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macushla
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02 Dec 2008, 3:58 pm

NocturnalQuilter wrote:
Since it seems your mother isn't out-right desparaging in her treatment I would simply chalk it up to growing pains- for you both.
I don't know of a parent who doesn't regularly harp on their child(ren) to be more like the Jones' kid, Johnny Perfct. I guess it's part of being a parent: Simply wanting your kids to fit in, be sucessfull and not have the hardships they might've had growing up.


I agree with NocturnalQuilter on this. The only mistake your mother has made (that I can see) is using the word "normal" for how she wants you to act.
If she didn't bring things to your attention in a multitude of situations, how else could you create what passes as good social habits in a multitude of situations?

I've heard Temple Grandin say on video that parents these days aren't teaching their children manners.

She went on to say when she was a child she was only allowed one hour (starting at 1 PM after lunch) to stim.

My parents never let me get away with half the rudeness that parents these days seem to allow even their NT children to flagrantly inflict on the world.
Those lessons came in very handy when I grew up and was on my own.



DW_a_mom
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02 Dec 2008, 4:47 pm

While I realize, and do not want to belittle, that this is a serious issue for you, I had to laugh when I saw your thread title because it immediately echoed in my mind, all the times I've told my AS son to "act normal" or "normalize." Fortunately, he seems to understand that I am saying it for THAT MOMENT, and not for always.

For the most part, I do want home to be his safe place where he can be himself, and the entire family has given up quite a lot in that regard (we live with damaged furniture because he likes to pace into it; we keep the TV off even though my daughter loves TV because it distracts him, and so on). Still, there are times where I simply cannot handle it, or when my husband cannot handle it. We are not devoid of sensory issues and frustrations ourselves and there are times when we ask him to accept that our needs trump his. For the moment.

Everything in a family situation is about balance.


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DeLoreanDude
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02 Dec 2008, 5:15 pm

DW_a_mom wrote:
While I realize, and do not want to belittle, that this is a serious issue for you, I had to laugh when I saw your thread title because it immediately echoed in my mind, all the times I've told my AS son to "act normal" or "normalize." Fortunately, he seems to understand that I am saying it for THAT MOMENT, and not for always.

For the most part, I do want home to be his safe place where he can be himself, and the entire family has given up quite a lot in that regard (we live with damaged furniture because he likes to pace into it; we keep the TV off even though my daughter loves TV because it distracts him, and so on). Still, there are times where I simply cannot handle it, or when my husband cannot handle it. We are not devoid of sensory issues and frustrations ourselves and there are times when we ask him to accept that our needs trump his. For the moment.

Everything in a family situation is about balance.


I understand what your saying but I'm not doing anything that's really disturbing anyone elses activities.

As for NocternalQulter's comment, again I get where your coming from however there is a difference between following social codes in public and not being able to be yourself in your home.



Callista
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02 Dec 2008, 6:20 pm

Hey DW--have you tried watching TV with the captions? If it's not the high-pitched "TV sound" that's bugging him, but the sound coming from the speakers, there could be a compromise. (Flat panel TVs don't have that high pitched sound, IIRC.)


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DW_a_mom
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02 Dec 2008, 6:55 pm

Callista wrote:
Hey DW--have you tried watching TV with the captions? If it's not the high-pitched "TV sound" that's bugging him, but the sound coming from the speakers, there could be a compromise. (Flat panel TVs don't have that high pitched sound, IIRC.)


It's everything about it, down to even mentioning the word "movie," that bothers him.

What we've done is told our daughter that she is limited to DVD's on the tiny portable during the week when our son is home. She gets to watch TV before school for half an hour since he starts earlier than she does and is already out of the house. On Saturdays, she likes to hunker down for an all day marathon.

While TV seems to calm her down (a bit like it's her obsession), I don't think it's a bad thing to keep it turned off 99% of the time.


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DW_a_mom
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02 Dec 2008, 7:00 pm

DeLoreanDude wrote:

I understand what your saying but I'm not doing anything that's really disturbing anyone elses activities.

As for NocternalQulter's comment, again I get where your coming from however there is a difference between following social codes in public and not being able to be yourself in your home.


I rather guessed the above but put my situation out there anyway, just in case. You may not always be aware of what is hard for others to take, either. Just because something doesn't stop an activity does not mean it can't be annoying.

I also think some parents worry that if you can't control certain behaviors all the time, that you can't control them when you need to most. I've read on this forum enough to disagree with that, but I have a difficult time convincing my own husband at times, so I know that it is a concern of many parents.

