Family vs Autism

Family vs Autism

I know I am not the only one that has experienced a shift in support from family members once a diagnosis was given to your child. I know I am not the only parent to experience the same stares that strangers give from family- blood relatives when out in public settings?

How do you accept that? Do you accept it?

Autism is just a label. A label that was created to allow individuals with a unique set of gifts to stand out from us “regular” folks. But, it is still just a label. A label that should not allow for others to be treated differently. Just because these individuals are unique, does not make them contagious. It does not mean that they do not have feelings and it also doesn’t mean that they want be left alone.

I have family members that used to be willingly open to watching both Hayden and Maya. These same family members knew that there was the possibility that they could have been different, but they were still treated the same as other family members.

Once the diagnosis was done and that label was placed on both of my children, these same family members’ behaviors took a shift. They weren’t so willingly open to watching them and their reasoning for doing so was because they didn’t know what to do with them. (-_-)

How pathetic is that?

You treat them the same as you were before the label was placed on them. It’s not that difficult. It’s hard enough to deal with the small-minded people out in the community, but to have family members who are old enough to educate themselves on autism act like their own blood is contagious is sickening and disheartening.

So, this goes back to my question, do you accept the behaviors from family that treat your children differently?


As an adult, if you come across something that is new to you, you make yourself aware of what it is and how to work with individuals that have it or you can stay in your bubble and look crazy.

I’ve chosen to not associate myself with people, blood included, that feel it’s okay to stare, make sly remarks, and overall mistreat their family because they didn’t turn out to be “normal.” If you really think about it, what is really normal? That is another conversation for another day.

In the end, my kids are still happy and they are doing just fine. Their loss……