I so can relate to many parts of your story. You are definitley right about one thing children with austism are very special. They do see the world differently than most of us,   but sometimes it's not bad at all how they see it I mean. At kindy age my Ben only had a vocabulary of 10 words and to be honest not all of them very totally understandable. The speach therapist suggested a pediatrician as she thought he had all the signs of ADD or ADHD and as a mum I knew that wasn't the case. They just love this label I'm sure. I always knew Ben was different, I beleive I could see it in his eyes as a newborn. After all he was my forth child. Anyway I'm glad he didn't get seen for such a long time otherwise he probably would have been medicated. By the time I answered their questoinere all the answer were so the opposite of what they would have been 2 years early. Like he used to be aggressive, which I know was frustration that no one sadly not even me understood what he was trying to say. But at kindy age some very different signs appeared, he would build the same thing with blocks every day. The colors were always in the same place exactly, never did they differ. If some thing were not done as he thought they should be, for example milk heated in the microwave before putting the weetbix into the bowl sticking up along the sides and it had to be 4 not 3 or 5 or anything else but 4. And if this didn't happen right he would be histerical. And he was not throwing a tantrum, he just could not cope with it not being how it SHOULD be. He learned to cope by just doing it himself. That aggressive so called ADD kid is so soft and withdrawn. He tells me a lot that he wishes he could go to school and have nobody speak to him. Some days I wish no one would talk to me, Mum, he says. He doesn't look at anyone in the eyes not even me. But he is not Autistic because they say he can hold a conversation with you. And the rocking he used to do, and when he's gone somewhere and you can't get his attention, and the things that just have to be. Are all just habits they say. So who am I to know any different I am just his Mum, and not a so called expert.   But I know that like your Jamie my Ben too is special. I mean all children are special, just some are special in a different kind of way. Just like they see the world a little or sometimes a lot different to us. Thank you for sharing to all of us how your Jamie is, I hope one day soon to meet Jamie, when I know that I will meet you.  Excellent arctile.      

 Thanks for sharing your story with us, both you and your son a very special people.

Will also help others in the same situation.

Cheers Janice

This article must have been hard to write Give yourself a big pat on the back.  My eldest wasnt diagnosed until 3 with moderate Developmental delay.  He didnt walk until 22 mths looked into space most of the time only played with same toys all the time. laughed at nothing and wouldnt let me out of his sight.  If I did he screamed on top of his lungs for the whole time I was away.  My mother said he is paying you back for returning to work and leaving him in childcare.  He was nine mths when first attended child care.  First child didnt know that those reports when starting not doing set milestones ment something may be wrong.  Pysho noticed and health worker put his name down on Govt wait list for service we watched him go backwards while waiting that year nothing was learnt and he feel behind his peers.  My husband and I watched with no help the trantrums getting worse and longer.  Finally go in at 4 only had two words Dadda and Nanna he forgot how to say Mumma.  Speach therepy worked magic.  He had to learn sounds group sounds and you guessed it the words came then a flood the tantrums stopped for a awhile. Routine was in my son Ross was ok routine upset he was on the floor stiff as a board screamin large tears down his face.  I believe he is austic however Ross gets so upset if he goes to the doctors its not worth it.  Staff and patients cannot handle it we have been told to leave and stop him from screaming.   I wish a doctor could come our house to fairly access him. Ross is seven know attendes a normal school with a special needs class.  The school  knows him and gets on ok with the other kids. Also last year was a part of the jnr choir but only sung at school functions.  Teachers and myself worried make freak out if in chior outside school.  So If you see a young person on the floor screaming and a mum trying very hard to keep the child moving please dont judge.

THANKYOU so much for this article.

We have just had our child diagnosed with PDD-NOs as well and also to come back in a couple of years for re-assesment of eithe asperges or high functioning.The behaviour that you describe is just like both my 4 and 5 yro daughters ( only miss 4 diagnosed so far) and it is nice to know that we are not alone.It can be quite lonely and frustrating sometimes when you feel you are the only one in the world with this kind of child. Miss 5 also has an aquired brain injury so we are have some difficulty getting her assesed ( not to mention the cost).

