Free Menopause to Matrimony (Fortytude Series Book 2) by Shelly Hickman Page B

I come across stresses the importance of teaching these socially expected behaviors to the child because they will never come natural. She’ll have to learn them the same way she learned the alphabet, through rote practice.
    Another article catches my eye, one written by the parent of an Asperger’s child. As I scan through this candid piece that addresses many of the questions grandparents may have, this articulate mother explains how such a child is “blind” in many ways, and that it takes courage for her just to walk through each day. Therefore, she needs accepting, loving grandparents to show her understanding and guidance.
    My eyes burn and I swallow the lump in my throat. The author goes on to share what it’s like to be the mother of a child on the autism spectrum, how so much more of herself must be given than the average parent. How the day-to-day difficulties of raising a unique child will lead to stress and exhaustion that can in turn affect her entire family.
    Lowering my head, I massage my forehead with my fingertips. That’s it. If it turns out this is Claire’s diagnosis, I need to start planning now on cutting work hours so I can help. Carly already started her adult life with an unplanned pregnancy and the strain of finishing her education. How will she navigate through all of this? Jason and Carly had plans to get their own place once she finished her graduate program, but now I’m not sure it’s such a good idea. They’ll need the extra support they currently have from Luke and Richard. I’m just thankful we all live in the same city so we can provide that for them.
    Overwhelmed by this possible reality, I’ve lost the desire to gather more information right now. I glance down at my cell phone and see that I received an overlooked text from Hayden, asking me to call him when I have a moment.
    “What’s up?” I ask once he’s on the line.
    “Hey, do you think you could give me a ride to work tomorrow? My car was supposed to be out of the shop this afternoon, but they need to keep it one more night, and my roommate’s out of town. If you can’t, no biggie. I’ll see if I can get someone else.”
    “Sure, I can do it.”
    “Thanks. So… I just got off the phone with Carly.”
    “Oh. Did she tell you what the doctor said?”
    “Yeah. Kinda scary, eh?”
    As a mom, one thing that pleases me to no end is that my kids are close as adults. No, they don’t spend huge amounts of time together these days, but they do keep each other in the loop about the important things in their lives.
    “How did she seem?” I ask. “We didn’t really have a chance to discuss it afterwards.”
    “She’s pretty shaken up.”
    “Gah! I just wish there was something I could do.”
    “Well, with any luck, the doc is mistaken. And if he isn’t, I told her if anyone can handle this, she can. She just got a degree in human behavior, for cryin’ out loud. So Claire’s got a mom with the chops for it.”
    I’m not sure I agree with Hayden’s simplistic assessment of the situation, but I’m proud of him for expressing his confidence in her. “You really are a good brother, you know that?”
    “I know,” he teases.
    After we hang up, I lean my face in my hand and gaze at the computer monitor. Surely there are some good things about Asperger’s, because everyone knows there’s a history of “unusual” people making brilliant contributions to society. Instead of freaking myself out with all the challenges of this possible diagnosis, I type “positive things about Asperger’s” into the search engine.
    And I’m glad I did.

 
    THIRTEEN
     
    “Your skin is on fire,” Kiran says, squeezing my hand as we sit down for dinner.
    “I don’t know what’s going on with me lately. I actually had to keep an ice pack between my hands last night just so I could sleep.”
    He grimaces and leans over to kiss me. “Poor thing.”
    “Just something else I plan to talk to my doctor about at my appointment.