I had to write this. I have to share it. For the first time in a very long time I feel as if my heart is broken. I have tried not to cry over my children having autism. Crying does nothing. Being strong and getting them the therapy they need and the support they so crave and desire is what I have done. Last night, I broke down and cried.
Back to yesterday. Every day I ask E how school was. I ask him if he got his work done with little prompts to keep him on task. I ask him what he ate for lunch. Yesterday I asked him what he does at recess. He looked at me and said that it takes him a while to get outside because he likes to wear his coat. Ok, I get that. I asked him what he does when he gets outside, like does he go on the swings or does he play with the other kids or whatnot. He told me that he doesn’t play with other kids. They don’t like him. Instead he spends his recess talking with the aides that watch the kids. He said that they are his only friends and they are the only ones who are nice to him. He said that they even let him help them get everyone inside for lunch.
Inside I died a little. My little boy is already not fitting in. He has no clue why other kids don’t like him. Instead he gravitates towards the adults who show him positive attention which makes him think that they do like him. He thinks of the aides as his friends. I can’t even try to explain to him what is happening. He is different and that is wonderful but at the same time what on earth do I do to show him how to associate with kids his age? He should be playing and running around. He should be doing things that other 6 year old kids do. He isn’t like other 6 year olds though. I get that. He doesn’t. The other kids don’t get it either. I fear that it is only going to get worse for him. I fear that kids will soon starting making fun of him and he is going to be miserable. Actually, I think it is already happening and he is too afraid to tell me because knowing him, he probably thinks that it is his fault.
My heart is broken. School is hard enough without having challenges like his. I am open to ideas and suggestions.
