[Julie]

Hello, my name is Julie and my youngest son Jamie has Asperger's Syndrome.  I met Paula yesterday at a CHAOS outing and it was great talking to her!  This site is absolutely great and it is so interesting to read everyones experiences. 
Jamie had a diagnosis at aged 5 which I am told is quite young, but it has made life a bit easier.  As Paula has said in a different thread, you don't want to put labels on your children but at least you know what you are dealing with and can set about helping them in the best way.  Jamie goes to mainsteam school, and the first 2 years were hard for him.  However, this year Jamie has had a fantastic year at school, mainly due to the wonderful support of the staff there.  This time last year he could hardly read, but earlier this year he was assessed for his SATS and came out as above average for his age!  In fact all his SATS results showed that he is average for a 7 year old, which astounded us - and made us very proud of him.  SATS aren't everything, but this is just a way of showing the progess he has made this year.
I read about Paula's experiences at the Park, and I know exactly what she means.  I really do worry about being in public sometimes, especially if we have an unpleasant memory of a particular place.  Recently we had a very cross parent approach us, advising us that Jamie was swearing at the other children he was playing with in a park.  We mistakingly thought that he was playing 'nicely' with some children on some play equipment.  Little did we know what he was really doing!  I thought to myself - what do I do?  Explain to this stranger that he is on the Autism Spectrum and doesn't really understand what he is saying or just accept that we will never see this woman again and it doesn't really matter?  We chose the latter.  It did upset me though, as this woman was obviously judging us as parents, plus she probably thought that we used bad language in front of him (which we don't). 
Anyway, I hope that the wedding went well today Paula.  Hope to meet you again at a CHAOS outing.
Julie

[paula]

Hi Julie!

Lovely to hear from you so soon! Really pleased that you liked the site anf thank you for all your useful contributions! It certainly sounds as though Jamie has come on leaps and bounds and you are quite right to be so proud of him.

Interesting what you say regarding explaining your child's condition to complete strangers as we had a similar experience yesterday at a friends wedding. Our daughter was being her usual noisy self which normally goes relatively (ish!) unnoticed. During the service however, when we were expected to keep her still and quiet for an hour (!!) she was a bit more obvious, to the chagrin of the lady in front of us who turned around mid service uttering a very loud and pointed sigh! Part of me was glad that we were in a church as I was really tempted to tell her what was what. The other half of me though was really angry, for why should I explain my child to other people? Why should I have to apologise for my children when they have done nothing wrong apart from not conforming to societal norms?

I know that we have to function in a mainstream society and get on with it but it is situations like this that make me so grateful for organisations such as Coping with Chaos and the fantastic Mums and Dads that go there.

Love to you and your family

Paula
 

[welshie]

i d like to say welcome julie,
We've had many experiences where Daniel has said or done something out of the ordinary and whats excepted of a 'normal'child.
Great to here how well your son has done in mainstream its such a good feeling when they acheive more than we imagine
All the best
Rachel x

[pixie]

Hi Julie,

Welcome to the forum.

I also have Autistic children. Three to be exact. Mine are all older now but still a handful.

I hope you enjoy the forum.

[Speeds]

Hi and welcome

I am glad too that I found this site.  Although my son has Prader Willi Syndrome he exhibits many traits seen in children with other conditions.  It is nice to know that you are not alone.