How does Autism effect parents? This might be a delicate subject but people need to understand in order to support. In my experience there really 2 major categories. There are parents with kids Autistic from birth and there are parents with kids that regress into Autism.
This post will be in several parts. Below is part 1.

—Please understand that I’m by no means trying to compare pain here. I’m trying to help bridge the gap and help us understand one another.—

I can only speak personally about the regressive form of Autism. This form of Autism usually strikes around age 2 or 3. You don’t suspect anything at all because up to this point everything was perfect. All the milestones were reached on time. You have your whole life planned out. You have bonded with your child. You look forward to coming home from work and being greeted with a big hug and kiss everyday. You might be looking forward to coaching his or her team. You look forward to holiday’s and birthday’s. Especially 4th of July fireworks because your child watches them with amazement and wonder.
You are happy and at peace with your life. It’s everything you’ve dreamed of and planned for.

Then one day you wake up and your child is different. You can’t put your finger on it but things start changing and you brush it off as a phase. The phase never passes. In fact it gets worse. Your child will no longer look you in the eyes or always acknowledge you when you call. The hugs begin to stop as well as the kisses. By this time you have been to the doctor and they send you to a specialist. You probably have to wait for what seems like an eternity. When you finally get into the specialists office you hear the words that will forever change you “your child has Autism”.

To Be Continued:

LT