Its hard to pretend!

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I spent a life time of pretending just to try and fit in, I never quite did and was never happy.

But since being diagnosed, understanding and aacepting myself for who I am, I now realize that in fact my symptoms are a part of who I am and my only real problem seems to be society trying to stereo type me to make me fit into there neat little world.

But its like trying to put a circle into a square I will never quite fit, and as can be too exhausting trying have decided to just be me, may have less friends, but much happier.

What I tell people is we all really need to stop trying to get our children to conform and let
them be who they are, stop trying to change them and educate society that there is in fact a whole group of people who are just different..

Quote: "People on the autism spectrum think one way and people off the autism spectrum think another way and our wires continually get crossed - its that simply really". Alyson Bradley

A big risk to putting all your energy in pretending is that you have no energy for anything else. It's self-defeating and, when people see any sign at all that we're pretending, they get really, really offended because we are lying to them.

I had a phrase when I was little: They always tell me I should be myself and then tell me to be everything else but.

You guys can relate to that, I'm sure.

Thanks so far peoples
I think what he means by pretending is;
He talks alot; but he can't at school no one is interested and the other kids have told him to shut up
His games are different, very much role playing pc games video games etc... the other kids aren't interested and think he's weird
He can remember obscure facts, but has problems remembering daily stuff.
He paces, but can't do this at school
He is bothered sometimes by noises,lights,smells so he pulls funny faces, kids and teachers in the past have commented.
He likes to get very close and is a little touchy feely, but doesn't like to be touched without warning.
He is extremely complacent.
He is a stickler for the rules and stresses when rules are broken
He fidgets and squirms and feels like his skin is crawling.
He gets ideas in his head and will obsess over them, talk and talk and talk.
He has some gross and fine motor issues-so is not very athletic and is clumsy
The list goes on... I think most of you can probably relate to at least some of this.
So far he has done a great job at acting...but its taking it's toll on his anxiety levels at home and his sensory issues are getting worse his school are having issues even seeing that he has any problems. The meeting on Thursday is with his teacher, the vice principle, myself and 3 of his doctors.
I just wanted to be very clear on what all this "pretending" is doing to my little boy. Thanks again guys/girls

It definitely sounds like AS. As adults, it's hard to diagnose ourselves outside of looking at our childhood, IMHO, because we've adapted to survive. The way a kid acts is pure, however. He's a lucky kid to have services that will help him. We didn't have that back in the early 80's when I was a kid (and we don't have it now as adults, really, except for sites like this), so a lot of us have to self-diagnose based on what we did as a child.

You'll be proud of him to an extent few parents will ever be lucky enough to feel. It'll be a rough road, but your kid is truly special and lucky. Many will resent him for it, but it is better to be resented for that than to be liked for being average.