Humanity Stopped Listening

I know I am not alone when I say the 2016 political year has been ugly.

UGLY

No matter what news report you listen to, no matter what online source you follow, it is all hateful. There came a point when the issues were forgotten and it became a he said/she said tantrum of events. I cringe when I log onto social media, a place where I share stories about my children, a place where I go to follow friends I don't get to see often, and all I see are repulsive attitudes. Cyber bullying at it's finest.

So as I normally write about autism and disabilities, how does this relate to my root cause?

I often wonder how I can expect society to accept my child, to be kind, to teach your own children about acceptance, when in fact society can't practice it themselves?

I tend to think I will spend the rest of my life on this earth fighting the fight, fighting his fight. Being that mama bear that has to protect it's young because I have no faith in humanity.

When I have friends still using the word "retarded" to refer to a political figure, I guess they are not my friends after all. When you belittle someone online for their political choice, you are a bully. Plain and simple. And while I hope you are not passing that mentality on to your children, the ones that sit with my son at lunch, chance are they are learning it from you.

Remember when your mom taught you "if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all"?

Humanity stopped listening to their mom.

It's Not Just About The Puzzle Piece

I saw a beautiful scarf recently covered in puzzle pieces. I pointed it out to hubby that I would love this scarf, that it would accent my work outfits. He said buy it.....the money will go towards autism awareness.

I am all for "lighting it up blue", jewelry and clothing with puzzle pieces and donations to societies that fund research.

True autism awareness is not those things I just listed though, at least not to me.

It's explaining to friends why we didn't go to your child's birthday party at the dark, indoor mini-golf course (sensory overload).

It's seeing another parent to a child on the spectrum and giving that look like "you're not alone".

It's taking your child to a restaurant and dealing with the stares when he gets so upset over them not having his favorite food.

It's taking the time during all those instances to educate society on why my child is not like yours.

It's writing a blog so people can see the good times and the bad, so parents can have someone to relate to in a world that can feel so lonely.

So I will continue my donations, my puzzle piece shopping and my blue light bulb because if nothing, it sparks conversation.

But truly making society aware that I'm not a bad parent, that autism doesn't have a look and that I can't spank the "bad" out of him comes from being a proud parent to an amazing ASD child.