Society has failed us....

Society has failed us all....

Society deems what is "acceptable" in our world. It feeds the media whom then warps these thoughts into biased, fear based reports. This is unacceptable.

Society tells our children it's not okay to be curvy.

Society tells our children it's not okay to be Gay.

Society tells our children how they should look, speak, and act.

Society doesn't accept those that are different. Instead it shuns.

Society has a lot of nerve.

As a parent, this makes me sick. Because of society projecting all these things on to my child, I must undo the harm it has caused.

My child is autistic. He is vulnerable. Society has warped him into thinking he is bad, he is wrong, and he is different.

WHY??? Because he doesn't fit the standard?

Because he chooses to be himself and embrace it?

I have spent 8 years molding this boy into the child he is. To be proud of who he is, and what he is, and to not care what others think of him.

Then, in a 5 minute fluff piece on the news, society took that from him.

Because of their wild and inaccurate assumptions of mass killings, society told my child that because he is autistic, that makes him a murderer.

You see, autistic people have intense perseverations. They take something in life, and then they hyper focus on it. It's what they do.

So when my son heard the news anchor say that this killer was autistic, he internalized that into thinking that because he is autistic, that makes him a killer.

And then he perseverated... and perseverated..... and perseverated.

I can't explain to you the intensity of this situation. If you are in fact autistic, or care for someone who is, you know what I am saying.

If you're not, then the best way for me to explain it is, my son cried and rocked and screamed for DAYS. He didn't eat. He barely drank. No one really slept. All because society planted an idea into his mind.

Society has my son thinking that because he is autistic, people are afraid of him. That because he is neurologically different, he is hard wired to kill. HE IS EIGHT!!!

 It has him thinking that because he likes the color purple, and Frozen, that he is homosexual. He didn't even know what the word meant!!!! I had to explain it to him. Yet, he thought he was because society tells us that toys are gender specific.

I can say  that society needs to cut the crap. It needs to stop assuming it knows how people should be. It needs to realize that every word it utters, falls upon innocent ears. It needs to stop trying to fit our children into it's preformed molds.

I for one won't be watching the news any more. It's sad when something that is supposed to inform us, instead scares or belittles us or the ones we love. All in the name of "getting a story."

I will also continue to let my son be himself.  Encouraging him to soar. I will continue to not deem any toy gender specific. I will let him be a child.

This world makes us grow up too fast, and I for one refuse to let him lose his childhood.  All because of society and it's ignorant ideals.

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Rock and a hard place....

  Trigger warning: whiny mother who feels defeated, deflated, and discouraged.


Do you ever feel like no matter what you do, it's going to back fire in your face? Like you're caught between a rock and a hard place??? 





  As a special needs parent it's our job to prepare our kiddos for the world (to prepare the world for our kiddos) and to combat any issues that may arise in this process. Many of our autie kiddos are VERY dependent on a schedule, on their routine, and anything less really creates an issue for them. Which inadvertently creates one for us.

  So we all know that when schedules/routines need to be changed, it's our job to prep our kids. (yes, sometimes we can't, that is life, and we have become accustomed to dealing with that fall out.) But the times we do know in advance, we prepare.

  Lately, preparing Liam for any routine changes seems to cause MORE issues for him. Thus creating more for me. For some reason, when I tell him what is changing, he spends almost every waking moment ruminating on these changes. For instance, tomorrow I have an appointment in the am. When we get home his MT will come for 2 hours. Then the neighbor kids are getting off the bus here. After that an OT will be here to evaluate him for services from his cyber school.

  While this may not seem like much to us, to him this is huge. I told him this morning what was going to take place tomorrow. I knew a busy day, that is out of our "norm," warranted some preparations. Instead, all it has done is given me a head ache and him more things to worry about.

  His mind is thinking of every damn thing that could go wrong. Even things that won't go wrong. It's creating scenarios about tomorrow that will never happen, but in his mind, they will. I feel awful saying it's annoying me. I know how bad that sounds. I also know how badly it's affecting him. But I did what I have always done, which is prepare him for the changes in the day ahead. I am thinking that I made the wrong decision....

  So I am left with, next time, do I tell him and watch him ruminate all day? Or do I NOT tell him, and then deal with the fall out? See what I mean? Rock and a hard place.... Is there even a right answer???



