What I appreciate/thankful for:
Childhood: I grew up in a time when parents practiced "skillful neglect" and taught independence at an early age. If I wanted to eat, there was food in the kitchen. If I wanted to purchase something, I had work and earn the money. From the time I was 9 yrs old, I had several neighbors that I did their yard work and snow removal. I was the eldest of 4 children and I was to watch over my younger siblings when we were out of the house, which was pretty much all the time. If the weather was nice, we were not allowed inside the home. If I needed transportation, I rode my bike or took the bus. My mother was often left at home without a car. My mother, father, and grandparents never had a thought in their heads that I was too young to do anything. I was machining metal parts on a metal lathe when I was 6-7 years old. My grandfather and I actually built a wood chipper for his farm, cutting metal, welding, drilling, and assembly. I was taught automotive and small engine repair as a small child. I learned how to tend a garden, start seedlings in a greenhouse, plant, grow food, and prepare a meal. I was constantly competing in sports, baseball, football, track, weightlifting, etc. I was taught from an early age responsibility, duty, independence, life skills, competition, and a strong work ethic.
Adulthood: I continued with these values and although I made my share of mistakes along the way, I continued forward with my life, using these mistakes as "life lessons" and gained wisdom. I remodeled a home, learned carpentry, how to rewire a home, tile work, plumbing, etc. I tore down a car, rebuilt it for racing, learned welding, automotive electronics, how to reprogram automotive computers, suspension and brake tuning, etc. I learned how to create a 300 gallon wall aquarium, all natural, balanced ecosystem without mechanical filtration. I learned how to stand up in front of my healthcare colleagues and lecture. I took on a part-time teaching position in addition to my full-time hours at the hospital. I never took NO for an answer if it was something important to me. I was married at 19 just before my 20th birthday and it was the right thing to do. We are still happily married. We both support each other, but also keep each other in check. We are both independent in our own ways, but inseparable in other ways. We don't NEED each other, but rather WANT to be with each other, which is an awesome situation to be in. We raised two great kids, both are successful in their careers and are good men. I have what I have in life because I pushed through adversity and worked for it. I am a self-made man.
Having said all that, even though I had a sense about myself that something was "off" about me, even as a child, I really didn't recognize much of the autism symptoms, as autism, until much later in life. Which makes me wonder, if my life experiences allowed me to overcome and be more positive about my life than say, others who were not brought up to be future adults, but were, in ways, inadvertently and lovingly, held back by their parents. Those that are of the so-called "high-functioning"/Asperger's/ASD-1 variants, in my opinion, often do not grow up in an environment that fosters independence, competitiveness, work ethic, life skills, responsibility, and duty. As a result, in my opinion, many do not have the intellectual tools to overcome adversity by finding their own way through life and being successful at it. I have said this many times here, that we need to stop being frustrated and depressed that we cannot follow the paths of our neurotypical peers. We must find our own way, whatever that means for us. It starts as a small child and parents that don't hold us back. Most small children, especially autistic children, are far, far more capable and intelligent than parents give them credit for. Parents often focus upon the things their autistic children cannot do, or struggle with, rather than fostering and building upon their natural abilities. Food for thought.
