When I started blogging, I thought my topic would be autistic and neurodivergent children and their mothers. The more I wrote, the more challenging it became to work the words autism and autistic into the text. Writing “autistic child” felt forced. Why? I wondered.
I realized that I don’t relate to the term “autism mother” and everything I write applies to all of my children – not just to my autistic son. It is not because he is not special, but because they all are. We all are.
I could write about IEPs and the gluten free diet and innovative therapies for autistic children. But there are already many blogs, newsletters, books and magazines on these topics. They are being done well by other people.
I find myself sharing wisdom imbued in me by my children. I write about what I’ve learned along the way that has made our lives healthier, easier and happier in the hope that you will benefit.
The word autism turned my world upside down and inside out. I would not be who I am without it. I am also ready to move beyond the label. What do you think? I’d really love to hear your thoughts on labels in the comment boxes below.
Beyond the Label: Lessons from Autism
What is normal?
Synonyms for normal include:
· typical
· average
· unsurprising
· ordinary
· common
Would you like to eat a common chocolate, drink an unremarkable wine, drive an average car, or take an ordinary vacation? Might you prefer chocolate that is uncommonly delicious, a wine that is remarkably silky, a car that offers a surprisingly refined ride, and an extraordinary vacation?
Why then are typical, ordinary, normal children seen as ideal? We don’t hunger for mediocrity in other aspects of life, yet we yearn for uneventful meals, ordinary nights and unremarkable parent-teacher conferences.
We are burdened by the notion that children should be a certain way. That life should be a certain way.
How They Should Be, How They Are
But then something happens. The future athlete can’t learn to ride a bike or pay attention to directions. He certainly can’t throw or catch the ball. The upcoming Miss Charming throws spectacular tantrums and refuses to listen to music.What’s in a name?
. . . language is entirely symbolic. Words aren’t real. They’re simply scribbles, doodles and sounds to which we assign meanings stored in the brain as images, feelings, and sounds: mental constructs only vaguely approximating the objects they represent. We use words to manipulate the mental representations, rarely scrutinizing our constructs under the light of physical reality.
Eventually though, we realize that our child’s -ism or disorder is not exactly like that of other children. His or her most triggering behaviors and traits AND most endearing ones are quite unique.
Some suggestions about his or her condition are right on. Others don’t work at all.
Play a Game
When looking at your child’s differences or noticing people who seem entirely unlike you, play a game. Say,“Just like me, this person….”
Notice the ways we are all connected. Notice the ways we are uniquely magnificent.
Swan Mothers 
Reblogged this on The Inspired Child by Lily's Truth.