| Recently my husband and I decided it was time | | | | Flowers essences have helped me to calm down, |
| to tell our son he had ASD (Autistic Spectrum | | | | release stress and to think better. |
| Disorder). The reason for this was because he?s | | | | My advice to other parents of ASD children is to |
| more mature (just turned 13 years old) and very | | | | give them more attention, not just from the |
| soon he?ll be starting high school. We felt it better | | | | parents but also from teachers. Give them extra |
| to come from us than through someone else. | | | | tuition with subjects they have trouble with, and |
| He was told during a private father and son | | | | tell them there?s nothing wrong with them, they |
| discussion, away from distractions. | | | | just think differently. |
| As parents we?ve reinforced to him that he | | | | What we did that worked for us: |
| doesn?t have a disability, just a different way of | | | | Never making idle promises. When he was very |
| processing information and viewing life. He exhibits | | | | little and something had been promised it became |
| minor smatterings of this disorder and medically, | | | | his reality, when the promise didn?t eventuate all |
| he?s totally fit and healthy and has never been on | | | | hell broke loose; |
| medication (though this had been suggested). | | | | If old fashioned parenting didn?t work, something |
| We often re-affirm how smart he is and discuss | | | | new was tried. Yelling and screaming makes things |
| with him the many different types of genius each | | | | worse not better; |
| person has. In his case, it?s the amazing | | | | Set firm boundaries which were explained and |
| cartooning style he has and his black and white | | | | why, and then enforced them; |
| sketches and although totally colour blind, his | | | | Willingness to try new/alternative health therapies, |
| paintings using colour are also unique and beautiful. | | | | I?ve tried many, some with great success; |
| I recently asked his permission to write about him | | | | Turned to brain exercises by visiting a brain gym? |
| and ASD as my intention was to write how we | | | | instructor. Brain gym (educational kinesiology) |
| dealt with this as a family, and that someone else | | | | enhances learning and performance in all areas. |
| might also benefit from it. He kindly gave me his | | | | We noticed a difference in our son almost |
| permission and here?s what he says: | | | | immediately and followed up with teachers and |
| I don?t really understand things ? I look around | | | | after school care coordinators who also noticed a |
| and see what everybody else in class does but I | | | | difference; |
| can?t understand what?s going on (in maths class). | | | | Flower essences; |
| I get very upset and stressed with myself and | | | | Some coaching but only when he was in the right |
| feel stupid with what?s going on around me in | | | | head space; |
| class and I hate myself for it. | | | | Listening and noticing changes however subtle |
| I always suspected that there was something | | | | (he?s quite introverted); |
| different about me. It was confirmed when my | | | | Chose an age where we felt he?d understand |
| parents finally told me. | | | | what ASD means without adding too much |
| I feel good that I?ve been told, but not good | | | | technical information. |
| about the ASD. Now I feel more stupid and dumb | | | | Several weeks ago he was one of the top ten |
| as well as disabled. | | | | Community award winners for water-saving |
| The fact is I fall under ASD but I would rather | | | | strategies. We met the Lord Mayor as well as the |
| know than not, it explains why I have difficulty | | | | other nine water-saving families of the city at an |
| with certain things. | | | | awards ceremony. Today we found out he?s also |
| Dad could?ve told me in a different way about | | | | been awarded a Young Star Award in the |
| the ASD, he should?ve just got straight to the | | | | category of Community and have been invited to |
| point. He (dad) told me in a roundabout way as | | | | an awards evening in the coming weeks. He?s |
| did mum and I?d rather have been told more to | | | | also in the running for the overall Young Star |
| the point and then had it explained to me more. | | | | Award to be awarded in June 2006. To say |
| It makes me angry when I tell other children | | | | we?re proud of him is an understatement. |
| about the ASD because they think I?m joking and | | | | It?s been hard work and at times very tiring, |
| say there?s nothing wrong with me. It?s sort of | | | | particularly the very early years, and has required |
| good to know they don?t believe me because it | | | | a ton of patience, thinking outside the square and |
| makes me feel more normal. | | | | consistency with our parenting techniques. |
| ASD makes me angry because I have to deal | | | | Reflecting on my life now I simply couldn?t |
| with the fact I have ASD. | | | | imagine life without him in it. He?s opened my |
| When I think, I move my fingers, it clarifies things | | | | heart and expanded me as a human beyond my |
| for me. | | | | wildest imagination and for that I shall always be |
| I really need help with mathematics. | | | | thankful. |
| All I want now is to become very intelligent. | | | | |