Autism Awareness

Baby no 1 was a difficult baby, but he met all his milestones and was very clever, so I pushed his differences aside and buried my head in the sand. His teachers at primary school suggested I sought help, but I just couldn't accept that things were not right. Finally things got really bad and I had to accept help. The diagnosis was Aspergers Syndrome. Baby no 1 is a grown man now but still at home and still very much in need of his mother.
Baby no 3 was a much wanted and waited for baby (16 years of waiting) and from very early on I noticed how much like her big brother she was. I kept it to myself. I'd learnt my lesson, I wasn't going to hide from it, but I still needed someone else to point it out first so I could prove it wasn't all 'in my head'
When that day came (at nursery) I wasn't surprised, but I was dismayed to be right.
I accepted her differences and allowed others to give me advice and help, and so far things seem to be working. Her school is great, she has a great psychologist and she is mostly happy. Her diagnosis is high functioning autism and she also has hyper mobility syndrome, weak core muscles, poor co-ordination, flat feet and soiling issues. She is clever, loving (mostly) and beautiful and although life will be difficult for her I hope that with understanding and support she'll get along just fine.
So two children, with very similar problems, but I've approached them differently. I wish I could turn the clock back and change the way I reacted with my son. I realise now that autism is nothing to be ashamed or scared of. Both my children are adorable and I wouldn't have them any other way.

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This post is for Special Saturday, an online ‘global’ campaign that aims to raise awareness of children and adults living with special needs.

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