Encouraging Moms at Home

Tips, Tricks and Tools for the #MomWin

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Brand Inquiries
    • Full Disclosure
    • Our Writing Team
  • Homemaking
    • Cleaning
    • Essential Oils
    • Recipes
      • Instant Pot
      • Gluten Free Dairy Free
      • Using Produce
      • Cooking with Pumpkin
    • Nutrition
    • Food Preservation
  • Homeschooling
    • Homeschool Encouragement
    • Homeschool High School
    • Special Needs
    • Homeschooling Art
    • Homeschool STEM
    • Homeschool Technology
    • Teen and Tween Writers
  • Teaching Ideas
    • Free Printables
    • MInecraft
    • LEGO
    • Fine Motor Skills
  • Family Life
    • Gift Guides
    • Kid’s Activities
    • Summer Fun
    • Hiking
    • Moving
    • Christian Life
      • Christian Family Activities
      • Scripture Memory
      • Poetry
      • Creation
      • Advent and Christmas
      • Thanksgiving
  • Moms
    • Encouragement
    • Budget And Finances
    • Mom Fashion
    • Date Your Spouse
    • Work At Home
  • Shop
    • My Account

Autism Isn’t Contagious!

by Angie Schott 1 Comment

Posts contain affiliate links. This means, if you choose to make a purchase, I will make a commission at no extra cost to you. For more information please see our full disclosure.
246shares
  • Pinterest227
  • Facebook19
  • Twitter

I’m up with Johnny Ben again tonight. Yes, it’s 4:30am.

I’m not looking for sympathy. He’s been the cutest, sweetest, and kindest little boy imaginable tonight, as he is almost all the time. It’s just that he’s awake. Considering his stages of sleep are not like the rest of ours, it happens from time to time.

Most of the time, this is how he is. A funny little guy who loves to hug and laugh. I‘ll be honest and say that sometimes it’s not like this. Sometimes he cries and can’t tell me what is wrong because he doesn’t speak much. He honestly does not know how to tell us what is wrong. He doesn’t try to be “bratty” or “weird” or anything else. But he, Bobby, and I do the best we can to work through it. It’s far from easy, but we manage.

Columbus Park KY Aug 2014

A little over a year ago, a member of the court told me that it was my “choice” to have him, whether I knew something would ever be wrong with him or not, because I should have known that it was a possibility. She said I had “options,” that I should have thought of the “what ifs” before he was born because of the hardships that raising a child with severe autism may bring our family–even if I didn’t know at the time that he would be severely autistic. This was not a member of congress I was in front of, this was me simply standing up for myself in court stating I have 5 other children and that one was severely disabled. I wasn’t asking for special treatment, just stating the fact. Let that sit a bit. This is how MY government views MY baby.

Are you familiar with Autism? Do you know what to say or how to act around an autistic child? It is not contagious! Take a look at one family's perspective and be determined to pay attention to those around you that may be autistic.

Let me just say that Johnny Ben has never brought any member of our immediate family any grief. Those in our close family love him and are not at all “put out” by him. All 4 of his siblings love him, and if you know what Bobby and I are like, imagine what those 4 kids are like to stand against. You don’t want to attempt it, trust me. He. Is. Loved.

He also has many extended family members who love him and would do anything for him–uncles, aunts, cousins (not just first, but twice and multiple times removed) and many other family members and friends who have never met him face to face.

He senses more than most will ever understand, and when he feels we are blue, he makes sure to cheer us up. When we are happy, he becomes ecstatic. He understands more than we think, and is rather sensitive to emotions and tones of voice. He’s a funny little rascal, but more than anything he’s lovable and kind. (Even to Molly, his little sister.)

He also knows when someone doesn’t like him, or says mean things to him. When they try to pull tricks or say mean things, he catches it and snarls. Don’t think for one second he doesn’t get what’s going on. It also means the rest of us know, so keep that in mind.

So the next time you look down on someone you think “doesn’t understand,” think twice. Chances are, they see right through you and already know more about you than you know yourself.

I can’t tell you how many times he or his siblings on the spectrum have been upset over a “friend” or family member saying something to or in front of them because of their disabilities. Sometimes there are no words, but body language, a visual expression, or just a “feeling in the air” to let them know someone’s feelings about them. I mean, really, in this day and age we live in, it’s completely uncalled for, no matter how old you are. It shouldn’t even be a second thought.

The bullying and violence on those who cannot defend themselves has to stop! Our society has to knock the whole “If I don’t acknowledge it…” act off. We all know it is happening. So stand up. If you see it, say something. Do what you can. If you can’t stop it, call someone who can stop the action. Whatever you do, don’t stand back and pretend nothing is happening, because if you do, then YOU are held responsible for not stopping it. And while right now you might feel okay with that, it will eat at you. Forever.

This includes treating the parents of special needs kids as if there is something wrong with them! Stop ignoring the friend who has a child with special needs. Instead, call them and see if they need to talk.

Last I checked, Autism, Down’s syndrome, and many other disabilities aren’t contagious. Stop acting as if they are.

Those who cannot defend themselves are not “gross” or “weird.” They are human, just like you. Treat others how you want your children to be treated, and teach your children to do the same.

