difficult and often solutionless situation.
*I will no longer apologize or feel guilty for:*
- being tired all the time and taking any form of sleep I can get, when I can get it
- putting my kids before things like housework
- allocating my limited resources where they're needed most, even at the expense of bills
- not being able to attend your function because I can't find a sitter and my kids won't handle the stimulation well
- taking my kids out in public, knowing that they could *disturb* someone with a meltdown
- having a utility service shut off because the money for that bill went to pay for therapy that insurance wouldn't cover
- putting my kids on medication that I feel is in their best interest
- going to an IEP meeting armed to the teeth with adrenaline, fierce determination, witty one liners and if necessary the aggression of a grizzly bear
- my kids with Autism not completing their homework on time or at all because homework for some kids with Autism is ridiculous
- bringing a list of my worries and concerns to an appointment and not leaving until we've discussed them
- not having the patience for unsolicited, ignorant parenting advice and the people that force it upon me
- sometimes putting myself first because if I'm don't take care of myself, I can't take care of my kids
