Why am I so exhausted? I’m an #Autism parent, that’s why
Going into this post, it’s important to know that I’m frustrated and trying to make a point about why Autism parents, like myself are so exhausted all the time. Every time I’m asked why I’m so exhausted, it’s a reminder how little people understand the challenges I face as an Autism parent.
I’m absolutely venting but trying my best to do so in a way that helps to put things into perspective.
I shouldn’t have to say this but I love my kids and Autism is part of who they are. I accept them and love them just the way they are. The reality however, is that Autism can make things very, very difficult. If you can relate to this, please show your support by clicking the Like, Share or Tweet button and help spread the word.
One of the main reasons I write this blog or at least started writing this blog a decade ago, was to raise awareness. I wanted to raise awaress for my kids with Autism, as well what my wife and I experienced while proudly raising them.
The are over 11,000 posts on this blog and if there was one single take away from my collective journaling, it would be that Autism parenting is fucking exhausting.
Autism parenting is a 25 hour a day, 8 days a week, 366 days a year, lifetime appointment. There is no end and often times, very few if any meaningful breaks. Even if we get a break, we can’t turn off the fear, worry, anxiety and stress we feel. These feelings are a constant in our life and for good reason.
The amount stress and worry an Autism parent feels at any given time, on any given day, is beyond explanation and defies the norms of what is considered typical parenting. Autism parenting exists in a Universe, entirely on its own. You can’t truly or accurately conflate Autism parenting with typical parenting for a million reasons.
Everyday that I wake up, I’m already exhausted. It doesn’t matter that I’m taking care of myself, losing weight, eating better, exercising daily and on the rare occasions, even getting enough sleep. I’m exhausted on the good days, regardless of what that good day entailed.
What people don’t seem to understand is that Autism parenting is all consuming, there’s almost no room for anything else. Every single aspect of my life is impacted by Autism. My sanity, my marriage, finances, relationships with family or friends as well as my physical and emotional health, are profoundly impacted by Autism.
No matter how exhausted, defeated, overwhelmed, stressed out or anything else for that matter I am, I still have to deal with all the same things that every other person or parent has to deal with as well and often find themselves overwhelmed by.
I don’t exist in a vacuum. Everything in my life impacts everything else in my life. There’s absolutely no way to separate my life as an Autism parent, from who I am as a person.
Trying to find a way to balance what amounts to more than what most human beings are capable of managing, is difficult at best and impossible on every other day.
It’s frustrating when people look at me, with insight into or knowledge of my life, and still don’t understand why I’m so exhausted.
Trust me when I say this or don’t, it changes nothing about the reality of my life and what I deal with. All you need to understand is that Autism Parenting is fucking exhausting. There’s no if and or buts about it. It just is and frankly, sometimes I find it astonishing that I’ve made it this far.