And overall does it matter?
This is of course in reference to #1 Son.
The answer is not straightforward. I want to say no, of course it doesn’t.
But you see, it does.
It affects the services he has access to, the support provided, and of course, his future.
So it matters.
As his mom, I don’t care – he’s my amazing boy and I’m proud of him and I love him and I don’t want to change him.
But as a human? As a parent? I know he is struggling and he needs help.
I can’t see him struggle day by day. Which is why he now has fortnightly counselling sessions. Of which we had the first one this week.
And it was interesting.
His assigned counsellor is expert in both fields, and after only one full session, she is querying if he is autistic.
We’ve been wondering ourselves for a while, as he just isn’t ticking all the boxes and the ones he does it’s either inconsistently or not in the right way.
The initial things she has raised are:
- Eye contact – yes he prefers not to, but he can be directed back and made to keep focus.
- Conversations – he talks emotively and well.
- Affection – he shows emotions appropriately.
She also pointed out that he’s young and a boy, and that ADHD in young children, especially boys, is often mis-diagnosed as Aspergers/high functioning autism.
Fortunately this therapist is medication averse, so even if it is ADHD, she won’t immediately throw him into Adderall.
Which is good. He’s too young. The hus-creature has stayed Switzerland through this whole thing, as he feels it’s not his remit. He also (like me) is reluctant to medicate a young child. However he has much more experience within his working field of adults with ADHD and within his own circle Adderall has been touted as a miracle. Some quotes given have included
It lifts the fog from my brain
And
If it’s a choice between eating this month and affording the co-pay for my pills, I am not eating this month.
Side note: hurrah American health care where that is a bloody choice you have to make.
So if it comes down to it, I am reassured that medication could help. But the optimum word there is could. I (we) will not be throwing pills at our boy any time soon.
But if you gave me the choice between the disorders? In my heart of hearts I would prefer it to be ADHD – because it would be easier for him to fit into a “normal” mould.
But it is whatever it is, and whatever that is, we will deal with it.
Because this kid? He’s bloody awesome.
