Everyone advises against comparing your children to others, but let's be real – we all do it. It's just human nature.
Yet, it’s often those comparisons that spark the realization of your child's developmental delays. It's the comparisons that nudge you to question, to seek answers, to push for a diagnosis like autism.
I vividly recall watching Brantley and his cousin, who was only one month older, as babies. The contrasts were stark, especially as Brantley seemed to regress at 6 months old. I felt the weight of knowing he wasn't hitting those typical milestones, and as a new mom, it felt unbearable. Seeing other children his age effortlessly meet those benchmarks only amplified the struggle.
It's a burden that can feel incredibly isolating, constantly measuring up against society's benchmarks of success and achievement.
But here's the thing – that weight won't always bear down on you. Somewhere along the journey, you'll ease up on comparing your kids to their peers.
I recently watched a video of that same cousin skiing. He was so graceful, so fast, so talented. And you know what? I watched it in awe of his abilities, not through the lens of how different he and Brantley are that I looked through eight years ago.
Somewhere along the line, I've chosen to embrace each step of Brantley's path, celebrating his progress and accomplishments without the weight of comparison. After all, it's not about how he measures up to others; it's about embracing his journey and helping him grow at his pace along the way.
I believe this growth is a common journey for all autism parents, or at least I hope it is. Removing the comparisons removes a weight that every Autism parent should shed.
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