Hi All,
This is my first time on here (or anywhere), so I should perhaps give a bit of background - sorry if I go on a bit.
My son has been diagnosed with ASD in the past few months (something we always knew would happen) and has fortunately already been moved to a specialist school.
Although I'm starting to understand how my son feels and why he behaves the way he does, I'm not sure how I should be behaving as his mum anymore 
Do I apologise for him? Do I make excuses for him? Should I be more lenient or more strict? I've never been an overprotective mum, leaning more towards letting him figure stuff out for himself.
But now I feel like I want to be with him constantly and want to explain to everyone we meet why he does things. We've just been out for a bike ride and as we came past the park he asked if he could go. But I said no, as there were a number of kids already playing there and I just can't stand seeing kids laughing at him or not understanding him, when all he wants to do is make friends and make people laugh.
But a couple of kids started walking over to us, saying "there's that retard with the glasses", "the one with the stupid songs". Even though I was right there, they were calling him a retard and laughing!!!! Luckily, my son didn't hear and I waited to come home until I cried. Am I overeacting?
I want to be one of these parents who doesn't care what other people say, but for all his percularities, my son is sweet, funny, caring and very affectionate and I want everyone to know.
Any advice would be hugely appreciated, as I feel very alone right now
Leah x
