When things get hectic, stressful, or busy I often will get low on words. This isn't the same thing as losing words completely, but my ability to effectively communicate becomes lessened. I began writing this post months ago, but April's interactions with non-Autistics have already stolen many of my words so it's very relevant right now. … Continue reading Low on Words
discovery
Being Autistic is Everything – Autistic Acceptance
Autism is pervasive. That's the official term: pervasive : existing in... every part of something In my words, autism encompasses everything. Autism is ubiquitous, inescapable (positive or negative), total, and complete in my life. Autism is part of everything I do, think, and experience. Autism is part of everything that's me. Being Autistic affects everything. Autism … Continue reading Being Autistic is Everything – Autistic Acceptance
Messing Up Such a Simple Thing
Sometimes I'll be going along, doing fairly well, and then I'll mess up again. In a big way. Patterns in my life often emerge from new situations and experiences because they aren't really new. These are things that have been happening my entire life, but that I never had the ability to describe or explain … Continue reading Messing Up Such a Simple Thing
Autistic Parenting
I've found that being Autistic has greatly influenced my parenting style and I'd like to delve a bit more into that topic. Many Autistic adults are parents. In fact, most of the Autistic adults I know, especially in person, are mothers. Interestingly enough, those whom I know have tended to gravitate towards gentle parenting styles and … Continue reading Autistic Parenting
Volunteering
Over the years I've tried to pay attention to my ability to do various things. However, I don't always manage to notice the relevant patterns until I've ended up in (multiple) difficult and/or embarrassing situations. Volunteering was one of the patternless things in my life until this month. From the time I was 12 years old, … Continue reading Volunteering
Being Misunderstood and Mutism
Image description: Background is blue/white/grey ice crystals with the overlaying text reading, "Misunderstandings were constant, I could not get away. I pored over the dictionary to decide what to say. Unfairly, although we used the same words, We weren't speaking the same language, their meanings unheard, my meanings incorrectly inferred. ~Mamautistic, 2016" Being misunderstood is … Continue reading Being Misunderstood and Mutism
‘Reading’ People
It was almost exactly a month after my last journal entry when I wrote this: my third and final journal entry from four years ago. To give some context, I wrote this entry after I'd done a great deal of research into the things I hadn't known I didn't know. At this point, I was getting … Continue reading ‘Reading’ People
Being in Nature
This is the third section from the journal entry I began commenting on here. I had been spending a great deal of time being introspective and wrote about more of my memories - mainly those having to do with being in nature: I used to spend lunchtime every day in the woods when I worked at … Continue reading Being in Nature
Rambling Thoughts
I had many rambling thoughts immediately after reading Aspergirls. I was looking at my entire life from a completely different perspective and continued journaling about a few *memories that now made infinitely more sense in light of being Autistic: My favorite number is 3, my second favorite is 6. My favorite multiplication problem is therefore 6x6 … Continue reading Rambling Thoughts
I Have Time
There's time. My words aren't going anywhere. I don't need to capture each one, frantically. They will still be here. I don't need to make up for those years, long ago tears. I can allow myself to catch up, it cannot happen in one thrill. Gradually let them unfold, the stories untold. All meant to be written, … Continue reading I Have Time
Mamautistic 