She joined a autism parent support group and it changed her life. Autism Parents United- because it takes a village
Emma had a lot on her plate. She was a single parent with two autistic kids, and she felt like there were days where it seemed impossible to make it all work.
People would often offer her advice, and many times the direction was off base and insulting. Emma could never understand how people could say such hurtful things about her children, yet they knew nothing about them. They thought she was always spoiling her children, and if she were more disciplined in her parenting, all her problems would be solved, but she knew better than that.
She’d known since her first son was just a toddler that he wasn’t like other children. He didn’t interact with them when he was little, and there were times where she thought that something wasn’t quite right. No one believed her until he started school and couldn’t keep up with the curriculum. Then the meltdowns began to happen at the most inopportune times.
She knew her kids were different and would need extra care, but most people didn’t understand that they weren’t just spoiled rotten brats who refused to do as their told. They really couldn’t help it most of the time because they had no idea how to react appropriately in certain situations.
Joining an Autism Support Group
Emma just needed a way to relieve some stress, and she finally found it when she eventually joined an autism parent support group online.
Meeting other parents who were going through similar things that she was able to identify with has made her feel less alone, and because of this, she now felt more empowered to be a better advocate for her children.
It was nice to know other parents were going through the same things as she was, and they could relate on many different levels. She felt less judged, more open to discussing options with others, and overall just happier knowing she wasn’t alone in this situation. She knew there were still challenges ahead of her, but now she felt better prepared to tackle them.
Emma is one of many parents who have benefited from joining an autism parent support group online. They provide a platform for parents to connect, share their experiences, and exchange information so that they can feel less alone in this challenging situation.
You can join an autism parent support group and ask all your questions without fear of judgment.