Many of you know that Brandon was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome a few years ago. In the beginning it was hard to see that he was different besides not being able to sit down at all. But after finding out, we did everything that we could to help him out. He has improved so much that he is almost a different child, but even now you know that he is different.
Brandon had been having problems at school lately making friends and catching social cues. He has told me that the worst thing at school is making friends. My poor baby, and then you wonder why. Have I done something wrong to make him the way he is? Did I not let him play with other children as much? These are just a few of the many questions that have run through my head over the years. At times I come to the point where I have accepted the diagnosis and just work hard to help him in any way I can, an then at other points I am just floored on finding out that he is different.
My Mother in law is always reading and has very good taste in books, so when she suggested that I read
"Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Aspergers" I thought okay, that's nice, I will get to it when I can. But recently I finally picked it up after having it for a few months. I read the first chapter and just cried. This man describing how he thought and felt struck me hard! Just the littlest things that we take for grated, thinking that everyone knows! But he did exactly what Brandon has done. I have come to understand Brandon so much more by reading this book.
I would highly suggest anyone read this if they are curious about Asperger's Syndrome which is on the Autism spectrum or if you want to know Brandon more. I haven't read the whole book yet, but I am getting there. This man had a very hard childhood as it was and I have been struggling with it. But I would recommend this book to anyone.
I know that there are more books out there, written by those who have Aspergers. My heart just goes out to these people. When they were little, they were treated badly for being different because we didn't know about Aspergers, and just how they thought. I thank my Heavenly Father that Brandon was born in a time when we knew why he was different and have developed ways for us to better understand Brandon's world. There is no cure for Asperger's Syndrome, and I personally don't want one. Brandon is who he is with this syndrome and his little quirks has made him Brandon.
Now my second son, Nathan has High Functioning Autism. It is different from Aspergers but the same in areas. Nathan has struggled more with speech, which those with Aspergers don't. When you compare Brandon to Nathan they are so similar but night and day different. I am not looking forward to next year when Nathan goes into 1st grade, but as with Brandon, I love Nathan and wouldn't change him for the world.
If anyone has any questions about autism, please let me know. I don't claim to know anything, but I do know more than what is said on news channels. There is no set cause for autism and there is no set cure for autism. But I do hope that when you see a mother in a store and she has a screaming child at her feet, or a child walking next to her flapping their arms, please don't judge....because that has been me.
