Photo Credit: vectorolie at www.freedigitalphotos.net

Yesterday, in Part One of her series, guest blogger Sarah Broady mentioned how autism overload is part of every day life for her family. She writes about it on Facebook, thinks about it on dates with her husband, and talks about it on the phone with friends. Today, she explains how she’s come to terms with autism–the elephant in the room–over the past few years.

Autism Overload and Elephants in the Room, Pt 2

Autism Overload and Grief

I am happy to say autism doesn’t bother me nearly as much as it did a year ago. Before coming to what I think was true acceptance of my son having autism, I grieved over every one of these thoughts. Sometimes I was in autopilot mode and did what I needed to do or made the necessary decisions in the moment without falling apart. But for all the internal thoughts, for every post I read or wrote about autism, for every déjà vu realization that this autism thing was really real, I grieved. It came in various ways, which would require a whole different post, but it came.

Autism Overload and Acceptance

There are probably definitely parents out there who might read this and be angry at me or maybe just angry in general. Angry that I’m okay with something that isn’t okay, even though they understand the continuous onslaught of autism questions and musings. Frustrated that they are not there yet. Not that I have reached some pinnacle of acceptance that negates any grief of future challenges. I’m not trying to brag that I don’t struggle like everyone else. I do. It’s just that things are different now. My struggles are the same, but the way I handle them takes on a different form. Usually. I’ve just come to accept that this is part of my life, so it doesn’t always bother me to see so much autism stuff in my email and Facebook news feed.

Autism Overload and Faith

I think that this is one area of my life that is proof positive of the hope that I have always clung to that is real and true: Jesus is King and is making all things new–now. I can’t wait for the day when autism is no longer a struggle because all struggles will be ultimately and finally conquered forever. But for now, He has given me grace more than sufficient for my need to be okay in a not okay world.

Invitation to Talk

If you’re not okay right now, bogged down in the autism world, that’s okay. We don’t have to be okay all the time. I just want you to know that Jesus is your “hope in autism” with immeasurable grace for your every need. Please feel free to contact me at sarah@spacelots.com if you need someone to talk with. Sometimes you just need another person who can honestly say, “I understand.”

You can also read more about Sarah and her family at her blog Hope in Autism.

Autism Overload and Elephants in the Room: Part 1

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