Autism Month – second guest blog

Trigger Warning: this piece contains mentions of masking, mental health and misdiagnosis.

Autism and parenting are too often synonymous with dominating messages of neurotypical parents struggling to parent their autistic children. Too many messages like this can perpetuate negativity and fear that is unhelpful at best, but there are many quieter stories that look very different and need to be heard and seen more, to be less ‘othered’ as these families need validation, connection and to be included in the conversation.

Autistic families are no less diverse than any other family. Less heard family stories are ones where a child’s wonderfully unique autistic self and consequent clinical diagnosis can often lead to a self-reflective journey for parents who come to realise over time their own autism. This self-realisation and actualisation can be a highly complex and deeply personal unfurling and reframing of one’s life within an entirely new light.

There is often a grieving for what was thought to be and then a profound validation and often a journey of self-love and forgiveness (for transgressions that never were); understandable anger and for many intentional ‘unmasking’ of the autistic traits they have without realising worked so hard to limit (generally on account of alienating and disappointing experiences).

This journey is so important as to know who one really is; to embrace it and by proxy be able to role model to your autistic child how to engage with your authentic self with a companion and parent by your side who will champion and advocate for you with a deep appreciation of how important it is to do so. A profound and deeply fulfilling albeit difficult at times life experience is often found.

#ActuallyAutistic #ActionForChildren #ThePdaSociety #Autism #AutismAcceptance #AutismSelfAdvocacyNetwork #AutisticJoy #AutisticAndProud #AutismJourney #AutisticParents

© Copyright Yasmin Darling 2023