I’m His Mom

 ~ Clearly Muddled Blog ~

Josh has autism, and I’m his mom…and I have a personality, and likes and dislikes, things I do well and things I don’t.  Would Josh be who he is today if he had a different mom? Maybe…but he wouldn’t be as funny! I know I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the experience of raising him.

Before I was his mom, I had an entire life that included dreams, goals, accomplishments, and failures. Through all of it I lived by the seat of my pants. I liked it that way – it worked for me. I’m not crazy about rules, falling in line, being one of the herd, or following one rigid way of doing anything.  To me, routine always seemed too controlling, and boring.

Naturally, when I became a mom, there was an instant need to become organized. It’s not a good idea to leave the house with a baby, without taking diapers, and wipes, and bottles, and blankets along, because babies are completely disorganized! Having a child with Autism leaves organization in the dust, and jumps right up to hard fast, never changing, never ending, rules and rigid routine. Ugh!!!!

Raising Josh has sometimes felt isolating, because while other kids seemed to all go in the same direction, he was going against the tide…often having loud meltdowns along the way.  Because he didn’t fit in, I didn’t fit in. So, in a weird twist, I have completely understood his need to do things his way, and not the way everyone else was doing it. We both approach following the masses by kicking and screaming! Makes perfect sense.

I thought that Josh and I were complete opposites. Turns out, we both just want to continue to do things the way they work for us…and have no interest in changing to please society. It’s perfect!

I gotta go…the seat of my pants are taking flight!!

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Listen to the Podcast: JHA048: Don’t Forget You | http://sonyaking.com/jha048-dont-forget-you