When You Know Something Is Wrong

So this is the second time I have come across the issue of knowing something is up with another persons child.....and they do not.  I suppose I am lucky because neither person was a good friend by any means, but it still seems to make me feel odd.

The first time was at a baby play group, one mom kept saying her child was constantly hurting himself and other kids.  She went on and poured out all these emotions and concerns as her 18 month old son ran around haphazardly grunting.  She said "who do you call for early intervention".....and i handed over the number that was nicely stored in my phone.  I tried to comfort this woman, who was basically a stranger, and tell her it would be ok and he didn't seem so bad, it was probably nothing just a phase.  It was then I was mentally brought back to that same time in my life, the time when I looked at other moms and hoped they told me my son was fine.  They did.....they were lieing....and so did I.

This last time was at the doctors office on Wednesday while the kids were playing.  This little boy flapping around and spinning, spinning took a fancy to Frankie's Thomas trains that he left on the little play table.  Frankie caught wind and went over and took them back.  Little boy freaked out, FREAKED, not a normal freaked out either.  Mom came over and apologized and there I was seeing myself in another person.  She did this thing I use to do before I knew what was going on....I would talk out loud to myself pretending I was talking to the boy, maybe as a cry for help.  She said " are you hungry, not that you eat anything, not that you can tell me what you would want to eat.  Its not like you talk ever.  imagine a two year old who just doesn't want to talk"  Bells were going off in my head but of course this woman was a complete stranger.....

The question is what is that fine line.....when do you make a comment.  No one wants to hear Autism, I think you can throw a mom into tears or a fit of rage if you threw the idea of Autism their way.   I just wish there were rules....

Club Spectrum

Doesn't that sound like an awesome place to party?  If that picture isn't over stimulating I dont know what is.  When LP got diagnoned I said something I guess I regret.  I said being part of the Spectrum Club was like joining the Sorority no one wants to be a part of.  I was bitter about it on the inside even though I didn't show it outwardly.  I told myself i didn't want puzzle stickers or key chains, I didn't want to be part of this club.  I wanted to have my friends and that was that, as if ignoring it, it would go away. 

I want to say I was wrong and I love this club.  I don't have my friends, they don't understand.  No one understands therapists in your space all day, no one understands having a child that doesn't respond to discipline, no one understands a child who doesn't communicate, no one understands a child who doesn't know how to make friends, no one understands a child who freaks out over the noises in a public restroom, no one understand spending money on holistic medicines or treatments....no one understand except people in the Spectrum Club.

There are people all over this country, all over the world, that read my blog and are fans of my page.  You are the people I can talk to with out judging, who read my blog posts and can relate.  Thank you for being there, Thank you for being supportive, thank you for your advice and for sharing information.  This is a great club to be part of, and though many of you are hundreds if not thousands of miles away, you are friends.  Thank you for being a friend