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Robin LaVoie's avatar

No masking here! Although I will say my son likely has some degree of stress in certain situations, school or social outings, in NOT being able to mask when some part of him knows he’d fit in more if he could (or maybe that’s just me projecting my stress onto him?). But mostly my son is who he is and I don’t think he has much worry about trying to be someone he’s not. As Mars gets older he may find places/reasons where fitting in becomes important to him, or he may never care. We keep focusing on finding the places/people that accept B as he is.

Good luck with the climbing safety, and with having him home — glad you can get some staff to come to you, that’s great! I “homeschooled” for a year and didn’t know what I was doing either, ;) — and I also had some home therapists for him which was a huge help!

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Melanie Webster's avatar

Thanks Robin, it is nice to hear that your son also is who is and doesn't worry about others, it is quite refreshing and I feel, for Mars anyway he seems to be quite content and happy most of the time that we don't pressure him to change. I think at this point of time if he is in a stressful situation he is quite oblivious as to what he could be doing to try and fit in, but then I guess he is only 7 and has a long time ahead to potentially learn these things, and quite frankly I don't always know how to act myself when I am stressed in social outings! And thank you for your words on homeschooling, your son has turned out amazing so you must have done a stellar job!

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Robin LaVoie's avatar

Well, my son has done well despite all of my missteps! :) I know when he was younger I pressured him more than I would now to “fit in” because I thought that’s what would be best for him going forward. He had to show me, over the years, that he (and we) can be ok just the way he is. I’m still not perfect at it, by far!

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Melanie Webster's avatar

Well I think we get thrown into this world that is quite different to what we anticipate when we become parents so it’s probably only natural that you would try to work with him in a way to help him be included. And I think I only haven’t gone down that route because there is more information now and much of that paved by you and reading your experiences. I am very grateful you share as it helps mums like me that are still early on in this different world!

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