Why My Autistic Son Misbehaves
"Have you seen my son?" asks Jennifer Hendrick. "He's the kid who bites or hits your kid at school. When asked why, he says, 'I don't know or I forget' ... Maybe you scolded me for being a bad parent."
The thing is, she says, her son's behavior isn't the result of his choosing or bad parenting. His behavior is because of his brain development. Like many kids on the spectrum of ADD and Aspergers, "he just doesn't get it."
Her vision of parenting was soccer games and neighborhood block parties, so she's surprised and exhausted by her son's condition. But she says she hopes to that the world will give her son, and the "gift inside" him a chance.
Related NPR Stories
Autism: Helping Children Connect Sep. 10, 2008
How To Avoid Being Bankrupted By Autism Sep. 9, 2008
Finding Support For Autism Sep. 9, 2008
Why Can't Doctors Diagnose Autism? Sep. 8, 2008
Autism Chronicles: Single With An Autistic Child Sep. 8, 2008
Comments
Discussions for this story are now closed. Please see the Community FAQ for more information.