That's exactly how I was as a baby/kid. My mom said I was always down to sleep and would just sit and examine the world. Turns out I have crazy anxiety and autism. But I never noticed until I was in college because my parents always made me self advocate and be in uncomfortable situations. It's amazing that she's so comfortable with you. Having supportive parents is so important!
We’re pretty sure she’s not on the spectrum, my wife is a middle school resource teacher so she’d know. But she gets anxious as all get out. It makes me want to tussle her hair and say “you got that from daddy, aren’t you happy?!”
But she and I are buddies, we go to movies and watch Bluey, go to the library and have lunch. It’s fun.
I only found out i was on the spectrum when I was 30. I always just thought I had adhd (the nonattentive type). After college, I stopped taking Adderall and realized I actually aligned more with ASD when I started working with ASD kids, and we had a lot of similarities, lol. But I have a 3 year old son, and he just got diagnosed with autism (not surprised), and it's so interesting to see yourself in your kids. He's an amazing little dude! I'm sure she'll remember all the fun you guys have together!
I've worked with educators the last 15 years. Most are wonderful and knowledgeable as I'm sure your wife is. But they are not trained psychologists to diagnose anything.
I fought for 16 years with my kids school's special education team to recognize my child's now diagnosed disfunctions. Even professionals have blind sides, especially with their own kids.
I'm just an unqualified stranger on the internet, but I wouldn't dismissed it on "my wife is a resource teacher so she'd know." It's a spectrum and really hard to tell sometimes.
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u/LesMiserableCat54 Jan 05 '25
That's exactly how I was as a baby/kid. My mom said I was always down to sleep and would just sit and examine the world. Turns out I have crazy anxiety and autism. But I never noticed until I was in college because my parents always made me self advocate and be in uncomfortable situations. It's amazing that she's so comfortable with you. Having supportive parents is so important!