Autism seems like such a taboo word, something that gets tucked away or covered with a diagnosis that makes sense, when Autism rarely if ever makes sense. The good news is that the medical community is making progress in connecting the puzzle pieces that make up the way in which to better communicate with children who have different needs.

 

I asked some friends of mine to chime in here and share what they know and have learned with their children. 

• all kids are the same no matter if they have extra challenges or not.
• autism is a label, one that tell others what to expect and how to change their form of communicating so that my child can hear/see/engage in what they are saying. 
• everyday is different
• the best times are the time in which I can learn about my son when he is struggling. I know how to never let that happen again. 
• autism is the core of how he is but not who or what he is. he is a living breathing learning and growing human who has feelings that get hurt too. 
• outbursts will always seem foreign to those around him. but to him he is just doing what we all do, expressing emotion and sharing something we want others to know. 
• he will always be smarter than me. but will never say so. 
• there is beauty in autism, a beauty that can only be seen from the eyes of someone willing to never place it in a box. 
• teachers are scared at first but once they realize that it is really a simple thing - love . It will always smooth out the wrinkles. 
• Some days i will and have cried until i am red and until sleep comes wanting it to be easier and different for him and sometimes different for me. 
• it is hard, it s frustrating, it is more than a daily thing, it is a with every breath thing but he is my thing. 

Those thoughts were from a couple moms I know who write about their kids on their blogs which I will share tomorrow. But here are some thoughts on what eases the struggles from myself as a mom with a son with Asperger’s and my other moms with their autistic kids.

• finger reading… not saying the words but enjoying the feeling of the book and the way the words seem to be accepted without thought or phrase. 
• crafts - anything that is creative. I have a whole craft cabinet that Chandler can go to when he is stressed and get pipe cleaners, string, glue, foam and markers and just create. It calms him right down. 
• music - my kids love Phillip Glass. somewhat classical somewhat trance like 
• ebooks without the sound just them movement
• audio books with the sound on low
• water running
• water painting  - then he wont get upset buy the colors mixing or getting on him
• my daughter loves silly putty, I always carry it. she squeezes and molds it when she is stressed. 

Autism is more than just a label, it is way of opening the mind to what these kids already know. They are special, they have different challenges but they are smart and they just need some extra thought and experience to calm them and allow them to be free from the blockages places in front of them. 

 

What are your thoughts, challenges and uses that help create harmony in your house??