u/No_Tangerine1957

Zero.

Edit for clarity- I believe that Trayvon martin was an innocent teen who did no wrong but defend himself against a valid perceived threat. Whereas Zimmerman claiming self defense was bullshit. I think Anthony’s claim of self defense is bullshit. And I’m genuinely confused how some who defended Trayvon are now supporting Anthony and some who supported Zimmerman are now supporting metcalfe. It seems backwards.

Hey all! I know this is a safe space and should be for those who are struggling with autism. I have done so much due diligence around getting my daughter the help she needs once she was diagnosed at 4. She is a level 2 with no intellectual delays and is projected to be a level 1 when as she gets older. She is academically exceeding but definitely struggles socially and has sensory struggles (mainly auditory and texture). She masks at school and outside of the home almost to perfection (sadly) but also has wonderful teachers who have been able to create a great 504 with me. I’m a therapist, so I’m more inclined to see when she gets triggered and it turns into extremely controlling and violent outbursts which I’m currently working with a therapist on how to manage. She has cried and told me she hates fighting me, and wishes she could be 5 again bc she didn’t feel “bad” toward me (she’s 6, almost 7 now). She will sometimes randomly say she feels weird (as she’s fidgety her legs but can’t tell me where in her body she feels weird and I assume it may be anxiety or restlessness). I’m definitely her safe person as dad doesn’t believe in the diagnosis (we are not together, she visits him once a week). She’s improved a ton at recognizing when she’s getting mad (seemingly randomly a lot of the time after school or as random as us driving and pulling up to target). She still says I don’t know when asked what bothered her but is getting way better at knowing when I ask her what she needs from me in those moments (usually a hug or to hold my hand).

I guess I came here to just ask, what did you need from your parents as you grew up? I’m not sure where to draw the line with the controlling behavior as I know it can be a regulating skill but also is not necessarily functional for daily living. For example, if she gets mad about something in the garage, I will try to calm her, but if she starts hitting me, I tell her I am not ok with the hitting and need to take the groceries in. She will scream, come find me in the kitchen, hit and pull me and insist I walk back to the car to get her out and calm her down. Basically she will have me go down an exact path she wants me to go, whether we go back upstairs and she has me walk at the pace and path she wants even if it doesn’t make sense. I try, but I’m a single mom and her sister is 4.

She talks about having bullies who are mean to her for no reason. I know she struggles understanding how to interact. Even her teacher said she will see her sometimes ask to play and the kids say yes and they take off running with their game and she stands there like processing what to do and eventually just then goes off by herself. So I’m not sure how to help her there besides with her interactions with her sister. So teaching her how to take turns coming up with the rules for the game or deciding what to play.

The main reason I came here was because of the sheer amount of sad posts. So I apologize for writing 20 unplanned paragraphs before even getting to my main point. I am totally as aware as I can be of the daily impact, hell the minute by minute impact, this has on someone with the disorder and I’m just so wanting her to find happiness. I see so much on here about loneliness and hopelessness that I’m hoping yall can enlighten me as to why you believe you have such struggles to help me learn anything I can put into place early on to help her in life. Anyways, if you’ve gotten this far in the post, thanks!