I wrote this several years ago, but I can't think of a better first post!
- “I don’t know how you do it.” No, you really don’t. And I really don’t know either, but I wasn’t given much of a choice. I’m a mom doing mom things. Wait - did I miss an opt-out checkbox somewhere? Figures.
- “You shouldn’t worry. Some kids are just late talkers.” Well, that’s good for them and perhaps true for some. But my daughter is not “just a late talker” – she has autism. I’ll be lucky if she talks at all. So, I WILL worry and I will not take your advice to "wait and see."
- “I’m so tired. My son was up all night last night.” Just last night? Really? He actually sleeps through all the other nights? Cool.
- “Our road trip was a disaster. My daughter didn’t stop talking the whole way there.” Wow, you just described a dream come true for my daughter. Of course, perhaps your child has an obsession with racecars and manages to tie every discussion back to racecars, drilling you on the most arcane details about racecars that no 6-year-old – let alone 36-year-old -- should know unless they’re employed by NASCAR. In that case, I completely understand. Too much talking.
- “You’re so lucky you can park there. I had to park a mile away.” Yes, I’m fortunate to have a disabled tag on my car. Jealous are ya?
- “We’ve been waiting in this line for an hour, and you get to flash some pass and step right onto Snow White’s Scary Adventure? Your kids look perfectly fine. That’s not really fair." Sorry I forgot my diagnoses signage today. You're 100 percent correct that this is not fair. I have two kids with special needs who couldn’t stand still in line for four minutes even if Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory was on the other side. Do you really want to trade places?
- “We’re so over-programmed schlepping to soccer, art, dance… We really need to cut a couple of activities out next quarter.” Great idea! Me too. Help me decide: Should it be OT? PT? Speech? The neurologist? Psychiatrist? Social Skills Group? Which one do you think we should cancel?
- “You really must be special to be blessed in this way.” Come on. Really? THIS is the trophy?
- “I haven’t heard from you in awhile. You didn’t even return my call!” My friend, on my best days I can barely remember where the phone is, let alone find five waking minutes to use it. And you know what, please understand that if I actually find a few minutes amid the mounds of paperwork, insurance appeals, appointments, work, therapy and actually spending a few quality minutes with my family, I’m more likely to crash on the couch than pick up the phone to detail my ridiculous life. But please keep calling - minus the guilt trips. I really do need you.
- “You probably don’t want to hear about my kids anymore. It must be hard listening to ‘normal’ kid talk.” Well, yes, it’s very hard, and I’m sad that my child will face challenges more difficult than not getting the lead in the school play or not eating his vegetables. However, that doesn’t make me less happy for you and your children. You might be surprised to hear that most of the time, I don't compare at all. Your kids are like alien species to me. I promise you that whatever you're telling me, I'm simply awestruck by their superpowers. And by the way ..."normal?"
