March 16, 2017

What Autism Stole From Me As a Mother

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I will openly admit that the hardest part of the Autism mom journey for me was missing out on milestones, typical parts of childhood development and overall special moments with my son. I dreamt of first words and teaching him to ride a bike and our first camping trip. I didn’t get most of them and if I did they were usually really upsetting for all of us. And at my lowest, saddest times, typically after an event like the first day of kindergarten or his birthday, I even felt robbed. I felt like Autism stole so many special moments from me. I am human. I am a mother who loves her son and wants nothing but joy for him. And for years we didn’t get that. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t feel sad or slighted. This journey is a hard one. And those Baby Center emails didn’t adequately prepare us for this.

 

What Autism Stole From Me

I will openly admit that the hardest part of the Autism mom journey for me was missing out on milestones, typical parts of childhood development and overall special moments with my son. I dreamt of first words and teaching him to ride a bike and our first camping trip. I didn’t get most of them and if I did they were usually really upsetting for all of us. And at my lowest, saddest times, typically after an event like the first day of kindergarten or his birthday, I even felt robbed. I felt like Autism stole so many special moments from me. I am human. I am a mother who loves her son and wants nothing but joy for him. And for years we didn’t get that. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t feel sad or slighted. This journey is a hard one. And those Baby Center emails didn’t adequately prepare us for this. #autism

Posted by Finding Cooper’s

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Kate Swenson

Kate Swenson lives in Minnesota with her husband Jamie, and four children, Cooper, Sawyer, Harbor and Wynnie. Kate launched Finding Cooper's Voice from her couch while her now 11-year-old son Cooper was being diagnosed with autism. Back then it was a place to write. Today it is a living, thriving community of people who want to not only advocate for autism, but also make the world a better place for individuals with disabilities and their families. Her first book, Forever Boy, will be released, April 5, 2022.

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3 Comments

  1. Shelby on March 25, 2017 at 9:57 am

    Those f-ing Baby Center emails… ?



  2. Shelby on March 25, 2017 at 10:09 am

    Such. A. Relatable. Post!!



  3. Jamie on August 1, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    Yes. All of this.

    Especially for me, having an older child first, I knew that it wasn’t normal for month after month to pass and the milestones just whizzing on past us. It is excruciating watching friends with kids younger then yours do things yours still isn’t doing and may not ever do. It’s is the cruelest curse for both mother and child.