I am by no means a perfect mom. I know this. I just want to do what's best for my son. Sometimes I'm not just sure what that is.....  

Autism and a High Five to the Face!

 Let me start by saying that those of you who know me, or follow my facebook page A Legion for Liam know that for the most part, I am totally Pro Autism. I choose to see the positive side of our life, because I don't have time or energy to let it get me down. Also, Liam is mildly autistic, so it is with greater ease that I can see the positive side. HOWEVER, Autism certainly has a way of sneaking up on us and high fiving us in the faces.
 I have taken a mini break from my blog for the summer. Today I am back, with an autism vengeance! The summer has been going great so far. Less meltdowns, more socialization, LJ is trying new things, its been great, with only a few minor bumps in the road. Until recently. I have seen my son regress when it comes to ruminating. For those that may not know, (I didn't when I was first told the term, I had to look it up, lol) Ruminating is a constant reflection on something. To think it, and think it, and think it, and THINK IT!!! My lil guy is a ruminating king! Lately though, his ruminations are getting the best of him. Though I am usually always open about our life, I am choosing to keep the exact details of these ruminations to myself. Too many people are quick to judge and I don't want my handsome man judged for something he has no control over. I do believe I know the root of the ruminations, and hubs has called the therapy office to up LJ's mobile therapy hours. Hoping this can be fit into her busy schedule as they have this woman all over Timbuktu, I am surprised her head isn't spinning by the end of the day!
 I just wish I knew why Autism thrives on sneaking up on us all and ruining a good run?!?!? Why must my 6 year old be plagued with thoughts that are too much for an adult to handle, let alone a little man? Why him? Why us? I know I will never know, and letting it get me down is like letting it win. So KMA Autism! You will NOT get the best of my son or my family! We are Autism warriors, and be prepared for a fight!!!!!

Taking a stand against Autism and Ruminations!!

FOR THOSE LOOKING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RUMINATION, HERE IS A LINK TO MY NOTE WITH INFO.

CLICK HERE

Holy Heat Wave Batman!

 Wow! I know I complained all winter I couldn't wait for summer, but wow!!!!! It has been killer hot here. Unless we are swimming somewhere, we don't go outside until at least 6 pm. Liam and I both have asthma, and its so hard to breathe in this humid heat. I can't complain though, I will take this over a foot of snow any day!!!!

Just realized "outside" is missing the "e" lol

 Our week has been pretty good. The Fourth was fun. Liam did pretty well. He only took one sensory break in the car, and was able to return to sit on my lap for the fireworks. He spent more time hanging with adults, than playing with the kiddos, typical for Liam though. He is my old sole.

Liam taking his "break" in the car :)

"happy 4th of July, now leave me alone!"

 The school meeting was postponed. Liam has been ruminating alot regarding school. So much so that hubs called his Mobile Therapist yesterday and had her come out. She tried like hell to get him to open up. All he would say is, "I don't want to go to school! Too many people! Too loud, too stinky, I am done talking, thats it!" WELL!!!! She thinks we need to consider cyber charter school, as he may not be emotionally ready. I kinda figured that, but hubs really wants him mainstreamed. I understand, but I am not one to push.  So I guess I will start doing some research on cyber schools.
 Next week is our trip to CAR in Philly. Got a massive amount of paperwork in the mail yesterday. I have to fill out the VABS and BRIEF questionnaires before we go. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so sick of paperwork, lol. Its for a good cause though. Not only will we be helping research into autism, genetics and social skills, but we will get all the info from the visit for our records. Complete with more recommendations for how to further help Liam. Win win to me!
 I also got an AUSOME email. Lisanne from Rockin' & Ridin' for Autism contacted me about purchasing some Autism paracord bracelets for their non profit group. I was stoked!!! She ordered 10! I have gotten a lot of requests for them as well. Hubs and I are looking into making a bunch, so we can sell them either on our facebook page, or maybe even start and Etsy account. This is great because after we pay for the supplies, the over head can be used to buy Liam therapy items. Another win win for us!
 Thats it, our week in a nutshell. Nothing impressive :) So without further ado, here are my Ryan's.

Can this be a spectator sport????

GAH!!! I belong BEHIND the camera Ryan, NOT in FRONT of it :D

Happy Friday everyone! Make it a great day and great weekend! Stay cool!!!!

<3<3<3<3