Truthful Tuesday: The Honest Reality of Autism Parenting
The reality of autism parenting is often lived in the quiet, invisible spaces that the rest of the world never sees.
When people look at our families, they might see the big milestones or the public challenges we’ve faced over the years. They don’t know how difficult potty training was or what a 45-minute meltdown looks like at the grocery store because our babies are overstimulated.
Truthful Tuesday is about the “detective work” that happens behind closed doors. It’s the mental energy spent mapping out a sensory-friendly route through a store, or the hyper-vigilance that never quite turns off, even when the house is finally still.
Truthful Tuesday is about acknowledging the parts of this journey that are hard to explain to those who aren’t living it:
- The Sensory Math: Constantly weighing the joy of a new experience against the potential “cost” of sensory overload for our children.
- The Weight of the Future: The quiet, late-night thoughts about what independence and support will look like as our children transition into adulthood.
- The Unspoken Exhaustion: Knowing that even a “good” day requires a level of advocacy and preparation that most people can’t imagine.
The Hidden Realities
My truth today? I get overstimulated by my kid.
I didn’t really know what overstimulation meant until autism entered our lives, but some days, I feel it deeply. I feel it in my sensitive ears, in the way I shrink at touch, and in the way I have a desperate need for five minutes of silence. At times, I wonder if I have always been oversensitive, and it just took his noise to finally wake it up. We are two people with opposite sensory needs trying to occupy the same space. When his world gets loud, mine starts to vibrate, and I need a quiet space to regulate myself for a few minutes.
It’s a heavy thing to admit. We are supposed to be the “calm in the storm” for our children, but what happens when the storm inside of them starts a storm inside of us?
The truth is, we can love our children fiercely and still be physically overwhelmed by the sensory intensity of their lives. It doesn’t make you a bad parent; it makes you a human being with a nervous system that is doing its best in a very loud, very high-demand environment.
If you are carrying these hidden truths today, I want you to know that I see you. On this porch, the “extra” steps you took just to get through the morning are understood. You don’t have to justify the exhaustion here.
What is one “hidden truth” you’re carrying this Tuesday? No judgment here. Just support.
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To help keep Our Autism Village running, some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I earn a small commission which helps me continue creating resources for our community.
Medical Disclaimer
I am a Special Education Teacher and a parent, but I am not a doctor, psychiatrist, or licensed medical professional. The information on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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