tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1497416337623642747.post3349094258487794304..comments2023-10-26T11:07:19.029-04:00Comments on Open Up and Let Go: The Cost of "Almost-Normal"Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800776640283977394noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1497416337623642747.post-61889141685496034252013-05-25T07:32:53.381-04:002013-05-25T07:32:53.381-04:00Thanks for the feedback. I had the feeling this po...Thanks for the feedback. I had the feeling this post would strike a chord since we've all been there, we'll all seen how hard it is for the people in our lives who have an "invisible" disability like Asperger's. People think it's a cop-out, that it's just throwing around a label to make excuses, and that is SO not true. Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07800776640283977394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1497416337623642747.post-45037114762419792132013-05-24T14:51:20.321-04:002013-05-24T14:51:20.321-04:00Melissa, any chance you live in/near NC? Just cur...Melissa, any chance you live in/near NC? Just curious as I also have an 11 year old boy with similar circumstances.Karennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1497416337623642747.post-70365170420354755142013-05-24T12:25:35.162-04:002013-05-24T12:25:35.162-04:00My own son with Aspergers is keenly aware of not f... My own son with Aspergers is keenly aware of not fitting in on the one hand and yet everyone could be a 'friend' on the other hand. It's scary for us because he wants soooooo badly to have friends and be normal, and thus is ripe for being taken advantage of. As if what he is isn't good enough? I've read some of Atwood's stuff. I can see the whole 'happiness' thing. No-one cuts my son any slack. He's big for his age, and everyone makes assumptions about him. INCORRECT assumptions.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15698048718456255433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1497416337623642747.post-74409459504856142322013-05-24T12:20:10.110-04:002013-05-24T12:20:10.110-04:00That comment about being normal or being happy res...That comment about being normal or being happy resounds strongly with me ~ my eldest son (age 11) has severe learning difficulties but does not realise he's 'different' ~ he knows other people talk and feed themselves and walk and read and write, he just somehow does not seem to think any of these conventions apply to him! But he laughs every day. A big slice of chocolate cake or splashing in the bath or playing with the dog can completely make his day, so for him his life is pretty straightforward.<br />Take care<br />LucasAbstract Lucashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10396367651843421077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1497416337623642747.post-26430227420536304342013-05-24T08:37:05.446-04:002013-05-24T08:37:05.446-04:00This was a very good discussion of the differences...This was a very good discussion of the differences. As the mom to a young man who is definitely HFA (in my opinion at least) I would have to point out that he is very happy. He thinks he has friends (not so much) and has an amazingly good (sometimes inflated) self-esteem. Most Aspies I've met seem a lot more argumentative and confrontational than my Joe. In the long run, though, they can call him a monkey as long as they get to know him. :-/Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13601329296517304013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1497416337623642747.post-36340572406696869732013-05-20T11:01:16.724-04:002013-05-20T11:01:16.724-04:00This is a tough one but it's spot on. My stru...This is a tough one but it's spot on. My struggle is that my son seems so "normal" that it's hard for people to understand what's going on and easier for them to judge when he has a meltdown or something. He doesn't have any obvious stims or anything that would let ppl know that he has any kind of disorder. I have a co-worker with a son who is autistic but as soon as anyone sees him they can tell that there is "something". I see how much lee-way he gets from other people. I see how people accept his quirks and forgive his temper. He gets passes that my son never gets. It sucks to say it or even think it, but in some ways, that boy has it easier. Yet, I would never wish for my son to be any more affected by autism than he currently is. Deeniehttp://www.lifeonthejtrain.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com