Hi She Knows Best,
I’m reaching out because I could really use some advice from other mums. My daughter was recently diagnosed with autism, and I’m just feeling so overwhelmed. I’ve known for a while that something wasn’t quite right, but now that it’s official, I’m finding it hard to not blame myself. Some days are great and some days are so tough. My daughter is smart, funny and so quirky and I love her with all my heart. If I am being honest though I worry about how she will continue to cope at school and in daily life, especially as she gets older. I have been told that having a child with autism teaches you patience like nothing else. I know that it’s about accepting that their journey may look different from others, and that’s okay so I want to do everything I can to support her. I’m not sure where to start or what the best way forward is. I want to be the best mum I can be for her. Has anyone else been through this? How do I help her thrive while also taking care of myself and our family? Any advice would be so appreciated. Thank you ladies x
Hey there sister, Look every day feels like a learning curve when you have a child with autism. You quickly realise that what works for one child doesn’t always work for another and that’s totally fine! It’s a lot of trial and error, adjusting your expectations, and getting creative to figure out what helps your child to thrive. Some days are exhausting but there’s something so rewarding about seeing your child make progress, no matter how small. You have those moments when they succeed in their own way and they make it all worth it x
Good evening friend❤️ As a mother of a 7 year old autistic child, it’s so important to be your child’s strongest advocate. You will hear a lot of “x cannot do this” “x won’t do this” but work with schools, healthcare providers, and other therapy institutions to ensure your child receives the appropriate services and help available.
I think this is so important, but I also want to add, please be open to listen to schools, healthcare providers and therapy institutions. It might be hard to hear what is being said but these people are professionals and are informing you with their own, professional and often unbiased opinion on the best ways to ensure your child is supported.
Hey there beautiful mom! You are absolutely doing great just by deciding to ask for support! Trust me, so many moms avoid even asking for help, and you will go a long way when you get curious about how to support your child. I myself am a Mom of 2 autistic boys, they’re almost 12 and 10 now. Been a tough journey at the beginning, lots of judgements on me as a parent, but let me tell u what I wished I knew when they 1st got diagnosed.
1- I wish I knew it was never my fault, or that I’m reason why they have autism
2- I wish I learned to take each day by day and focus on the present moment and day, rather than thinking about how their future may be
3- I wish I knew the right people to ask help from (family might be the last people u want to ask support from, unless they totally understand what you’re going through and being supportive)
4- I wish I searched for a community earlier where I felt like I belong and to have people who understand exactly what I was going through
5- I wish I followed up with a psychologist and a life coach earlier before I got diagnosed with depression and after on with burn out
I’m currently a life coach and a trainer for an advocacy company for people with disabilities in the UAE, and would be glad to listen to you more and how I cam support you throughout this journey.
You are enough, you know what’s best for you and your child because: you know best, and she knows best ❤️
Hi there, what a lovely comment sister. I read your words with tears in my eyes, you typed everything I was feeling a few years back. Thank you for offering such kind and caring words. I know women (including myself) will love, appreciate and cherish your words of support. She Knows Best! Xx
What a beautiful comment, your point number 3, so true! sometimes family just dont know what to say and often leave you feeling worse about the situation. (not all family are like this but mine were!)
Hey sis. I have a younger brother who is severely autistic. I would encourage you and anybody else willing to learn more about autism to research and find out more information about it. I know learning about autism can feel overwhelming at first because there is a lot of information available out there. You can find lots reputable resources to build a foundation of understanding about the condition. Autism is a spectrum and every child’s experience is unique. Yes general knowledge is helpful but the most important lessons will come from observing and understanding your own child’s specific needs. Take care love xx
Hi sister, my niece has autism and I wanted to share that we found that routines can work wonders by providing structure and a sense of security not just for you but for your child too. Routines provide safety and familiarity and also helps you to navigate the day better with less bumps along the way. It’s hard to establish at first but stay consistent and in the end things will fall into place. I wish you luck and love x
Hi there sister. I loved reading the other comments on this post, what a fantastic sisterhood we are all building! I want to tell you that no parent is ever prepared to hear that their child is anything other than happy and healthy. An ASD diagnosis can be particularly frightening but being emotionally strong allows you to be the best parent you can be to your child in need. It’s impossible to predict the course of autism spectrum disorder. I would say don’t jump to conclusions about what life is going to be like for your child. Like everyone else, people with autism have an entire lifetime to grow and develop their abilities so take one day at a time and embrace the journey ahead. We are all with you x