who do you tell and who do you not tell?

i'm not ashamed in ANY way of my ds, i'm soooo proud of every little thing he does but i didn't tell many family members/friends that josh has some sensory issues. i just don't want them to treat him differently.

i've told some of my friends that are in the field (i'm a spec. ed. teacher and many of my friends are teachers or therapists) b/c i know they will not prejudge him. and some of my family that i know will understand and treat him the way they should. but that's it.

i don't think it is anyones business.

how do you all feel about this? who did you tell/didn't tell?

I used to feel the same way. Now that I am having a harder time, I do tell more people, just because I need more support or advice.

I still don't tell DH's family..

I used to be very selective on who I told about my son. I have a large family and some of them are in related fields, they were the ones that I went to first to get help on what to do. Some of the other family members have and still have been very cruel and unsupportive. Now I've grown a little bit thicker skin and just ignore them when they make rude comments.

As H is getting older, it's getting harder to not say something. I just know I'm doing the best thing for him by getting him help and I concentrate on the amazing improvements he's making.

With there possibly being a genetic correlation to many of the issues a lot of us deal with, I would want my other family members to be able to tell their ped. if it turns out their child was having certain issues.

No one has ever treated my son differently after being told of his developmental delays. In fact, I think people are MORE understanding because there is an actual reason the way he is. He's not just being a "brat" or "difficult" or "picky" or "anti-social".

I talk about it with anyone. Because I know it could be helpful to everyone.

And, lots of my family members went through the same things that I am going through...so it's easy to talk to them. And, I learn a lot from them.

But I do have ONE person that I talk to the most about it (you know who you are ) where I don't hold back ANY questions or concerns. Where as with other people...for some reason I don't go into as much detail.

I was very shy about telling people about Bryan and EI.
I ended up telling people and it got easier and easier. It helped me realize that he is NOT the only one going through this and family & friends have been so supportive.

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Posted by lvdolphins

I was very shy about telling people about Bryan and EI.
I ended up telling people and it got easier and easier. It helped me realize that he is NOT the only one going through this and family & friends have been so supportive.

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Posted by lvdolphins

I was very shy about telling people about Bryan and EI.
I ended up telling people and it got easier and easier. It helped me realize that he is NOT the only one going through this and family & friends have been so supportive.

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I'm with the rest of you. There was a time when I didnt know how to answer certain questions so I didnt share at all. Now I'm so darn proud of how far he's come and how awesome Early Intervention is, I tell everyone.

I tell everyone and anyone....

I guess, as she's gotten older, I feel an advocate of sorts.

But if you knew me IRL the fact that a talk about her disabilities openly/freely is simply just "me"...

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Posted by colesmom

I'm with the rest of you. There was a time when I didnt know how to answer certain questions so I didnt share at all. Now I'm so darn proud of how far he's come and how awesome Early Intervention is, I tell everyone.

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Posted by pmpkn087

I talk about it with anyone. Because I know it could be helpful to everyone.

And, lots of my family members went through the same things that I am going through...so it's easy to talk to them. And, I learn a lot from them.

But I do have ONE person that I talk to the most about it (you know who you are ) where I don't hold back ANY questions or concerns. Where as with other people...for some reason I don't go into as much detail.

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Posted by maybebaby


Could not say it better!!

I was VERY guarded about talking about Johnny. He was/is my life and nothing could change that BUT i didn't want people thinking he was "weird" or a "bad kid" because he did quirky things. It hurt like hell in the beginning..I hated even talking about him as if he were abnormal but it has only helped...and its amazing when you open up to people that you soon discover how many others out there are going through it or have a niece/nephew with the same thing. It really really helps.

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Posted by hbugal

I tell everyone and anyone....

I guess, as she's gotten older, I feel an advocate of sorts.

But if you knew me IRL the fact that a talk about her disabilities openly/freely is simply just "me"...

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Posted by Little-J-Mommy

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Posted by pmpkn087

I talk about it with anyone. Because I know it could be helpful to everyone.

And, lots of my family members went through the same things that I am going through...so it's easy to talk to them. And, I learn a lot from them.

But I do have ONE person that I talk to the most about it (you know who you are ) where I don't hold back ANY questions or concerns. Where as with other people...for some reason I don't go into as much detail.

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I heart you too I think ti wonderful that we are able to share our lives with each other without the fear of being judged

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Posted by maybebaby


Could not say it better!!

I was VERY guarded about talking about Johnny. He was/is my life and nothing could change that BUT i didn't want people thinking he was "weird" or a "bad kid" because he did quirky things. It hurt like hell in the beginning..I hated even talking about him as if he were abnormal but it has only helped...and its amazing when you open up to people that you soon discover how many others out there are going through it or have a niece/nephew with the same thing. It really really helps.

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If it wasn't for you, I don't know that my ds would have improved so much already. Because you shared your story with LIF.....I was able to identify with it. You gave me the courage to call EI. So thank you for that

To the OP.....I share with people when I feel it's necessary. Either to explain odd behavior or why I'm up ds butt or sometimes it's because I sense similarities in their child and want to encourage them to call EI. I want them to know they're not alone and how much EI really does help

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thanks for all the responses!

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Posted by maybebaby

This just made me cry!!!! We have had a VERY hard week over here, and reading this has really really helped brighten my day.

The fact that your child was helped b/c of my story means so much, you have no idea. thank you for that and I am so glad he is doing well

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