I Am Trying to Learn More On Autism
I need to go to the library for more information but I have discovered that I am caught between two...conflicting emotions about the subject. I know that older people in particular look at it like, "just another excuse for kids to be disrespectful/brats." I really don't entirely know what to think.
I have a cousin who has more than one form of autism. I think he's the first person I've ever known who has it and how I was introduced to it in late childhood. My cousin hospitalized a couple of his teachers in kindergarten and first grade, tried to strangle my other aunt's dog to death, stabbed people with pencils, repeatedly head-butted that same aunt until he nearly broke her nose along with many other things in his early years. I just wish I knew where to stand on this. Where is the fine line between what is to be expected from an autistic kid? (As in asperges, ADD, and I don't know what else.) I know a few things, characteristics.
I have felt a little guilty over the past year or so, because 2 or 3 Thanksgivings ago we celebrated the holiday at my eldest aunt's house, my cousins mother. I was so, so furious by my cousins behavior that I was this close to loosing it on him. I was so pissed that I stayed in the car for at least 20 minutes-a half an hour to calm down a bit. He starts having screaming fits at the drop of a hat. Like a temper tantrum. He's not violent anymore as far as I know. Just mouthy and still kind of in hysterics.
I can't stand a brat. I really can't. I have very little patience for it. I just don't know what to do because I feel that I have to believe that mental illness in fact exists, so why can't I accept and have compassion for my cousin. He's by no means "retarded" as some people may call it. I'm sure some part of his behavior is due to the fact that he never had a dad or male figure with a firm hand to teach him what's not OK and what is, but I feel that I partially have to agree with older people. It's not an excuse for people to raise their kids to let them get away with things any more than a 'normal' child. It's not an excuse to condone disrespectful behavior. He will say terrible things and he just don't give a shit. He has no empathy for his actions, he never has.
So can we really chalk it up to "oh, he doesn't know what he's doing/he doesn't know any better, leave him alone" ? I have a hard time to accept that.
I have a cousin who has more than one form of autism. I think he's the first person I've ever known who has it and how I was introduced to it in late childhood. My cousin hospitalized a couple of his teachers in kindergarten and first grade, tried to strangle my other aunt's dog to death, stabbed people with pencils, repeatedly head-butted that same aunt until he nearly broke her nose along with many other things in his early years. I just wish I knew where to stand on this. Where is the fine line between what is to be expected from an autistic kid? (As in asperges, ADD, and I don't know what else.) I know a few things, characteristics.
I have felt a little guilty over the past year or so, because 2 or 3 Thanksgivings ago we celebrated the holiday at my eldest aunt's house, my cousins mother. I was so, so furious by my cousins behavior that I was this close to loosing it on him. I was so pissed that I stayed in the car for at least 20 minutes-a half an hour to calm down a bit. He starts having screaming fits at the drop of a hat. Like a temper tantrum. He's not violent anymore as far as I know. Just mouthy and still kind of in hysterics.
I can't stand a brat. I really can't. I have very little patience for it. I just don't know what to do because I feel that I have to believe that mental illness in fact exists, so why can't I accept and have compassion for my cousin. He's by no means "retarded" as some people may call it. I'm sure some part of his behavior is due to the fact that he never had a dad or male figure with a firm hand to teach him what's not OK and what is, but I feel that I partially have to agree with older people. It's not an excuse for people to raise their kids to let them get away with things any more than a 'normal' child. It's not an excuse to condone disrespectful behavior. He will say terrible things and he just don't give a shit. He has no empathy for his actions, he never has.
So can we really chalk it up to "oh, he doesn't know what he's doing/he doesn't know any better, leave him alone" ? I have a hard time to accept that.
26-30, F