Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello, I'm new to the forum...I've just got nowhere else to turn. My 9-year-old daughter was diagnosed on Tuesday by CAMHS. To say that I am devastated is an understatement. I feel embarrassed. I have tried over the years to encourage her to go to parties and be social, to take pride in her appearance and play nicely, but she crumbles in social situations, which has been very difficult for us as a family. I do not want her to be an autistic person. I just want my daughter to be like other children...the thought that she is different makes me shudder.
I'm sorry; I was planning to say far more but I just can't.
When you plan a baby this isn't what you expect, is it?
Well, I'm a woman now and therefore was a girl...
They explain in various places why this was seen as a typical boys' problem for a long time. They were just a bit ignorant when it came to girls (which is easy when the signs in boys are often more obvious and perhaps more disturbing in school while they are often more subtle in girls) - it doesn't make your daughter any less feminine. Nor does not wearing fashionable clothes. After all, she is only 9 (although she may always prefer comfortable clothes but there's absolutely nothing wrong about this).
Perhaps try and meet someone with an autistic girl then! The NAS has local branches - maybe yours can help with that.