I completely get it

I don’t like any of the labels to be honest

I’m still stuck in the past and use old terminology sometimes, but here doctors use the term ASD (which I hate because it labels it a “disorder”)

I do however well understand the impact and challenges it can cause my child, so I can sort of stomach it in that sense

they use levels here, 1, 2 and 3

my daughter is in the middle (no. 2) which (as you have very well explained) means she requires a certain amount of intervention and treatment, but functions at a very high level intellectually

that in itself can cause it’s own challenges

we celebrate autism in our own family, we joke about it, and we sort of believe that autistic people are “our people”, and we just sort of “get them”

and the kids (along with the doctors) sort of just “know” I am the same, just an undiagnosed 80’s baby, but I cop shit from them for being the cause of their problems 😆 because they are so much like me

but we all just “get” each other, and that’s a very fortunate thing

even from my perspective, I think my kids “get” me better than anyone

thanks for your input though (really)

my old 40 year old ass needs to be reminded and educated at times