Hang in there and if anyone tries to offer pity, just say what I do, " we don't know our lillte girls any different and love them just the way they are".  You could also do what I keep threatening to do and make a T Shirt that says" I NOT naughty! I have AUTISM" 

Great read , every child is wonderful and special and your son is no exception.

good times are probably out weighing the bad times.

this is great for ppl to read that are in ur situation...great reading ...i wish u all well and all the best to u all....

xxxx

Thank you so much for telling your story.  I wish you and your wonderful boy all the very best in life.

pity its anonymous would love to correspond

thanks for sharing this,

xoxox

heya Liz! just wanted to say that the times that i have meet you and your mob, i think you have done amazing things with that little boy. he is one of the coolest kids i have ever had the pleasure of meeting. any time you is down our way and have a spare bit please let me know cause him and logan played so nice together that last time, would so love to see that again. ::)'s from becca!

i can so relate to you, my son is 7 and when he was younger i refused to believe that there was anything wrong with him. he was diagnosed with global devlopmental delay and i fought to get him reassessed as i knew there was something more.

I am still waiting for the assessment to be done for autism but in south australia there is a years waiting list.

my son still cant use his bowels in the toilet, going for a wee he is brilliant but number 2 we have huge problems.

there isnt enough support out there, we havent seen a speech therapist or an occupational therapist in ages and i feel until we have the assessment i feel like we are hitting a brick wall.

I have a Downs Syndrom brother who was diagnosed with Autism at 5, I know where you are comming from. I hope you are getting support from some were for your self as well. My poor mom was run off her feet trying to keep up. You need to make sure you are taking good caire of your self too.. I was the aldest  by four years ,so mom had some help off me esp. as I got older. I love my brother to bits and belive he was sent to us for a special reason. If only to tech us tollerance and understanding.. 

I will be thinking of you  love and strenth....Lisa x x x

Thanks for sharing this with us.  I had no idea that there were different types of Autism.  You sound positive and Alex is lucky he has such support at school and of course at home.

What a wonderful article, thank you for sharing this with us. 

Angie

Thank you for sharing this story. Its a great article. Your a great mum

Hhhmm, after reading this, I think maybe a trip to the behavioural specialist for my four year old might be a good idea. 

Great article Libby.  You are a great mum to be doing everything you have done for your son.  bummer about your labour though!  Oh well, I'm at the other end of the scale, so we balance! lol.

Hi, my daughter has Autism also.  I understand what you are going through.  The part where you said that Chris' mum doesn't believe you, I have been there too.  At first my father inlaw couldn't handle the fact that he had a grandchild with special needs.  He tried to blame it on my side of the family.  It made me and my wife mad, until we figured out, that it kind of hurt his ego.  He thought it was his fault that she was like this, because he has some minor mental issues.  As I am writing this, my wife reminds me that my own mother and sister kept telling us that our daughter was just being lazy.  It is hard for people to think that someone they are related to has problems.  I agree with you also, that as much as I wish my daughter didn't have Autism, I think that she is who she is, and I love her for that.

Hey Libby,

I know everyone has already said but, thank you for sharing your story, It can't be easy not having the support from your In-laws.......as they are still family and always will be. It would be nice especially for Alex if they could just accept things the way they are.......no-one is perfect and I very much doubt that your In-laws are even close to be being perfect. I hope they learn to accept both you and Alex the way you are because they are missing out on so much.

Much love to you and your special boy.......

Amanda xxxxxx

hey liz

i can finally leave you a comment yippe

thanks for sharing it with us .. and your not a bad mother you and chris are the ones who know if there is something wrong with alex none else beside a docter i guess

love bel xx

He does sound like a very special boy indeed Hugs for you and your family. Thanks for sharing

 Lexi xxx

Thanks for sharing this personal story of your special boy Alex. So heart breaking yet so heart warming. You are just a wonderful mum.

Hugs Janice

PS Maybe in time, there will be more support for families in your position.

Thankyou for sharing such a personal story with us. I feel for you for not having the support of your families, if you did then this would have all been so different.

You are so strong to have gotten though it all so well, congratulations to you and your partner.

By the way, they are both very good looking kids!

Hi liz,

Great article  . . .  Never ever doubt yourself ok . . .  I'm glad you wrote this and i'm glad you are here . .Oh and you are a great mum

Cheers Kellz

Hey babe.

Congrats on this article! It's great.

I know how you feel as i've been there before! Keep your head up babe, and if you ever need someone to talk to, i'm here ok. You need all the supoort you can!

Love Ya