It can slowly creep into the dynamics of relationships once a family learns of their child's condition of autism. People on the outside don't know what to say or do in many cases and people on the inside are still dumbfounded and may not even know what to present as a description of the diagnosis.
It progresses into the bowing out of a child's birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese because of the challenge of an over stimulating environment or a drop in church attendance once your child is out of the age range accommodated by the nursery. There is a comfortableness that you've built for your situation in your home that can not be duplicated anywhere else so on the rare
occasion you do venture out the moments and those you spend them with become more cherished and meaningful.
Soon you notice that someone you once considered a good friend
doesn't call anymore and the invitations to parties or events become fewer and farther apart. At first it bothers you and you may feel anger, resentment or sadness and quite possibly all of these feelings and more. You may find that what was once a larger community of family, "friends" and neighbors has
turned into a very small circle of people that stuck around to see you through your worst and not just at your best.
This filtering over time reveals the friends
that matter and the family that care and you will most likely form new friendships with those that truly can sympathise with your situation.
The eventual revelation brought on by a diagnosis is much like what is uncovered when panning for gold. When all the silt is washed away what you are left with is precious treasure.
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In your journey, what have you found is your treasure?
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In your journey, what have you found is your treasure?
That no matter how upset I get about anything that when My autistic son smiles at me it calms me down because his smile becomes my smile to its contagious :)
:) @Loca - Nothing like it is there :)
Interactions with other people and their support.
My treasures are my family and the few friends I have. I don't make friends easily and so keep the ones I have close by and pick carefully. I have been fortunate in that the ones I've chosen to keep have chose to keep me as well. I didn't see a fall-away once the diagnoses started coming in at all. Instead, I had support and a rallying good time ranting and raving :#
Friends and family #either by blood or by tribulation# are the best treasures in life, for me.
#and these text code thingies are SO not a treasure! If I promise, out-loud, that I'm not a bot, do you think they'll go away?)