Sometimes, well-meaning people try to give our situation a cosmic perspective. They point out how our older son has learned so much and become such a caring and responsible child as a result of our younger boy's autism.
"He's so good with his brother. So patient and kind. He wouldn't be the same if his brother were different."
It's a nice idea, but I'd like to think we'd be capable of raising a caring and responsible child without this fucking albatross that is autism. Whatever.
Sometimes, they try to ascribe certain characteristics to our boy that are a stretch, at best.
"He's an angel."
"He's a gentle giant."
If you've read my previous post, you'd know the score on that.
But the thing that really gets me is this platitude: "God gave you the child He knew you could handle."
OK, I know this is intended to pay some amazing compliment. It suggests that my husband and I are superhero parents and God looked down and said, "Give him to them. They will know what to do."
Here's the problem: He's fucking GOD. If he can control everything, why give a kid autism in the first place?
I refuse to believe that God, if He exists, gave my child autism to prove to the world what a rock-star I am. That's just douche-baggery.
I'd like to think that God is not a douche bag.
If I've pissed you off, I don't have time to apologize. The boy just dumped cereal on the dog.
