How has becoming an #Autism parent changed you?

@Alicia Cross @Lost and Tired  @Tammymcgann @Donna Holland @LaTonya Banks @Shelly Morrison @AspieMum thanks for sharing everyone.  Your honesty and feedback is amazing.  @Tammymcgann this is absolutely a safe place to say that.  I think many of us could say the same thing.  

I keep to myself more. I'm more serious. I appreciate the small things more.

I'm more focused on keeping myself healthy then ever...no drinking, hit the weights regularly, see doctors regularly ...all because I need to try and be here for my son...I'd love to get a motorcycle but no way in heck will I...Nothing risky .....Its a lot of pressure when you think about it.....There's nobody to take care of him if something happens.....

I have more tolerance

That my evil dreams of baking cookies that taste and sell better than those of the other PTA moms ('cause honestly, I can make a mean cookie!) have now been replaced by IEP meetings?  And by "goals" that you reached when you were 3 years-old?  (Can you tell I'm having a rough day?)  Despite the fact that I FIGHT DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR MY SON, it doesn't change what my original dreams had been.  Sigh. .  .

Um, haven't read any of the other comments, but is this a safe place to say that all of my former hopes and dreams are lost?

Honestly I dont think it has, I believe I has meant to raise my boys and love them because I dont think many others could do it.

@LaTonya Banks @Alicia Cross @Donna Holland @AspieMum @Shelly Morrison Thank you everyone for such great and honest feedback. It's nice to see how similar we all are. 🙂

If it wasn't for my kids having special needs (for 2 out of the 3 this turned out to be Autistic Spectrum Disorders) I would never have heard of Aspergers Syndrome, never know I have it & still be struggling with not being able to hold down a job, make/keep friends, etc with no idea why. I would also not have been able to develop a relationship with my parents because they would still be trying to force me to be normal, even at 44, every time I have any contact with them. Not knowing about Aspergers & that I have it combined with a school psychologist in the 70s basically diagnosing me as normal I had it resulted in me believing my parents hated me & feeling bullied by them due to them trying to force me to be normal (which they never defined but I got in trouble every time I wasn't whatever their idea of normal is). I now have a reasonably OK relationship with my parents that would never have been possible as I would never have met the Sure Start special needs folk who spotted my Aspergers & the ASDs in my twins. My ex used my Aspergers as an excuse when he abused us but he would have used a different excuse & I would not have had the crucial support from my parents to protect us from Social Services & CAFCASS & the courts from being determined to ensure my ex could continue to freely abuse all 4 of us with their encouragement in effect (they were insisting he haveunsupervised time with the kids, free access to our house, etc & social services even said I had to control his behaviour so he wasn't even being held accountable for his actions). So while being a carer has made making friends well nigh on impossible instead of simply extremely difficult & I struggle with loneliness I have gained far more than I have lost compared with had my kids not had special needs.  

I have more patience

Wow my son is 30' always said I would write a book. Nows not the time, not enough space : /0

I hate yelling and all the stress but I have learned to enjoy the smaller things in life and slow down from my youngest. I have also learned that I have more strength than I ever told from my oldest.

I can't stand myself since becoming an autism parent.