I have found that there's this idea in modern parenting that leads to a great deal of what I'd call "unnecessary consistencies." The idea is basically that if children do something childish or inappropriate then they'll forever be doing it. Or, conversely, that if they aren't doing something that will eventually become necessary for them … Continue reading Vital Inconsistencies – Autistic Parenting
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Representation – Atypical Part 1
Representation is important. Accurate representation, whether in fiction or nonfiction, can make a huge positive difference in how members of minority groups are viewed and treated by members of the majority group and can also be an empowering experience for those people who rarely see ourselves in the media. That all said, yesterday I made … Continue reading Representation – Atypical Part 1
Flashback Friday – Depression
TW: depression, eating disorder, self-harm, sexual assault (very brief mention), and suicidal thoughts/actions. CW: Higher education, therapy. My first official psychological diagnosis was Major Depression nearly 15 years ago. I was in college and, although I'd been extremely excited about attending college at first, my experience had rapidly gone downhill ever since I'd first arrived … Continue reading Flashback Friday – Depression
Blending In, Acceptance, and Disappointing Others
I'm not sure when I learned that I needed to blend in with others for self-preservation purposes. I'm certain that I was very young though. I know for a fact that this knowledge within myself was fairly firmly in place by the time I was 7 years old. Possibly earlier. Blending and the sense that … Continue reading Blending In, Acceptance, and Disappointing Others
(Mis)Understanding and Responsibility
Learning that I was Autistic was a daunting, overwhelming thing. On the one hand, it explained everything. Learning that I'm Autistic has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me. But, on the other hand, it's overwhelming and discouraging to think about how allistics (non-Autistics) will likely never understand and will … Continue reading (Mis)Understanding and Responsibility
Flashback Friday – Inflection
I remember reading out loud to my parents when I was a toddler and preschooler. I remember being taught how to change my intonation depending on the punctuation and meaning of the sentence. I was specifically told to do this because it was boring to listen to words that all sounded the same in monotone. … Continue reading Flashback Friday – Inflection
Body Language – When the Knowledge Doesn’t Transfer
Sometimes I say, rather hyperbolically, that I didn't know about non-verbal communication until I was nearly 29 years old. It's a nice sound-bite, but like most nice sound-bites, it's not strictly true. I did know about some types of non-verbal communication before then. I knew that shrugging meant "I don't know." I knew that nodding meant … Continue reading Body Language – When the Knowledge Doesn’t Transfer
Negative Memories and Confusion
So, I mentioned in my previous post, that it's easier for me to access my positive memories than my negative memories. I've spent some time since writing that (it was scheduled several days ahead of publishing, this post is not) in thinking about why that might be and I believe the answer partially lies in … Continue reading Negative Memories and Confusion
Deconstructing My Positive Memories
As I've been mentally sifting through my memories, particularly for my Flashback Friday posts, I've noticed something. Partially because I've been recovering from the stress of being evaluated, I've been focusing more on the positive memories I have. They're both easier to access and much more pleasant once I do access them. In examining them … Continue reading Deconstructing My Positive Memories
Flashback Friday – Preschool
My first memories of attending preschool are disjointed, as should be expected. I believe, based on the houses in which we lived at the time, that my preschool memories are mainly from when I was 3 through 5 years old. Before I attended preschool, I would go to daycare periodically. My mom didn't work, but I've … Continue reading Flashback Friday – Preschool
Mamautistic 