It’s very isolating to have autistic children.
After my wife died, the kids and I pretty much lost any semblance of support from family. I’ve finally got a diagnosis for my daughter (5 yrs, lvl 3) and my son (3 yrs, lvl 2) has had a diagnosis since August of last year.
We have no family, no friends and I’m learning that the system does not work well. Meetings, paperwork, phone calls for the doctor, the regional center, the ABA clinic.. it’s exhausting. Almost every step of the way has been fraught with incompetence and rudeness.
While we’re waiting to use these services, I still have to work and manage the house. I’m trying my best.
My son has recently taken up screaming at the top of his lungs at every inconvenience. I’m sure our neighbors just love us. I know my coworkers don’t appreciate it.
We went to get haircuts recently. My son was in the designated play area while I was getting my hair cut and decided he didn’t want to share toys, so he pushed another kid. I’m so tired of apologizing. I can’t go out or do anything without one of them making a scene… it’s so embarrassing.
My daughter has regressed with potty training and has begun having accidents again.
I get it, we just moved. It’s just so hard to do everything at once. Nothing highlights how different they are than when they play with other kids… and it’s so very, very isolating.
I can see the pity or disdain in the other parents’ eyes.. I’m not a bad dad, I’m just trying my best.
I love my babies more than anything.
I’m going to do my best to find a support group for parents with autistic children— I need to hear that I’m not alone. So badly. I’m going to keep advocating for them, they deserve it.
It’s just really hard.