Girls on the phone

[Guest guest]

Wow...I'm humbled that I was able to help. I was not so sure that I wouldn't be

stepping on your toes. Whew. It's sad that there will be some girls that will

come over and sit and stare just so that they can go back to their friends, in

Sunday School no less, and tell them about how they went to the weird girl's

house. I have been known to walk them outside, away from my daughter, and say

that they were not welcome there unless they were really coming over to be

friends and that it was not nice to make fun of someone who had a brain

disorder...something that they should be thankful that they did not have. At the

public pool, some kids were picking on and I went to the lifeguards and

told them what she had and how it might effect her. I explained that she was an

easy target. I also told them that if she broke the rules, I expected her to be

called out on it but that the other kids were better at picking on her quietly

and she would get loud if they did, therefore, she may be the one who appeared

to be guilty. I had printed up something from the Oasis Aspgerger's site that

explained what Asperger's was. I only had a few and had to bring more back the

next day because all of the life guards wanted to read it! I began to keep them

in my purse for other people. Then I came up with an idea. I printed up

" business cards " on my computer that said

MY CHILD HAS ASPERGERR'S SYNDROME

IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE

VISIT THIS SITE

(link was provided here)

OR CALL ME AT _________

I put cute graphics of 1950's vintage toys on it. I carry them with me at all

times. I use my cell phone number to protect my privacy. knows that I

have them. She helped me design them and it makes her feel good to know I've got

her back. There are some times that I secretly slip them to someone though.

There are also times she will say to me " Hey Mom...do you have the Asperger's

cards with you? " We don't use Asperger's as an excuse. even told her

therapist that she has Asperger's but it does not have her. Yes...I taught her

that. But I did not know she was listening! A couple of years ago I became

visually impaired and can't drive any longer and a yr and 3 months afterwards i

was diagnosed with MS. So now I have to walk my talk and live by what I taught

her. She is my greatest encourager and inspiration. Now I get it to some degree.

I know what it's like to live in a world that is not really cut out for your

needs. It ain't easy! But it's possible. I'm doing more now than I would have

done otherwise with my life. And I think is going to do the same. She is

unusual and she will do unusual things with her life. I can hardly wait to see

sometimes. But the closer she gets to that time, the more I grieve over the

things she used to do....before the Asperger's started to take over....and those

things she was doing only last year. We will always miss our babies, or our

elementary students or our Jr High kids. That's the way it goes. Now give

yourself that hug and remind yourself of what a great parent you are now and are

becoming. -Betsy