Parenthood anyone?

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I've been following this show on NBC sometimes. I watched it the first time when the parents got the diagnosis of AS for their youngest son, who was having lots of very typical AS and sensory issues at home and school. But it doesn't come on at a convenient time so I've missed since then. But this week we're on spring break. I've been staying up to catch up on missed episodes. Watching the episode where they get him into a special program (private, which I know I can't afford, I looked into a private school for ADHD kids this past year....you can't qualify for any financial aid the first year, and they don't accept children who also have AS). I guess since my daughter was diagnosed in December with AS and the year before that with ADHD, I was really in a place to just feel glad AS is being represented on a show...with a kid having the kind of problems my daughter has (obsessive interest in verbalizing video games, arguing with adults who told her they'd do something at a certain time, arguing over what TV show to watch, etc). And to see parents who just try to handle things as they can. Listening to the daughter talk about how their life revolves around him...how she didn't understand why the sudden diagnosis was 'big news' when he's always been this way. Kind of made me think of how I felt about diagnosis. On one hand, yes...it makes things simpler to explain and easier to read about and know how to cope with....but on the other hand, my daughter has always been this way and everything that needs to be delt with by me (argued for instance) must be dealt with in full battle mode. It's hard. It's also sometimes worthwhile and wonderful....at times to, which is another part of things the show gets into.

Don't know if you're interested....but it's just a good show.

B

You can also watch it on Hulu.com (they post the episodes day after the airing). I've been watching it too (though im not a parent) and im glad theyre showing the positive and developmental aspects of AS. With respect to the show as a whole, Id say its doing a good job of displaying today's families and their issues/worries/triumphs and doing so in a positive manner.

I DVR it and wanted to watch it before I even knew there would be any AS storyline. I like the show as a whole. The only thing that bothers me about the AS storyline is how they always manage to wrap up their issue so very easily in each episode.

The kid gets kicked out of regular school. They want to put him in this great private school, but the principals says they don't have any room until the first of the next school year. They beg prettily and tell the principal to just meet their son who is so amazing, he will change her mind, which of course is what happens.

Last night, they start a behaviour aid working with him and suddenly, in the first visit, he is agreeing to play games with her and not only play with his lizard. The 2nd visit, he is suddenly willing to easily play with friends at a park for hours just because she bribed him with a new lizard. Wow, if only it were that easy.

I'm not a parent but I really enjoy this show.

A friend without an AS child has talked to me about this show; she really likes it, and thought I might be interested in the AS storyline. With AS being the condition of the moment, I have to admit, I was a bit worried to hear about the storyline, because to date the media betrayal hasn't been that great. I have not, unfortunately, been able to watch the show. I am glad to hear that you all think the story line is mostly being handled well. If it can educate, I would count that as a good thing.

My husband and I PVR the show and watch it every week. It's hollywood - and for hollywood, I think they're doing a pretty darn good job. Yes, everything is more simple than in real life, but that's why it's a primetime tv show and not a Cannes film festival entry. We find it makes for a good weekly catalyst for discussing issues we are going through in our real life.

I think just about any non-negative mass media representation of Autism/Aspergers is beneficial right now. I think if we get enough of these representations, at least when I say to someone "my son has Aspergers" there will be some level of awareness of what that means, which takes a lot of the immediate pressure off of my son and myself to demonstrate or explain it. It's not perfect, and no doubt will lead to certain stereotypes, but I think variety is the key to getting a deeper public image out there. Right now I'm aware of quite a variety:

Sheldon on Big Bang Theory
Arthur (kids PBS cartoon) has a new friend with Aspergers coming up in April
One of the characters on Community
And then Parenthood

The characters are not all copies of each other on these shows, so that at least is a step in the right direction.

... I was going to start one if no one else did.

Overall, I think the show is OK. But I'm still addicted to it because of the AS angle. I agree that everything related to Max seems to be wrapped up tight and tied with a bow by the end of each episdoe. I also watch it online because I just can't stay up late enough to see it on TV. Really, he was playing with another child just because he asked her to? For hours? Interactively? I do like how they show Max as argumentative (though he still seems too verbally appropriate -- my child flat-out ignores what I've said and brings it back to his issue) and also a little obsessive, most recently with the stickers. I also loved seeing his dad play pirates with him -- tha really reminded me of the floortime we've been doing with Aaron.

The last episode bothered me a little, and maybe they are setting us up for future work with Max. In the last episode, they showed how everything Max wants he gets. I guess the parents are afraid of a meltdown? The kid even came down the stairs and said "I want eggs" or something like that and the mom just went and got him what he wanted even though she clearly didn't want to. I wish my AS child could be that articulate. But even with his verbal challenges we teach him to be polite, ask nicely, and either wait or do for himself. I guess it bugs me because they are making him look like a spoiled brat, and people already think our kids are spoiled brats.

Also, it was nice to see the family embrace Max's diagnosis so easily and lovingly, but in my experience and in talking to others it rarely happens that way. My in-laws had SERIOUS denial issues. Maybe they still do. (I wouldn't know as I've stopped talking about it with them.) These are loving grandparents who are a medical professional and a social worker and they just couldn't deal with it. It would have been nice to see some of that in the show too as it seems this is very common.

Best,
J

Parenthood. Yes, they have finally portrayed a family on television in a matter-of-fact way which is believable and we're able to relate.

I've cried near the end of every episode, happy & sad tears. They've touched a memory of some kind through my journey into an Aspergerians World.

My regret is that we are not able to hire a "private" teacher. But we do as much as we can to encourage him or help him in any way.