What is good about having or being an aspie parent? : )

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What is good about having or being an aspie parent? : )

They teach you to be honest and never teach you to lie
They tell you you must express yourself to let others know how you feel and not expect others to read your mind


That might not be true for all aspies but that was the way I grew up in my household by my mother. I don't think she is AS.
Of course I learned some dishonesty like sneaking candy into movie theaters, lying about your age so you can play miniature golf because the age limit was six and up and my brother was only four at the time and five. Also lying about my age so they would pay less to get in Universal Studios when I was 12, they said I was 11 instead. Those are the gray areas I see about lying and it's okay to do. The other lying is bad.

I had an aspie parent (undiagnosed) who was kind of a nightmare. Actually, he was a nightmare because he married my mother (a true nightmare, not AS, probably NPD). He depended on my mother to tell him what was normal. She got him to abuse me. When I was alone with him, I felt much safer, but I was seldom alone with him. I finally broke contact with both of them because they kept being abusive and I very much wanted to live.

I am also an aspie (diagnosed), and a parent, and a very good one, at least according to my husband and daughter. The AS has been an asset in many ways. I've taught my daughter how to verbalize her feelings and thoughts, so she has an emotional and spiritual language that a lot of kids lack. I homeschooled her for many years, and my Aspie systematizing skills came in very handy there, in addition to my complete love of learning. It was a good experience for her. She started regular schooling when she became a teenager.

I've also taught her a code of ethics that is sorely lacking in many kids--about not following the crowd to do wrong, about being inclusive, and honest, and dependable, and keeping your word, and all the things that seem quickly to be going out of style in much of the US. I have a very strong sense of justice and fairness, and I've been able to pass that on to her.

I am not sure whether or not my father has AS. I tend to think so because he tends to have always displayed many traits. And he was always distant and didn't want to deal with responsibility. I never really bonded to him...

However as far as I go, I am strict with my kids, within reasons of course (being too strict will defeat the purpose). If they do something that is downright unacceptable, I correct it immediately and make them realize that their actions were unacceptable and WHY. My kids are both very well behaved for the most part and it is the truth. I am not saying that they are perfect by any means but my objective is to raise them as responsible, independent, compassionate people who will be able to fulfill their potential. There is no such thing as a perfect parent and I am far from it.. but I do my best and I think I have done a good job so far considering...

I get/got left to my own devices and have/had loads of freedom.