246shares
  • Pinterest227
  • Facebook19
  • Twitter

Disclosure

1 Comment
Encouragement, Homeschooling, Special Needs

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Pam Betro says

    April 2, 2017 at 8:36 PM

    Great article! I am currently homeschooling my grandson who has ASD. I’m sorry that judge felt the need to speak in that manner to you… our children are our most precious gifts, a true blessing from God. Each child is unique and that includes all with any type of disability. People need to remember the golden rule and it applies to everyone! Again, thank you for the wonderful article!

    Reply

Search

Our Favorite Essential Oils

Essential Oil blend for Concentration and Focus

Keep In Touch

  • Shop
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • About Encouraging Moms at Home
  • Brand Inquiries
  • Full Disclosure with Privacy Policy
  • Our Writing Team

Kids Can Learn with LEGO Bricks

Our Latest Shenanigans

See these pretty little plants playing peekaboo? I See these pretty little plants playing peekaboo? I thought they were goners. See, my sister gave us the bulbs for Asiatic Lillies for Christmas last year, down in a bag full of dirt and told us to take them home and plant them in the cold so they would rest and come back next year. Or freeze them. I did neither. I knew we weren’t in our own home yet, and we were hoping to move into our forever home this summer, so I threw them in the closet and waited. They stayed dormant, and started to develop roots in the Spring, still in the bag in my closet. Come June 5, we moved into our new house, and I pulled out the bag around June 15 to plant them and found that the roots were turning to mush. The bulbs were starting to rot. I planted them anyway, but to make matters worse, I accidentally planted them upside down because I thought the roots were actually sprouts. Oops. Then, I hired my boys and their friends to weed the bed where these are planted and forgot to tell them to leave these alone. The “sprouts” disappeared. I thought they were gone forever. Here it is the middle of August, and a week or so ago, I found these baby Asiatic Lillies coming up. I texted a pic to my sis to ask if this was what they look like. Sure enough after all that trauma, this gift survived. I won’t have blooms this year, but I’m told they will come back next year and survive to bloom. What a sweet blessing that will be, God willing. And a sweet reminder to persevere under trials and hardship. God is doing something bigger, something hidden, something better than we can ever imagine. Hang in there! #momlife #momfierce #momforthewin #firmlyplanted
Today I’ve been sorting through some heavy stuff Today I’ve been sorting through some heavy stuff, especially the unmasking of pedophilia and it’s prominence in the US and in our backyards. This horrifies and frightens me. I am so grateful to know that God will prevail. In the end, He wins. Everything seems so dark here in the US and it’s because of the spiritual forces of evil — but I know God will prevail. His love never fails. I’m putting my hope in this truth. #loveneverfails #godwins #godisgreater #momlife #momfierce
I’m grateful to have prayer in my life. Worry st I’m grateful to have prayer in my life. Worry steals so much joy. 
I’ve also been grateful for the Pray Fierce Summit summit. You can listen free each day by looking for the preview buttons. 
#prayfierce
Join us in prayer? The link is in my profile. List Join us in prayer? The link is in my profile. Listen free each day by looking for the highlighted “preview” buttons. #praynow #prayfortheworld  #prayerchangesthings
⁣ ⁣I love this. In the ESV it says be Faithful ⁣
⁣I love this. In the ESV it says be Faithful in Prayer. That’s one of my goals in life! ⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣It’s also one of the goals of the Pray Fierce Summit - to help moms be faithful in prayer. ⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣It’s free to listen each day — I hope you will join us! ⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣You can listen free by clicking the preview buttons on the sessions labeled “watch free!” - find the clickable link in my bio!⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣https://mom-fierce.teachable.com/p/moms-pray-fierce-summit⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
#prayfierce #prayformoms #prayerrocks #prayer #pray #momfierce #momwins #momlife
Guess what showed up on my doorstep this morning? Guess what showed up on my doorstep this morning? Chicken for my freezer! I’ve been struggling to find meat at reasonable prices, so I was very glad to find this. If you want chicken Use code Farmer10 to get 10% off too. Use my #linkinprofile to support my #ladyboss business! #homelife #familylife #momlife #chicken #linkinbio
This is such a tough time for so many. Our hearts This is such a tough time for so many. Our hearts and prayers are with you if you are struggling today. Reach out if you have a need. You are loved. 💕
There are so many things I need to tell you about There are so many things I need to tell you about this picture. First #sheisloved campaign with @mercyhouseglobal and sheispriceless.org - check that out it’s important. Second - that cute bracelet came from @mercyhouseglobal about a month ago and *didn’t fit*. Today it’s loose enough to twist. I haven’t lost a lot of pounds according to the scale — I kinda stalled out three or four weeks ago at 17 pounds lost — but apparently I’m losing fat. That’s a victory. Third, my hands look like my moms and will some day look like my grandmas. I consider that a blessing.  Finally, it’s been a beautiful day😍 but I’m kinda sad it took me this long to find a red marker and share the love. If you have one handy, it’s not too late to jump on board with @wearethatfamily and be a world-changer! #worldchanger #momfierce #prayformoms #especiallyteenmomsinkenya #mymomrocks
How was Mother’s Day for you. It can be an incre How was Mother’s Day for you. It can be an incredible blessing or bring incredible pain. In whatever your circumstance, I will pray that you rest in God’s presence today. #mom #momlife #momwins #momfierce #momsofinstagram #2020mom
Follow on Instagram
Copyright ©2021, Encouraging Moms at Home. All Rights Reserved. Custom design by Pixel Me Designs