Family

Having someone in your family with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) makes you appreciate family, at least for those who family that are around for support. Whether it's for physical, mental or spiritual help. One of my favorite quotes is from the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.

“You can choose your friends but you sho' can't choose your family, an' they're still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge 'em or not, and it makes you look right silly when you don't.”

What does family mean to you?

Merriam-Webster.com defines family as:   1. a group of people who are related to each other;   2.a person's children;   3.a group of related people including people who lived in the past.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family

Love 'em or hate... Close or far away... no matter what - they're the ones that God put you together with. Whether through birth, marriage or adoption, they are your family and...  family is family.

Then there's the family you choose - the people who become close, or closer,  than family. The ones who are there for you no matter what. Those who will "bend over backwards" to help you in your time of need. The ones who are there for you "just because" you need someone. These are the ones who become your "spouse", "best friend" or your hand picked "extended family". They are the ones who you can tell or ask anything of. If you're really lucky you have these types of relationships with your family members.

The stories that break my heart are the ones where family members are in denial that there are any disorders in the family at all. They are the ones who tell the parents, kids and/or caregivers that the kiddos "issues" are their fault. Or, and this really makes me MAD, those who say that the kiddos are just "the R-word" or has an ID (intellectual disability), the PC (politically correct) way to label someone with the R-word. Last but not least, family members who say the kiddo is just rebellious.

Take the pledge to "say the word to end the word" at:          http://www.r-word.org/

These type of family members really don't understand, or choose not too, what's really going on. Like it has something to do with them. It's almost like if they admit -a family member has autism then they are in some way at fault themselves. My dad raised us with the philosophy that "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Unfortunately not enough people live by this. I think it's even worse when they can't be encouraging to anyone, let alone their own loved ones.

From a mother's heart - we need to learn to be supportive of one another. Can you imagine what this world would be like if we treated everyone like family members - our favorite ones, that is.
God Bless!