Any PARENTS with Asperger's Syndrome?

[HarperRose]

So, I know we all have SN kids (mine are AS, borderline AS, and NT), but are there any of us with SN ourselves? I have Asperger's Syndrome. A few other diagnoses, as well.

[HarperRose]

Oh, I also blog about it, if anyone is interested.

http://parentingwithaspergers.blogspot.com/

[RJ11]

Thanks for posting your blog. It is very insightful. I'm just learning about AS with my son who has traits and realizing my husband has many too. I am also prone to sensory overload but thought I was just a wall flower. It's nice to know we aren't nuts just different. :)

[EarthRootsStarSoul]

I only have an informal diagnosis of PDD-NOS.  It would be Aspergers, but I did have early speech and language delays, and maybe cognitive delays.  It does add an extra dimension to parenting. 

[umami_mommy]

lurking. my DH has AS.  i take meds for ADHD. 

PS, carrie thanks for your blog link. i read it and it sounds *just like my DH.* it's so good for him to read about people who he is like. he spends a lot of time blaming others for his freak outs. and it's oh so helpful for him when something can slow him down and bring it home. 

[HarperRose]

I'm glad you guys like my blog!

I'm so glad to connect with other parents with similar issues. I've been on the verge of meltdown for the last hour or so because of a job I took on, thinking I could handle it, but the sensory input of this particular work is overwhelming for me. I had to email my boss about it. That's touchy because he & his wife have been friends for YEARS and I don't want to disappoint them. You know? 

Argh! I guess it'll all work itself out...

[ErinYay]

I have two little girls, 25-months and 4-months, and I also have AS.

I *also* blog a bit about it here.

You might already be familiar with it, but Wrong Planet is probably the biggest aspie board there is. There's a parenting section for parents of ASD kids and for parents with ASDs.

[RJ11]

AS Mamas, I'm curious if you have noticed any personal sensitivity to food. Dairy in particular. I've read lots of articles that link dairy to increased anxiety. I want to try going dairy free with my possibly AS son but also worry because he is super skinny. Any thoughts?

[FarmerBeth]

I officially have NVLD.  My 11yo was diagnosed with AS this year.  I'd been a long time to worry about any social issues he was having (mostly plain old lack of interest) because I had been the same way as a kid.  I was a long time to worry about my younger son (diagnoses of expressive language disorder) speaking late because I had speech delays, too.  My sons share a psychologist and she's informally told me she thinks the NVLD in my family is really high functioning autism. I don't find there's much difference between NVLD and Aspergers,anyway. I haven't really cared to find out more because I already got help with most of the things I've had problems with, like obsessiveness and sensory issues.  When my oldest was in CBT for anxiety the parents followed along the program with their own group and I realized I could desensitize myself to a lot of the sensory stuff following the same formula, and it worked.  My DH has really extreme adult ADHD and we somehow have a totally NT daughter in the middle between the boys. 

[ErinYay]

Never mind. I'm super exhausted and can't write well.

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by ErinYay 

I have two little girls, 25-months and 4-months, and I also have AS.

I *also* blog a bit about it here.

You might already be familiar with it, but Wrong Planet is probably the biggest aspie board there is. There's a parenting section for parents of ASD kids and for parents with ASDs.

I am familiar w/ WrongPlanet. I lost my login info, though. *facepalm* 

I'll check your blog, Erin. Thanks for sharing!

I posted a new article tonight, cowritten by my friend Mateo. :)

http://parentingwithaspergers.blogspot.com/2012/01/heterism-autism-and-neurodiversity.html

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by RJ11 

AS Mamas, I'm curious if you have noticed any personal sensitivity to food. Dairy in particular. I've read lots of articles that link dairy to increased anxiety. I want to try going dairy free with my possibly AS son but also worry because he is super skinny. Any thoughts?

I have not noticed any conneciton for myself or my kids, but I know other families have. It can't hurt to try, right??

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by FarmerBeth 

I officially have NVLD.  My 11yo was diagnosed with AS this year.  I'd been a long time to worry about any social issues he was having (mostly plain old lack of interest) because I had been the same way as a kid.  I was a long time to worry about my younger son (diagnoses of expressive language disorder) speaking late because I had speech delays, too.  My sons share a psychologist and she's informally told me she thinks the NVLD in my family is really high functioning autism. I don't find there's much difference between NVLD and Aspergers,anyway. I haven't really cared to find out more because I already got help with most of the things I've had problems with, like obsessiveness and sensory issues.  When my oldest was in CBT for anxiety the parents followed along the program with their own group and I realized I could desensitize myself to a lot of the sensory stuff following the same formula, and it worked.  My DH has really extreme adult ADHD and we somehow have a totally NT daughter in the middle between the boys. 

