What is the most important thing for an autistic mom to do?
I know you’ve told me. But can you remind me? Is it the most important thing we can do for the kids is be emotionally available and make them feel loved?
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penelope@penelopetrunk.com
Be emotionally and physically available. You can’t force them feel anything. But you can be emotionally and physically available and trust that this will make a good childhood. I have to remind myself of this every day. Something I’m thinking about is the difference between us thinking we are emotionally and physically available and the kids thinking that. It’s what the kids perceive, not what we perceive. This connundrum reminds me of when I was homeschooling my kids and they told me, “You’re never here for us.”
I was like, WTF, I’m here every second, right in front of you. But what they really meant was they didn’t feel like they could approach me because I was there but I was working. I could tell them to just interrupt me, but what I was finding out from them is that’s not enough.
Also, this is the most important thing for ALL mothers. Not just autistic mothers. It’s just that autistic moms need to be told.
Thanks for asking such a good question. It really made me think about what I know and what I struggle with myself.
Penelope