Quote:
Originally Posted by tryingtobeme
I am the parent of an Autistic child. My son is 2 1/2 and has been diagnosed with PDD-NOS. This is a first step so to speak on the Autism scale from what we have been told/read.
I am new to this since myself and my husband have never had to deal with something like this. Anyone have any insite on this. I for one feel like a bad mother. I blame myself for being a diabetic and taking insulin during my pregnancy. I have BPD and was on meds but went off them months prior to becoming pregnant and didn't take them until after I delivered him so I am confindent they didn't cause any of this. So it must be me in some way shape or form that caused him to be like this.
Now, I worry every days that I am not doing enough for him and that I am messing him up even more. Any help in this area is greatly appreciated.
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I am the mother of a severely autistic ten year old and I relate to how you are feeling. The guilt, the anxiety, the worry, the stress...yes, I know it all. One thing I now know: you are not to blame. There is rarely a simple cause equals affect situation in this case; autism has a multitude of factors, some we probably don't know about. It is not anyone's 'fault' it is just the way it is.
Also, please try not to see the autism as a terrible suffering that has fallen on your child. Yes he may be frustrated at times (as are we all!), he may find life difficult (as do we all) and his problems are very real. BUT, these children are also beautiful, clever in their own way, with their own unique skills. My child is severely autistic yet he lives completely in the present which I believe is a valuable gift. I have learnt a lot from him. He trusts people, he is affectionate, he lives for the moment. I appreciate some children with autism have immense social struggles and I am grateful my son doesn't, but the fact remains that autism doesn't have to be doom and gloom. It can be a gift. My ex husband has aspergers and I have autisic traits; it makes life interesting for sure, but autism also opens the way for creative expression, complexity and gifted thinking. Einstein was said to hava a form of autism. These children (and thus adults) think differenty and give us a gift in doing so.
I hope I haven't rambled or come across preachy. All the best to you and your child.