The other night there were several programmes on telly, all dealing with aspects of autism. I watched because a good friend of mine has two autustic children, a boy with Aspergers, and a girl who is at the same age as the boy when his condition became more pronounced, who is now developing her own condition more fully. I watched to enable me to empathise more fully with my friend, and also in case there was any information of use to her. Understandably, when living with this 24 hours a day, she did not watch the programmes.
One thing it said is that autistic children have no concept that what is in their head is not also in everyone else's head. Normal children come to their mother to tell them things. Autistic children expect them to already know. They have to learn that this is not so.
At one point in the programme an older man was introduced, who is a grandfather. He attended the diagnosis of his grandsons' autism, and while he was there the doctor noticed his behaviours, which led to another diagnosis. The grandfather was also on the spectrum, but had never been noticed before, because his condition predated the introduction of autism in this country as a concept.
This grandfather's unusual behaviours include not being able to throw anything away, compulsive collecting, always thinking his view is the only one that exists, and the inability to make emotional connections.
Same as my mother. So I am now reassessing what I know of her, and considering whether what we need is not the N label, which (in me at least) carries a huge value judgment with it, that she has somehow failed me by not choosing to be empathic and maternal, and I am considering instead the autistic spectrum label, which might enable me to find a way through this without judging her.
I have for some time thought my yb might be asbergers. Now this connection with my mother, and if all fits, with my grandmother as well.
However, I need more information. Just thought it worth mentioning.
