As a parent of a child diagnosed with autism, I had to adjust to my son’s interests and not my own. It took a lot of practice and patience. Put yourself in your child’s shoes. Imagine a world where everything is chronically overwhelming to all five of your senses.
I always say, “My son is a “MAC in a PC World.” He is wired and formatted differently. Who cares about popularity contests? I had to think more like him. I had to be more complicated and more formatted as a human.
On meltdowns and behavioral issues, we talk and hug a lot until he is calm. It is the reassurance that helps him relax. In the worst of cases, I force him to take a warm bath. Anyone knows a warm bath will relax you within minutes. A blue bath even better!
How do I make him extremely happy? Every day we laugh, sing, and dance. Before he could talk, we used a tablet. Some say hugging is not an option. Try stroking your child’s hair, face, hand, shoulder, or just a smile from across the room. If I am calm, he is calm. If I am angry, he is angry. As a parent, you do not decide how they think. As a parent, you decide how to be a better person.
This is article was featured in Issue 74 – Every Voice Matters
