Group for parents of children with autism

Would anyone be interested in a CC group for parents of autistic kids (or adult children)?  I have a Kindergartener with autism and would love to have a forum to share successes and frustrations as they come.

Yeah I'll hang with ya,

 I have twins age 10 a boy and a girl, they are now high functioning, mainstreamed at school. They didn't talk until they were 5-1/2 then it was just a few words then echoalia (TV talk) they started to be conversational at about 7-8. They were diagnosed at age 2.5., premature and were very inconsolable as infants, they never followed any of the classic stories that you hear about how a child was going along all hunky=dory and then one day they went to the doctor, got a shot and they've been autistic ever since. My Grandmother noticed the difference in the way they looked at us the day we brought them home from the hospital.

It was very rough those first 5 years. At one time I got laid off just after we moved into a prime school district for autism programs. It turned out to be the best thing because I was able to spend the time with the kids to get them potty trained (which led them to speech) Their mom has always been loving and warm, but is extremely lazy and an opiate addict. We both drank and smoked pot when we met and at times smoking a joint before bed probably saved a child's life, ha! But it led to other things and when the kids were 6 I got clean & mom didn't. At age 7 I filed for a divorce, at age 9 I finally got custody of them and we 3 live together and I am Mr.Mom. I love the work! Love the teachers and therapists, my kids are wonderful people.

As soon as I moved out from the divorce I quit smoking and started to workout. I joined my local YMCA and just focused on exercise. It was the greatest stress reliever I could have chosen. I no longer use drugs and drinking to "unwind" I wind-up on my bike, or run or do some sit-ups to relieve my stresses. I found CC in 2006-7 and began keeping track of my food and it worked but I fell off that wagon. After some progress I got into a relationship with a woman who was 5'-7" 120lbs wet, smoked and never exercised, she could cook and the sex was awesome and I put all my weight back on. I stopped using my fitness to handle the stress of the custody battle going on, I ended up losing the girl, maxing my weight out at over 350lbs BUT I got my kids!! So since that I have recovered and lost over 60lbs my kids are thriving and I'm being way more choosy about who I date, ha! (5-7 120 is okay, smoking and just having good genes isn't)

-Don

Hey! Thanks for the reply and especially for sharing some of your story.  My sone Eric was diagnosed at 20 months or so and he just turned 5 in July.  He is considered "high-functioning" and is mostly mainstreamed (not entirely yet) but his social/communication skills still have much room to grow.  He was in a preschool program specifically for autistic kids for 3 full years with lots of time integrated into a regular preschool class as well.  I'd guess that about 90% of what he says is echolalia, but he's a charmer.  He's been reading as long as he's been talking (although he would rather read the phone book or a cookbook over a kid's book anyday).  I worry about how he'll be when he's older.

When Eric was diagnosed, even though I suspected it and initiated the referral, I was royally pissed at the world.  I was a special ed administrator - don't I get a "get out of jail free card" to not have a child with a disability?!?  Now, I realize that my knowledge and background turned out to be the best thing for Eric.  I'm able to be a great advocate and it makes me better at my job (I'm now a school principal).

Every day I wonder...will Eric ever live independently or hold an independent job?  Will he ever fall in love? How old will he be before he is teased at school for the first time and "gets it?"

My husband and I are great co-parents.  He's a part time stay at home dad (we also have a 3yr old).  Raising Eric definately adds strain to the marriage, but I think we are luckier than most.

Wow, I commend you both for being such amazing parents to these wonderful children. I may not be a parent, but I am the conservator (guardian) to my younger brother who is now in a state facility suffering from autism, mild retardation and schizophrenia. I have always felt helpless in this battle because I was too young to be able to care for him. He's 23, I'm 30. He was diagnosed at age 5 and given the fact that we were basically raising ourselves (alcoholic/absent single mother) he never received any help or care. Because of this, he's "disease" became severe and almost killed him on several occasions. At the age of 20, he was sent to the state facility which basically saved his life. I had to go against our mother and file for guardianship so that he'd finally have the care he deserved. 

I cannot advocate enough how much early detection and early care can change an autistic child's life. I never got that chance to provide this to him and now it seems too late, despite the fact that he is doing slightly better. I think I will always blame myself for not having been more involved and instead, leaving home for college at 18 when he was probably at his worst.

I just thought I'd thank you both for sharing your brave stories!