As a practicing dad of two (Young Man & Little Lady), we all seem to encounter problems with our kids from time to time, there would be many an occasion when the chips are down, both kids chewing my ears off for something or attempting to disarm each other (literally). I can often be found thinking that surely no one else has it as bad as The Missus and me.
Well to begin with Young Man (10), was diagnosed at 4 years with Aspergers Syndrome. For the average Joe it's a high functioning form of Autism as heard about previously in A Beer with: Ralph speaks about Autism. Coming to terms with this would be a whole other blog entry.
Little Lady (7), having grown up with this situation, has come up with her own way of dealing with Young Man's added need for extra attention.... she Acts Out!!
Needless to say despite everything that we go through on a day to day basis, the other night we had a perspective adjustment via channel 7's Sunday program, Watching a news article on Ricky Stewart, a former NRL player and his family, dealing with his daughters Autism. They spoke about the problems associated with the lack of community awareness and support facilities for families in their position.
The problems we encounter are mild in comparison, yet with nothing else to compare it to you can often feel isolated. But remember you're not alone and no matter how bad things get, there may just be someone in a worse situation.
One condition we set ourselves (The Missus and me), is that no matter how bad our day was, that we make time once the kids went to sleep, to spend some time to watch them snooze. This seems to calm and balance us again and remind us just how beautiful they can be....
M
