Closed doors - nobody seems bothered

In my experience parenting has been more about listening to gut intuition than following rigid rules or attending classes. Their isn't a manual for bringing up a child, NT or otherwise.

My mother, God rest her, was a lovely person, but a terrible parent. She had tremendous intuition, but due to others input and deep issues with self belief she struggled greatly.

At age 2, I weighed 7lb's. Imagine that in this day and age. Social services would have removed me from her care way before I was 1.

Parents like my mum (Who incidentally, almost definately had ASD, needed support, but never asked for it.) If you feel you are one such parent, then do accept their offer. Parent's who believe something is wrong however, and ask for help, but are ignored either due to prejudice or inexperience, are in my view not those that need parenting skills courses.

I'm pretty sure I developed my mothering instincts from another family member who brought me up, but like my mum, I also had a feeling something was wrong with my children. The difference is, that I acted on it.

I battled on, despite no knowlege of the condition, just to have my kids assessed. As it happened, I was right. Their was something wrong.  

Did I doubt myself? Absolutly! Did I beat myself up, every time I was fobbed off only to be proven right in the end? Most definately!, but the truth is, that the sort of things parents do to help their kids are almost always using common sense or some form of intuition.

At no parenting class did I ever read that to sooth a fretful Autistic child at night, I should remove the teashirt i'd worn all day & wrap it around a warm hot water bottle and let the child gleen comfort from my scent. I just did what worked for myself and my child.

Often, the most useful nuggets of parenting gold, come from the heart of a mother or parent who is at their wits end & has exhausted all the tricks in their repertoire. None of us are perfect and when faced with the torture of sleep deprivation or a child in deep angst that we no longer know how to help because we can't think straight, is when we turn to a friend or forum and the most simple and obvious of suggestions are put forward that work.

I'd have loved a manual. :) Keep an open heart, but do what you feel is right for you and your child.

My belief is that a parent with ASD, has a unique insight into the trials and tribulaions that a child on the spectrum experiences. If you have experience of family members who have the condition and you recognise traits, then stick with what you have a gut feeling for. It takes bravery to stand up and demand to be heard.

Good Luck 

Coogybear

In my experience parenting has been more about listening to gut intuition than following rigid rules or attending classes. Their isn't a manual for bringing up a child, NT or otherwise.

My mother, God rest her, was a lovely person, but a terrible parent. She had tremendous intuition, but due to others input and deep issues with self belief she struggled greatly.

At age 2, I weighed 7lb's. Imagine that in this day and age. Social services would have removed me from her care way before I was 1.

Parents like my mum (Who incidentally, almost definately had ASD, needed support, but never asked for it.) If you feel you are one such parent, then do accept their offer. Parent's who believe something is wrong however, and ask for help, but are ignored either due to prejudice or inexperience, are in my view not those that need parenting skills courses.

I'm pretty sure I developed my mothering instincts from another family member who brought me up, but like my mum, I also had a feeling something was wrong with my children. The difference is, that I acted on it.

I battled on, despite no knowlege of the condition, just to have my kids assessed. As it happened, I was right. Their was something wrong.  

Did I doubt myself? Absolutly! Did I beat myself up, every time I was fobbed off only to be proven right in the end? Most definately!, but the truth is, that the sort of things parents do to help their kids are almost always using common sense or some form of intuition.

At no parenting class did I ever read that to sooth a fretful Autistic child at night, I should remove the teashirt i'd worn all day & wrap it around a warm hot water bottle and let the child gleen comfort from my scent. I just did what worked for myself and my child.

Often, the most useful nuggets of parenting gold, come from the heart of a mother or parent who is at their wits end & has exhausted all the tricks in their repertoire. None of us are perfect and when faced with the torture of sleep deprivation or a child in deep angst that we no longer know how to help because we can't think straight, is when we turn to a friend or forum and the most simple and obvious of suggestions are put forward that work.

I'd have loved a manual. :) Keep an open heart, but do what you feel is right for you and your child.

My belief is that a parent with ASD, has a unique insight into the trials and tribulaions that a child on the spectrum experiences. If you have experience of family members who have the condition and you recognise traits, then stick with what you have a gut feeling for. It takes bravery to stand up and demand to be heard.

Good Luck 

Coogybear