Stephanie

Thanks for all of your support guys, I'm so lucky to have found people who can relate .. I don't know anyone else with ASD in 'the real world' and therefore feel so alone with it. The one thing I have found through looking at the messages is how many people have more than one child affected ... which is very daunting as I have a 7 month old boy (absolutely gorgeous) and am constantly in fear of him also having it. My four year old is "higher end of the spectrum" - whatever that means .. and by reading some of the messages on here I realise that there are a lot of children far worse off than me so I should quit moaning about it. We haven't told our extended family that Asa is ASD, as I don't feel that they would understand - people don't know what autism really is, they think of Rainman and MMR and handicap rather than know the facts, I fear therefore that if I told my family they would treat him differently (talk to him like he was an idiot/deaf which would hinder his speech development). I guess they will have to know at some point, but for now they haven't suspected anything as he continues to improve. As he has been able to read since he was 2, they think he is "gifted" and a genius ! If I tell people it will be a label for him, he will no longer be "Asa, that cute blonde kid" it will be "Asa, you know, the Autistic one". Am I doing the right thing by keeping it under wraps for now? How did your families react? Stephanie x

Hello I'm new to forums and ASD so please bear with me . My four year old son has just been diagnosed with ASD, after a year of him attending meetings/assessments with various people etc, I think we kind of 'knew' since he was about 2 but have been (and are still) in denial. He started reading comprehensively at 2 and a half years old .. self taught, and loves anything to do with reading, writing, flags, countries etc etc. He fails on a few areas .. can't pedal a bike, some motor skills, social skills, communication, language - the usual - but all of this is "normal" to me as he is my first child and I had no other children to compare him to. I have just adapted myself to him. He starts mainstream school in September. I am fearful that my 7 month old may also become ASD in later life and it is affecting my relationship with him a little (did anyone else have this??) I am at the denial stage, it all seems so ###### unfair, why was that statistic ours etc. He is the most gorgeous, loving child .... we love him so much and only ever want the best for him ... much like the rest of you! I am fearful of meeting other parents of ASD kids in case they give me an insight into the future that I don't want to hear (if that makes sense). Where do I go now ... my child has ASD and is being considered for a statement ... but what should I do as a parent? What books should I buy? Who should I talk to? Are there any specific websites I need to know about? I'm just feeling lost, if anyone can help I would really appreciate it. Many thanks, Stephanie - Mum of Asa, 4 years old and Griffin, 7 months.