I’ve been back and forth about writing about my kids exceptional needs on my site for months now.
Ever since the CDC announced a few weeks ago that 1 in 88 children would be diagnosed with Autism, there have been a SLEW of news stories and articles in the media with speculative theories on the causes of Autism.
Today I read two blog posts for national sites that just really irked me.
I’m not even going to give them the courtesy of a link, because I don’t want to continue to spread fear monger information.
Yes, I said fear mongering.
Because as a mother of a child who has Autism, I don’t need to be told what I should have done to prevent it. Nor do I need to hear about this from well meaning people (who don’t always have children, let alone children with exceptional needs) tell me what I should have done differently.
You know what kills me? The blog post that implies that eating organically, removing my shoes in my house and avoiding BPA will help prevent Autism. Guess what? I’ve been doing that for years. Apparently it wasn’t enough.
Or the blog post about HFCS being linked to Autism. Okay, I can agree that too much sugar is bad for anyone, but let’s think about this for a minute. Autism typically shows up around 18-24 months right? So does that mean that all of these mothers of children with Autism are putting cola in their children’s sippy cups? Let’s be realistic here.
Stop eluding that parents are somehow to blame for their children’s Autism, whether it’s due to vaccinations, not taking their shoes off in their house, or drinking a soda while pregnant.
Oh wait, then there was the news story about obesity during pregnancy causing Autism. Great. Because all that leads to is mother’s starving themselves and therefore preventing their child from getting the nutrients they need.
Now before everyone goes all crazy on me, yes, I do think toxins and chemicals are bad. I am not in anyway shape or form disputing that. But I can tell you these “well meaning” posts I see do more harm then good. Do you know how insulting is as a mother being told that the reason her son has Autism is probably because she didn’t do XYZ and oh here is a random article found on the Internet to back it up.
And as far as vaccines are concerned… not that it’s your business but yes, we vaccinate on an alternative schedule. I guess in some eyes that makes me a bad parent. My thoughts? Pertussis could kill my child, but show me how Autism could…
Enough with the scare tactics. How about a little support for these parents. Start helping them find ways to cope and support their children.
The truth is, they really don’t know what causes Autism.
The media promotes this idea that everything in life is now controllable – if we just do the right things the right way, we can have total control over everything in our lives. I think that idea is so appealing to some people that they are willing to believe things that are obviously false to allow themselves that illusion of control. So, in a way, I actually feel sorry for the people writing and believing those articles more than I am angry at them – they have such a dearth of meaning in their lives that this is all they can cling to. Good for you for rising above it!
hypothetical guesses and not facts. and people should take it as it is, theories NOT facts. I am glad you brought up this subject. I know people who are under stress because they’re always blamed on their children having autism. It’s sad but true that there are so many narrow-minded people that could not see beyond their nose.
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Oh, dear. Another thing to blame mothers for. It is NOT your fault. Even if you did not do everything perfectly don’t beat yourself up about it.
you tell them!!! i completely agree with you there really isnt a known fact of what causes autism and the’re just trying to pin it on anything under the sun
Amen to this.
I am the mother of a child with special needs (brain cancer). I was given a plethora of unwanted opinions, advice and other insulting things.
Nothing is black and white…..and I hate when it’s said as if it is.
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Well Said, I am a mother just like you and I hate to read the post that say “if you had done this” your child may not have autism. I believe there is a combinations of things that cause it and we may not ever know WHAT causes it. What we need to do now is give these children (and parents) the support they need.