Many of you have probably been reading the recent status updates on Facebook that people are using that refer to an illness, etc and that people just want acceptance. The recent one I have been reading on a lot of my "friends" statuses are about children with disabilities and how they want people to know it is not a disease and that all they want is acceptance. I think it is great that so many people are wanting to spread the word about children with disabilities! But I do have to disagree with this statement a little bit in the terms of what we are dealing with.
Earlier this week, I met with a family that has a teenage boy with Aspergers. He has a high IQ, very smart and verbal, but lacks the socialization, has sensory issues, as well as takes many things literally. The mom and I discussed the differences between our sons even though they fall on the same spectrum. I asked her the question on if she could "cure" him, would she do it? She said that she would not, as so many of his issues are a part of him, a part of his personality and who he is every day. I can see exactly what she is saying! Nobody wants to take away the unique personality traits of their children, but I differ in that I would LOVE a cure for my son! It's not that I don't accept him for who he is...but, seriously, who would actually choose to have their child not be able to talk or communicate with you if they had the choice! I think the difference in our beliefs lies in the difference of their diagnosis'...I don't wish Brycen to not love trains, not have some "OCD," not be very active and smiley...but I definitely wish he could tell me what is wrong when he is upset and throwing things, and I wish I could hear him say "I love you, Mom"...heck, I would even just take hearing him call me "mom" again!
Earlier this week, I met with a family that has a teenage boy with Aspergers. He has a high IQ, very smart and verbal, but lacks the socialization, has sensory issues, as well as takes many things literally. The mom and I discussed the differences between our sons even though they fall on the same spectrum. I asked her the question on if she could "cure" him, would she do it? She said that she would not, as so many of his issues are a part of him, a part of his personality and who he is every day. I can see exactly what she is saying! Nobody wants to take away the unique personality traits of their children, but I differ in that I would LOVE a cure for my son! It's not that I don't accept him for who he is...but, seriously, who would actually choose to have their child not be able to talk or communicate with you if they had the choice! I think the difference in our beliefs lies in the difference of their diagnosis'...I don't wish Brycen to not love trains, not have some "OCD," not be very active and smiley...but I definitely wish he could tell me what is wrong when he is upset and throwing things, and I wish I could hear him say "I love you, Mom"...heck, I would even just take hearing him call me "mom" again!
He's working on it, sweetie! He's come so far already. I believe he'll be saying it again. In the meantime don't forget to look for the ways he's SHOWING you he loves you in his own ways, even if it's not things he's doing consciously. :)
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