Comments on: The Times, The Blogs Are Changing… http://www.esteeklar.com/2009/08/02/1607/ The Joy of Autism is about our journey with autism and our opinions about how society views it. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:07:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: kyra http://www.esteeklar.com/2009/08/02/1607/comment-page-1/#comment-4416 kyra Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:51:47 +0000 http://www.esteeklar.com/?p=1607#comment-4416 that is a gorgeous gorgeous song. so wise. and i relate to your words. as one divorced woman (at one time, though now remarried) to another, i applaud your courage and your honesty. and i relate to much of your journey. xxxxx that is a gorgeous gorgeous song. so wise. and i relate to your words. as one divorced woman (at one time, though now remarried) to another, i applaud your courage and your honesty. and i relate to much of your journey. xxxxx

]]> By: Kristina http://www.esteeklar.com/2009/08/02/1607/comment-page-1/#comment-4414 Kristina Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:00:59 +0000 http://www.esteeklar.com/?p=1607#comment-4414 Thank you for referencing my final Change.org post. I'd been feeling the the need if not the necessity of transitioning into a disability rights perspective in my writing about autism. It makes me wonder, how might my approach to helping Charlie have differed by thinking of it in terms of "disability" from the start. I've learned a great deal from my evolving understanding, that's for sure. It's funny but when I look at my life, so much about it is not at all as I thought it would be and yet I'm very glad things are as they are. Perhaps it's another aspect of acceptance, letting things---letting the road---take us where they might. I too am very glad I'm my son's mother. I had many experiences of feeling "different" in growing up (being Asian American, for one thing) and these have I think (I hope) contributed to me doing my best by Charlie, just as you note about yourself in mothering Adam. Warmest wishes in the next stages of the journey! Thank you for referencing my final Change.org post. I’d been feeling the the need if not the necessity of transitioning into a disability rights perspective in my writing about autism. It makes me wonder, how might my approach to helping Charlie have differed by thinking of it in terms of “disability” from the start. I’ve learned a great deal from my evolving understanding, that’s for sure.

It’s funny but when I look at my life, so much about it is not at all as I thought it would be and yet I’m very glad things are as they are. Perhaps it’s another aspect of acceptance, letting things—letting the road—take us where they might.

I too am very glad I’m my son’s mother. I had many experiences of feeling “different” in growing up (being Asian American, for one thing) and these have I think (I hope) contributed to me doing my best by Charlie, just as you note about yourself in mothering Adam.

Warmest wishes in the next stages of the journey!

]]> By: farmwifetwo http://www.esteeklar.com/2009/08/02/1607/comment-page-1/#comment-4412 farmwifetwo Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:03:07 +0000 http://www.esteeklar.com/?p=1607#comment-4412 When we first started this road I was pO'd (to put it mildly) about the Dh's lack of interest in autism. His lack of interest in going to the appts and when he went he drove me batty. Over the years we've negotiated a non-verbal truce - no we've never actually discussed it. I have final say in all things autism. He's unimpressed I put his younger son on Adderall... may or may not help... but as I said.. he knows the final say is mine. His final say is all things agriculture so we've each found our niche. Also, we don't "live" for autism... although there are days I feel like we live for all things agriculture but I have my freedom, I have travelled and I can travel again if I wish and I'm taking the boys to my parents in a couple of weeks for few days. Dh can only now make a couple of those days but that's his problem not ours. Perfect... not at all... but for now it's the best we have and we seems to work for us. It may not work for others... but that's OK too. I'm still trying to stay half a step ahead or atleast equal to the education system. After a wonderful year for both last year we now have a new VP. My FSW has met her before and says I'll like her.... maybe so... but I don't trust her. I've had too many "issues" with the school to trust her without proof. Just going, one day at a time trying to ignore the "coulda, woulda, shoulda" list :) When we first started this road I was pO’d (to put it mildly) about the Dh’s lack of interest in autism. His lack of interest in going to the appts and when he went he drove me batty.

Over the years we’ve negotiated a non-verbal truce – no we’ve never actually discussed it. I have final say in all things autism. He’s unimpressed I put his younger son on Adderall… may or may not help… but as I said.. he knows the final say is mine. His final say is all things agriculture so we’ve each found our niche.

Also, we don’t “live” for autism… although there are days I feel like we live for all things agriculture but I have my freedom, I have travelled and I can travel again if I wish and I’m taking the boys to my parents in a couple of weeks for few days. Dh can only now make a couple of those days but that’s his problem not ours.

Perfect… not at all… but for now it’s the best we have and we seems to work for us. It may not work for others… but that’s OK too.

I’m still trying to stay half a step ahead or atleast equal to the education system. After a wonderful year for both last year we now have a new VP. My FSW has met her before and says I’ll like her…. maybe so… but I don’t trust her. I’ve had too many “issues” with the school to trust her without proof.

Just going, one day at a time trying to ignore the “coulda, woulda, shoulda” list :)

]]>