What Being a Mom to an Autistic Child is Really Like

HEALTHJOURNEYS

Terralyn Polege Autism Spectrum Disorder

I was diagnosed with Asthma when I was pregnant with my daughter. There was no testing done I was having breathing problems and the doctor decided I had asthma. 20 years later and a whole lot of frustration at how much weight i was gaining due to steroids I finally went to a doctor who sent me for testing for Asthma and...

What is it like being an autism mom? The ups, the downs, and the emotional struggle.

It's being on pins and needles wondering if the school will call yet again to tell you your child needs to be picked up because her clothes are bothering her. It's dreading the sound of any siren knowing it will cause your child to shut down. It's also an amazing joy at small things like how much they enjoy some sights sounds and textures because they experience them so strongly. It's feeling totally frustrated because yet again some "professional" refused to help because they only saw your child on a good day. It's pure love. It's all of the above and so much more.

What fears do you face as you raise your child?

My biggest fear is that she won't reach her full potential because people don't see the person, only the label. There is way too much misinformation out there about Autism and people believe the worst case scenario when they hear the word. I fear she will always be judged when she is stimming because Autism is an invisible disability and, as I get told so often, "she doesn't look like she has Autism".

What do you wish other moms knew about what you go through?

I wish other mom's knew that just because my child doesn't react the way their child does doesn't mean she doesn't enjoy the same things or that she is unaware of the world around her. I wish they knew that she withdraws because she feel so intensely, not because she doesn't feel at all.