Embracing our autism journey as a family
Rose Mabiza • 5 mins read
05 October 2023
Parenting a child with special needs demands a lot of energy, time and resources. There will be days when you feel stressed, exhausted, or discouraged, but the satisfaction of raising a happy child is priceless.
Last week, I wrote about my autism acceptance journey as a mother of an autistic son. It was my most personal blog to date. In this blog, I will talk about how I was able to cope with the challenges of raising my son, including the strong support system that I have leaned on for the past 13 years.
Raising a child with autism
The last five blogs that I wrote were mostly about me and how I’ve been dealing with my situation, but I have never felt alone on this journey. Over the years, I have been surrounded by a loving family that has helped me face and manage the day-to-day challenges of raising my son. I consider myself lucky to have a strong support network, including my eldest son and my husband, who has never left my side since day one.
Raising a child with autism takes a village. I would like to express my gratitude and acknowledge the unwavering support I get from my family towards my son. I would also like to take this time to thank my stepchildren, who have always given their constant love and support towards their youngest brother.
A special bond between siblings
I have two sons, and they share a special bond. At a very young age, my eldest son started caring for his little brother. He was keen to read and watch TV programmes that helped him in his journey towards understanding his little brother’s difficulties and special needs.
Since the start of our autism journey, he has always been overprotective of his little brother. It would upset him whenever he heard people talking behind his brother in a derogatory way. He would often reach out and educate them on how to communicate effectively with autistic children.
Although he has started university and moved away from home, he makes an effort to video call his little brother regularly. He also makes an effort to visit us when he’s free. They go on walks, watch a movie or eat out together to strengthen their bond.
Thankful for positive family relationships
My stepchildren have been very helpful in providing my autistic son with a sense of belonging that has enabled him to grow and develop. Although we do not live with them, they are constantly video-calling see how he is doing. When we are with them, they shower him with love and support.
Having positive relationships is a blessing to us. I greatly appreciate that there are no boundaries between them. They adore each other dearly.
Autism acceptance: A father’s love
Autism can take a toll on relationships. At times, it can even break up marriages. I have seen how some men left their families because they felt uncomfortable and found it hard to support their wives and kids with special needs or learning disabilities.
After everything we’ve been through as parents, I am deeply grateful for my husband's commitment to our family. He has never left my side. He took time to understand our son's struggles and accepted that he has autism. My husband has been our source of strength. Since day one, he has demonstrated great resilience and unconditional love towards his children. He has always responded well to our children's changing needs and well-being.
Conclusion
It has been 10 years since our autism diagnosis. Some days are better than others, but we wouldn’t want it any other way. We are very grateful for all the love and support from our families and friends who have always been there for us. The road we are taking is not an easy one, I am pretty sure we will encounter more challenges in the future, but I am not afraid to face them one by one. I am armed and ready.
I hope that my story reaches those who feel alone on this journey. I assure you, I am with you every step of the way. Hand in hand, we will help make a better world for children with autism.
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