A few weeks a go we were at a Pump it Up party and he about lost it because of the noise and desire to not participate that I felt very sad because he just wouldn’t join in,even with me, and have fun. When we left the party after cake and ice cream and his goody bag – he says “mom, I had fun at Jake’s party.” I was floored – it was a great moment to understand that his sense of “fun” which is usually visual was different than mine.

Thanks for sharing your story. Little things like reading it make it the road less traveled easier because I know others are taking it too.

And, yeah, my response to strangers varies wildly depending on my mood and whether they seem to want to connect versus want to give their input into my parenting skills! I have been known to ask how many years they have spent working with autistic children, which usually shuts them down.

Posts like this give other parents the strength to stand up for their own kids ‘normal.’

We get a lot of those looks (and comments) too, the more time goes by the better I get at blowing them off but they are still annoying.

You’re right, it’s almost impossible to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it. I’m just glad my kids are mine!