Coping with Disability: Mother of Autistic Son Contemplates Suicide

Cole Gamble — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:00:00 GMT

This incredibly open and boldly honest story featured in The Guardian details one mother’s journey to the breaking point. This may be the kind of story people don’t want to hear, the kind some might even feel is repulsive, which is all the more reason people need to hear it… To have some understanding for this woman’s situation, think about your own kids. I, for example, have two regular kids: a four-year-old and a one-year-old. Though they are lovely separately, put them together and add the new addition of a puppy to our house, and it’s a screaming, destructive cyclone. If this was all I had to do I could see not wanting to jump out the window, but I work a full time job, work a whole other full time job at home freelance writing and blogging and the kids and dog are a full time job in itself. The other night Dalton, our 1-year-old, screamed and screamed until 1 am. Being robbed of the ability to hold onto one clear thought at some point in your day or even having the choice to decide when you want to go to bed is enough to make you want to jump a train and live a life on the rails. We are not supposed to complain about our children, and I am not. When I can snatch half a second of clear thought, all my frustration toward my kids melts away and I see their actions for what they are, experiment, play and emotional development. But when you don’t get that break, down that path madness lies. Now take the standard madness of parenthood and imagine that intensity multiplied by a factor of ten. Parents of autistic children often don’t even get that half second of sanity I mentioned. They barely get a chance to get their head above water. I know parents with autistic kids, and it is a full time business. Often one of the parents makes the difficult but necessary choice to stop working and stay home with the child. There can be no end to the sacrifices. A common first reaction to this mother’s story of contemplated suicide might be “what a horrible thought.” And it is a horrible thought, which is why it is so important this mother and others like her tell these stories. Being a strong and good parent isn’t hiding from the pain and desperation, it’s exploring it and most importantly sharing so those in similar situations may learn and understand.

Photo: www.just2moms.com

Elmo's Dad Gets Sent to Iraq

Cole Gamble — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Sesame Workshop, the people behind Sesame Street, is helping military families with young children cope with the deployment, redeployment and homecoming of their mommies and daddies. Would you like to see something a little surreal this morning? How about watch a music video in which Elmo’s dad tells Elmo he’s being shipped off to Iraq?

I must be a little behind, I didn't know Elmo had a dad and that his dad knew how to really rock the goatee/track suit combo Oh, and apparently he's southern? Kidding aside, I think this is a wonderful thing Sesame Street is doing. It’s the kind of thing they were created for. The program is called Talk, Listen, Connect and if you are a family with young kids and a loved one at war, you may want to check out this kit at www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc/. There is information and advice for both the child and the parent in dealing with this difficult time.

What depresses me is that this program is still needed. The reality for military familes is that mommies and daddies go to war, they come home from war, but then they get sent back to Iraq again. It’s just tragic. Once the kid has seen the video when mommy went off to Iraq the first time, what are we supposed to do when mommy goes back to Iraq a second or third time? Show them the video again? Some day this war will end and it will be up to families, not politicians, to pick up the pieces.

Strollerderby : coping

Coping with Disability: Mother of Autistic Son Contemplates Suicide

Elmo's Dad Gets Sent to Iraq