photo by Maria Alexandra Photography

So today we're talking about autism AGAIN... are you sick of us yet?? I feel like April is my one month to really get on a soap box... not just for myself, but for all of the other moms who need 1 thing... to know that they're not alone... to feel understood and accepted. The only way for this to happen is for people to truly understand what autism is and what it can look like. So my post today is AUTISM: TRUTH vs. MYTH, hopefully it will shed some light on the disorder. PS... I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL... I am a mom... these truths come from my experience of being a full-time caregiver of three boys... 2 who experience autism.

MYTH #1: Autism means that kids act bratty and have melt downs but it's not their fault.

TRUTH: While my kids do act out and have meltdowns autism is more than just an excuse for bratty behavior. AND kids who have autism can have bratty tantrums too (a mama knows when she's being played) these are different from true meltdowns. As parents my husband and I often look at each other when our kids are misbehaving and call it what it is, either: "Wow... he's just being a manipulator... this has nothing to do with autism" ... OR ... "Man it's been a tough day, he just needs to cool down."

MYTH #2: Autism is something that affects children when they're small but they will eventually grow out of it.

TRUTH: Kids don't grow out of autism. My hope is that as my kids get older they will recognize needs and triggers and be able to control their own environments enough to prevent meltdowns or freak-outs but for now that's my job. Through diet (for my kids), keeping things low key and not taking on too much at once we lead a pretty mellow lifestyle... it's when I try to pack too much stuff into our schedule or overdo even fun stuff that my kids start going down hill.
MYTH #3: All kids with autism are standoff-ish and don't interact with others.
TRUTH: Autism is a "spectrum disorder" that means that it looks very different in different kids. There are four categories used to classify a child as being on the spectrum: Sensory, Communication, Rigidity, Social Behavior. One child may hate water, be non-verbal and not want to be around others while another may have no fear of any kind of water (and jump in even knowing they can't swim), speak incessantly because they don't understand social cues and have no concept of personal space... loving to be around other people but having no clue HOW to interact appropriately... (the later would be my oldest.) 

MYTH #4: All kids with autism are great at math and science because that's how their brains work.

TRUTH: I'm sure there are a lot of kids on the spectrum who are great at math and science but not all are. My oldest son has such a hard time with math but he's great at science and reading and anything on the computer... my four year old has an amazing memory and is a great artist... they are just like any other child in the fact that they have gifts and challenges... the label of autism doesn't automatically mean they have a photographic memory and can count cards.

MYTH #5: Kids with autism ALWAYS act out, ALWAYS melt down, NEVER have "good" days.