Avoidance

I have three children; two boys and a girl. My boys are diagnosed with forms of Autism. I don't tell people immediately, though.

It's not that I'm ashamed. Gosh, no! I adore my children. Seeing the world through their eyes has opened my heart to so many things. Not to mention, they've posed questions to me that I had to actually take time to think of a good answer, or just say, "I've never thought of that. That's very creative thinking."

I don't tell people because I hate the looks I get. One look that annoys me the most is that, "poor you" look. You know, that look of sorrow when you tell someone that someone close to you has just passed on? That's the look I get when they hear 'autistic children'. I don't like it.

It's not necessary to feel sorry for me or my family. This is the cross I bear as a mother. I was blessed with all of my kids for a reason. Maybe God knew that I could have the necessary patience it takes to handle children who are different than the other kids.

There are times that I feel I need to wear a sign explaining their behavior, though. In church, many times, my boys do not behave very well at all. My youngest, especially, will stim so loudly, that most people will actually get up and move away from us. Mind you, we are in a bodaciously small town. Nice, right? Or at the grocery/department stores when they are over stimulated by the lighting, music and smells. Very difficult on a 'neurotypical' child, but for an autistic child, that can drive them over the edge.