Wow, Beth, you have a lot in your family, too. That's cool. How do your kids do in school? Or are they home schooled? I guess my question is more: How do they manage socially? My 11 yr old had issues in 6th grade public school (got beat up and I saw RED!!!), so I am homeschooling him this year.

[umami_mommy]

yeah, my family feels like ND-r-us a lot of the time. 

[FarmerBeth]

Originally Posted by HarperRose 

Wow, Beth, you have a lot in your family, too. That's cool. How do your kids do in school? Or are they home schooled? I guess my question is more: How do they manage socially? My 11 yr old had issues in 6th grade public school (got beat up and I saw RED!!!), so I am homeschooling him this year.

We started homeschooling, but I was having a hard time helping DS1 with the social aspects, so we ended up going to public school.  Our kids are in a very small, very rural school and I find that seems to be helping the social aspect a lot.  We're also in an area that tends to be pretty laid back about learning differences.  I don't think DS would be able to manage in an urban school.When he went to a slightly larger, suburban school he was a nightmare of tics and stims.  He has his first real friend this year, and his friend is pretty quirky, too.  They're tolerant of each other's parallel discussions and need for alone time.  He's a strong student now, making mostly B's and really shining in sciences and math, but in grade one he was in the 1% for achievement.  There's been a huge leap in the last 5 years in his ability to comply to someone else's agenda when necessary.

The youngest doesn't have nearly as much social difficulty, which is why for now he's being treated in terms of a language disorder.  He has a lot more trouble with abstract ideas and language than my other two kids.  He still has good marks despite no IPP (he does have adaptations for CAPD) but he has to work so hard for it.  He started primary operating at the same level as a 2 and a half year old for expressive language.  He's finally pretty much caught up except for very weird grammar, but it's as if all language is foreign to him, and school is so many words.  But he's pretty happy and loves sports, and always has someone to play soccer with.

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by umami_mommy 

yeah, my family feels like ND-r-us a lot of the time. 

 Hey, I say LIVE IT UP, BABY!

[umami_mommy]

Originally Posted by HarperRose 

 Hey, I say LIVE IT UP, BABY!

we do, but the noise freaks out my DH!! 

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by FarmerBeth 

We started homeschooling, but I was having a hard time helping DS1 with the social aspects, so we ended up going to public school.  Our kids are in a very small, very rural school and I find that seems to be helping the social aspect a lot.  We're also in an area that tends to be pretty laid back about learning differences.  I don't think DS would be able to manage in an urban school.When he went to a slightly larger, suburban school he was a nightmare of tics and stims.  He has his first real friend this year, and his friend is pretty quirky, too.  They're tolerant of each other's parallel discussions and need for alone time.  He's a strong student now, making mostly B's and really shining in sciences and math, but in grade one he was in the 1% for achievement.  There's been a huge leap in the last 5 years in his ability to comply to someone else's agenda when necessary.

The youngest doesn't have nearly as much social difficulty, which is why for now he's being treated in terms of a language disorder.  He has a lot more trouble with abstract ideas and language than my other two kids.  He still has good marks despite no IPP (he does have adaptations for CAPD) but he has to work so hard for it.  He started primary operating at the same level as a 2 and a half year old for expressive language.  He's finally pretty much caught up except for very weird grammar, but it's as if all language is foreign to him, and school is so many words.  But he's pretty happy and loves sports, and always has someone to play soccer with.

Our school is definitely more urban, I guess. I like your use of that word. Our previous school in this same city and same district was not anything like this one. It was a good school and I felt like the kids mattered. The staff knew the kids & their parents by name, despite having nearly 1000 students. The teachers were wonderfully helpful and supportive of whatever your kid needed, etc. It was good. I'm looking forward to moving next month because we'll be back in the same area and he'll be going to the new middle school there, but with the same kids he knew in elementary school. 

Max has done very well socially, as long as he has that one friend who clicks with him. You know?

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by umami_mommy 

we do, but the noise freaks out my DH!! 

Do you ever feel like this: 

[umami_mommy]

Originally Posted by HarperRose 

I posted a new article tonight, cowritten by my friend Mateo. :)

http://parentingwithaspergers.blogspot.com/2012/01/heterism-autism-and-neurodiversity.html

LMAO!! i *love* that you used a pic of ernie and burt. my DH and i joke all the time that i am ernie and he is burt. totally. that was great.