magneficent 7

[3kids]

This programme is on tuesday night bbc2 at 9pm it's about a mother with 7 children four of whom are autistic.

Well you are right there Aloha!

You can tell her so from me! I thought they were super-nice and a real tribute to her. They certainly seemed very loveable and funny and clever.

You are right Baka, at the end of the day it doesn't really matter or make much difference. That's why I don't feel that I have to watch everything and hear/read about everything. I was a bit more that way inclined some years ago and you find your way of functioning, deal with the people you need to and get things sorted as best you can. End of!

Yes that's true. I still like reading stuff, but more detailed functioning stuff now - but life storied out iykwim. Now I know where ds1 is on the spectrum I tend to find the life stories so very different from mine it's not really relevant, or completely depressing because they're a sign of what may be to come. There was a time when I definitely found it all really useful though.

I think I've changed recently (last few months). I iused to want people to "know what its like", but I've realised that doesn't really happen, people either seem to get it intrinsically, or they don't and they don't have to read anything to get it iywim (and if they don;t reading something doesn't help!!). All part of the process I guess.

I agree Baka, I watched the programme as I am always interested to see how autism gets broadcast/published, however I did think it portrayed a mainly amusing aspect to autism. It didn't show the manic side,meltdowns or enough of how the rigid behaviours impact on daily family lives. The AS character seemed extremely placid compared to dd who is more of a mix between the AS character and the ADHD character.

I would only expect people to grasp from this kind of medium a very diluted aspect of autism just like I am sure I do of other programmes/publications about life experiences that aren't relevant to me IYKWIM.

I have very mixed feelings about whether more publicity about autism and Asperger's is a good thing or not. I was saying to DH yesterday that I fear that Aspie will become a term of abuse in the same way that mong and spastic were used when we were at school .

I did have an amusing mental picture of Davros and Baka all dolled up like Helena Bonham Carter, little camisole tops, lipstick and nice hair at all times! Of course you get the time to put on lipstick as a matter of course, don't you?

But afaik Jaqui does look like that! Which I do find amazing.

Yes I know that Aloha I did see the original documentary about her.

But she looked a hell of a lot more tired, though. I remember the bit where she was taking her one of the two youngest boys to see a specialist and she looked practically transparent with exhaustion.

Hi,

I taped this documentary the other night and still haven't watched it - I'm probably not going to now either. I don't usually find programmes like this of any help to me personally and it doesn't sound that entertaining either. Like many others on this list, I suspect, I really went into all the whys and wherefores, possible "cures" etc. for autism when my kids were first diagnosed and I have gone through the whole list! I don't regret spending a lot of time doing that because I think I would have always wondered whether doing a gf diet or trying certain supplements etc.etc. would have helped if I hadn't tried it. However, you can get really bogged down with too much info and I'm now very picky about what I take on board. I think us parents always want the best for our kids and just try to muddle our way through in the best way we can so, I would never knock any parent even if I disagreed with what they were doing. The only advice I would wholeheartedly give to parents of ASD kids is to forget the diagnosis but to really observe what YOUR child does and when they do it. Start right at the basics - eg. if certain foods cause behaviour problems etc. then tackle that first. Pick your battles very carefully and deal with them one at a time. And don't necessarily follow what the professionals have mapped out for your child. Most I've met are very nice but they can't help boxing your children in with their prejudices. I educate my 2 ASD kids at home - they are mostly very contented and have come a long way. I've got every belief that they can go as far as they like.

Hi Lazywoman, I think you've given yourself the wrong name!

Hi "Apixelmascarol",

I live in hope! There's nothing I'd like more than to be really lazy from time to time but I never seem to find the time! I've tried all sorts of ways to achieve this dream - you know - not worrying about the house falling apart around me, or caring about what people think etc. But I've decided the only way I'm really going to get my "lazytime" is to be super efficient so I'm working on that one now!

Ha ha dinosaur- but I never wore make up BEFORE children so I can't blame autism for that. If I even owned a lipstick ds1 would just draw somewhere with it.

Actually thinking about it- I did have some make up in my house (dating from my wedding). Ds1 flushed it down the loo.

Make up? Carpet paint, is that what you mean?

Trained as a make up artist but have to keep it to a minimum now for obvious reasons.

Unless I fancy orangey walls anyhow

I think the media coverage might have one use: there's a lad (25) at Uni who is SO OBVIOUSLY AS it's amazing, but he has never even heard of it. I did tell him about it today and he seemed to listen, but well you know I doubt he processed it. Shame tho, he's lovely but has no friends (willingly admits he can't work out how to do friendships) and just retreats into his academic world. If people like him saw programmes about it, they could get the help they (certainly he- he averages A+ but has left before as felt isolated) need.

Dino, you have met me so you know how VERY funny that image is! Like Baka (Imdreading...) I've also never been one much for make up etc. I used to do it when I was younger and for work but have always found it difficult to maintain! It proves one of my many theories (as well as the Davros rule) that having a child with ASD, and probably many other situations, doesn't fundamentally change you. Apart from very bad patches when no-one can behave "normally" I think everyone I know behaves just as they would otherwise, they just apply it to fighting for their child, dealing with professionals etc. Hope that makes sense???!!

So that's who I'mdreading is! Was wondering