A learned man recently told me that being Autistic, our kid will never be ‘normal’ and would never lead a ‘normal’ life and that’s that and we should accept that and prepare for it.
Okay. Thank you for being so blunt. And because I only see good in people, I will convince myself that you said this to me with all good intentions because you believe it is good for me to be realistic and prepare for the future accordingly and not cling to false hopes. Okay, I get that. But I have a question for you.
Can you tell me with the same surety that you will lead a ‘normal’ life going ahead? That you would not need a support structure later in life? I’m not saying this because I am about to break your legs, I’m just asking you because I want to understand how you’re so sure about what will happen with my kid over the next 70-80 years when you can’t even tell what will happen to you tomorrow?
If you believe that telling me the harsh ‘truth’ is the right thing to do then let me tell you a harsh truth also – You have NO idea what would happen to you in the coming years let alone my son. You are only guessing based on your limited knowledge and understanding of ‘today’. You might feel very normal right now but tomorrow could be very different for you also after I break your legs. Oops, sorry did I just say that aloud? What I meant to say was – Tomorrow could be very different for you also if, God forbid, something terrible and bad were to happen to you like a disease or accident.
God forbid. Now you see? In your own case the only way you can continue to be sure of leading a ‘normal’ life in future is by adding ‘God forbid’. We evoked God’s help to secure your healthy future but by being harsh and blunt to me, aren’t you denying me the same hope? The hope of ‘God willing’?
My son might seem atypical today but ‘God willing’ as years go by – his learning and understanding could develop, technology could develop, science could progress and who knows… Really, who knows what kind of technology or science or a combination of these would help my kid?
This doesn’t mean that we are not preparing for the worst. We are. But as we prepare for the worst, we would still like to hope for the best. Why take away that hope from us?
God willing….