I also forgot to explain what I think of as "normal." Talking in an unaffected voice, moving without stims, not pacing or throwing oneself, etc.


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lionesss
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02 Dec 2008, 10:33 pm

I remember those days.. though I do find myself teaching my son what is appropriate and what isn't. Now THAT is irony.


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BokeKaeru
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02 Dec 2008, 11:27 pm

Though I definitely agree with learning the basic social behaviors in order to get what one wants, function as one needs to and generally be pleasant enough to be around (god knows I wouldn't be where I am now if I hadn't learned those things!), I think a lot of parents and other authority figures go about it the wrong way - to the detriment of their charges.

I'd very much like to see people being encouraged to be the best self that they can be - improving in X, Y and Z areas without having to sacrifice A, B and C positive qualities or harmless enjoyments. However, too often I see it presented, by adults of all kind, that the end of normalcy justifies the means - even if that means sacrificing special abilities, admirable traits or psychological wellbeing of the child in question. They don't want a reasonably more outgoing and polite child who still is creative, analytical, brave, honest or any other quality that they might have had before. They want another child entirely, one who exists only in their minds, one who cannot have aspects of their personality that could ever be offensive or difficult to handle.

Some people might not find the two ways of dealing with an autistic or otherwise different child all that distinct - at least not without it being laid out like this. But it is FELT by the person who others want to change. It would be best to work with people on the assumption that they are NOT "normal" and will never fit that narrow definition of "normalcy," and help them so they can better perform in the world, but still be secure in themselves. A person, on the other hand, who can go through the motions of being socially acceptable perfectly, but has a continued sense that they're a defective person underneath the "mask," is a sad case indeed.



Fautzo
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02 Dec 2008, 11:57 pm

Tell her to go to hell.

Seriously, you can't just change someone for things that aren't their fault, home is the only place I can do my aspie things without anyone making a big deal out of it!


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03 Dec 2008, 9:47 am

BokeKaeru wrote:
A person, on the other hand, who can go through the motions of being socially acceptable perfectly, but has a continued sense that they're a defective person underneath the "mask," is a sad case indeed.


I think I know how that feels.

That's why I always try and encourage people to be who they are, not what others want them to be.



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03 Dec 2008, 10:39 am

Fautzo wrote:
Tell her to go to hell.

Seriously, you can't just change someone for things that aren't their fault, home is the only place I can do my aspie things without anyone making a big deal out of it!


I agree, and I will say this to her if she tells me that again.

I really need to be myself at home.



Samara
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03 Dec 2008, 10:46 am

My mum was saying about something how i take after her and i didnt let her talk. I said "I dont I dont" I take after my dad i take after my dad and my dad is dead" and then she just left
i think she gets annoyed with me sometimes. She always knows when i am not myslef except when i am like that i feel like i hate her and tell her go away.
She goes 'your well now" and i go "i wasnt unwell in the first place i was just stressed."
She shouldnt have bashed me when i was a kid and her bf shouldnt punched me over the head when i was little. No wonder i have problems.



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03 Dec 2008, 2:08 pm

DeLoreanDude wrote:
Fautzo wrote:
Tell her to go to hell.

Seriously, you can't just change someone for things that aren't their fault, home is the only place I can do my aspie things without anyone making a big deal out of it!


I agree, and I will say this to her if she tells me that again.

I really need to be myself at home.


I think something along the lines of a polite explanation is better than "go to hell." Um, parents don't appreciate statements like that. But I think parents DO want to understand and DO want their kid's needs to be met.


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LolaGranola
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03 Dec 2008, 9:56 pm

I more so get "act your age."
I either act too young, a bit childish and silly, or too old, serious and uptight.
Not much in-between.


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KevinLA
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03 Dec 2008, 10:12 pm

AmberEyes wrote:
"Normal" compared to what?


Normal...

Friendly, showing emotion, talking, acting like an adult, respectful.

Compared to:

Self centered, stoic, not talking, acting like a child, annoying.

All traits that make people feel uncomfortable.



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03 Dec 2008, 10:15 pm

Fautzo wrote:
Tell her to go to hell.


LOL. Seems to me that's the kind of thing a "normal" teenager does.

Then you can disrespectfully flick your cigarette butt at her feet as you head out the door to skip school yet another day.

You know, for every Asperger Mom who wants her kid to be "normal" there are 100 "normal" Moms who would trade their teenager for you in a heartbeat. Maybe you can send her to Mom bootcamp or something, and open her eyes to the alternative.