Welcome to Holland... story of hope

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I hope no one is offended at this post. I tracked down this handout from one of my classes in college on special needs kids. I know I gave my mom and dad a dreadful time growing up, and it has lots to do with what we now know to be Asperger's.... She read this some time ago and liked it very much. She said there's alot of truth to it. Anyhow, This story is read at the begining of every Of Hopes and Dreams Family Connection conference, or so the paper says. I hope you enjoy it....

When my mother and father had me they never truly thought that they would have a son like me in the end. I looked normal seamed normal but in 2 1/2 years I would have seizures and be diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Then the adventure began with Me and my life. Life has its quirks that nobody can tell them. I myself have had to live with them they had to live with Me. My own parents where great in getting the help I needed that is what parenting is about in the end. I remember my mother doing many things to my legs and arms it is call physical therapy this has helped me be able to walk pretty good in my life. Though I can not do all that normal people can do in my life as many family members that they can. I would even in the end would even get diagnosed with AS much later in my life. This in the end has giving Me a understanding in My Life. Parent around the world try to do the best for their child or even children in the end and want the best for their child or children in the end. That is called living life and being apart of living life in the end for us all. For in the end I am glad that I have had the PARENTS I have had in My Life so much credit should go to them for what they have done for Me. For they have let Me be Me I let them be them. For that is what Life is about in the end isn't in the end for us all.

FOR THAT IS WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT IN THE END FOR US ALL.

For I have been in Holland for more Years of My life than even I can say.

i absolutely LOVE this article ! the first time i read it, i cried....the second time i read it, i cried.....
every time i read it , i cry. i truly feel that this article sums up so much of what parents with special needs kids feel.

I hesitate to post this, but here goes anyway.

On the home page of this site, half way down, there is an article from a book called " Born on the Wrong Planet," by Erika Hammerschmidt. Hammerschmidt has Asperger's, Tourette's, ADD, ADHD, and some traces of OCD. It has a lot of very helpful (from a support) standpoint material for parents.

I hesitate to post this, because I am indirectly connected with the book, (no, I am not Erika Hammerschmidt) but as I've been reading posts here, these last few weeks, I want to tell you that many of the pieces in that book are what has kept me from absolutely killing my Aspi kid. (well, not really, but it has calmed me down when nothing else did).

The one that's up there now is called "Having a Reason," which is particularly helpful to parents who have kids who might act out in school. In December, there will be another one, and a couple of more after that.

It goes along with Ladysmokeater's post.

If Enjoy is the right word, enjoy.

I heard this in class but were not Holland were more like Japan not worse/slower then Italy just alot different and alot harder to know what to do in.

_________________
"we never get respect ... never a fair trial
[swearing removed by lau] ... as long as we smile"
Im tired of smiling.

Vote for me in 2020

That story on this thread I have read before but it seems problematic to me. If your child is clearly diagnosed with a clear Syndrome, and everyone can see it, it's fine, you're in Holland, but if your child doesn't get diagnosed for two years and then does even though you still feel the child is anything but a classic AS, you are not in Holland, but you're not in Italy either.

We need a new metaphor for the parents of borderline children! Hovering over the runway, perhaps?

I think you were always in Holland, you just didnt know it.

_________________
"we never get respect ... never a fair trial
[swearing removed by lau] ... as long as we smile"
Im tired of smiling.

Vote for me in 2020

There was a reproduction of this called "Holland Schmolland" that addressed life with an autistic child:

http://groups.msn.com/TheAutismHomePage/schmolland.msnw

We live in such a fast paced world that seems to move faster and more out of control every day. Everyone wants my son, J, to assimilate and behave as if he is some kind of precious princess girl when he is not! He's an aspie and a boy with so many wonderful skills and talents most of the boys his age wouldn't even dream of being able to think about or do half of what J can.

I remember my father had a difficult time fitting in with the "Joneses" in his adult life. He was a hippie throw back with a lot of bizarre ideas. He was always trying to invent something, anything to try to make his mark on this earth. Even though he was out of this world, he was one of the most dearest people to touch my life. Miss you Dad!

Thanks for the smile, J's Mom. Our kiddos are the ones that will be greatly missed.