I was thinking today about autism and “the spectrum. Can I share some ideas with you, and ask you a question or two?
I know that a lot of people use the word spectrum to refer to degrees of autism.
I do not know if my kids are “on the spectrum” in a medical sense. Friends throughout the years have thought one or the other of my kids might be, but I never saw the reason to get them labeled. The few behaviors my kids exhibited were more likely from a different source, and that we fixed.
But in all the play dates and get-togethers with other homeschoolers over the years, I met a lot of children with autism. A lot. I know why. My children attended public school a few short years before we opted to bring them home. I understand what can happen to an autistic child in school. It isn’t pretty.
But all the time that we spent with autistic children over the years has given me a deep appreciation for the different ways that we can communicate. I have seen children come alive on a swing, or when playing music, or even when practicing karate. These children do not like to look you in the eye. Some of them do not even notice anyone else is around, until that spark reaches them that brings them to life. And yet they all have ways of communicating, and their mothers all know how to teach them.
Do you know how to reach your child to explain something when she is worried? I bet you do. I also bet that you can find a way to teach her to spell when she has trouble.
It is not really different for moms of autistic children, only much more challenging.
I recognize how hard it is to be a mom to an autistic child. I have seen the worry and the sleeplessness and frustration and tears. But every mom I know figured it out with her child.
After all this experience my kids and I have had, when a mom asks me if my kids are “on the spectrum” I now tell her that I think all children are, a bit.
And that is how we homeschool. I need to try out all sorts of different ways to teach my kids so that they can learn and be happy and confident.
Now the question: Do you know any kids on the spectrum? What have you seen their parents do with them that is different? And, if your child is on the spectrum, did it take you a long time to find a way to help and homeschool?
I linked this post up with the fantastic mommies at the Mommy Monday Blog Hop. If you hop over, you can read lots of great posts, get encouragement and many wonderful ideas!
