0 I would love your problems as my own.

Social Media, you are a cruel mistress.   You connect me to tons of friends and family I don't see very often and keep me up to date on their doings.  "Checking in" at various events and activities.  I see their photos of their kids.   I keep tabs on all their issues.   I've made good friends with several moms I've met online that I literally chat with every single day at some point.   You know who you are.  We get each other.

But you can probably tell that at some point every day it is a reality check for me for how completely different our life is compared to the average Joe.  It's really hard sometimes to see the bragging photos and updates on all the awesome stuff their kids do that I know will never be my kid.   Of course, I love these people and I am happy they are happy but god damn it is freaking hard bad to feel what they complain about too.   Yes their issues are valid to them but dude can I have their problems for a day?  Or an hour?

Sport teams and all the doings that go with, yeah I can see how keeping that organized can be a right old bitch.  Especially when I see friends update how they are usually freezing their arses off on some sideline while their kid is at practice or a game.   Why are all these events in bad weather?  You parents of the neurotypicals really need to figure out getting them into climate controlled situations.  I'm sure the expense of all the junk they need to play is a pain too.   I mean at least my kid occasionally gets insurance to pay for some of his stuff.   I still look at your updates of complaining about getting new cleats as a first world problem.   Sorry folks.  Price AFO's (ankle foot orthotics).  Cleats are a piece of cake.  You kid no longer is interested in playing?  Yeah I can imagine eating that expense would piss me off too.  However my kid not going to OT isn't an option.

The folks that post all those fantastic pictures of their kids.   I love them and I loathe them because it probably didn't take 138 shots to get one of them looking at the camera and smiling.  Thank god for digital camera and smart phones.   I feel like an annoying paparazzi but I'm just trying to get one good shot.  Just one.   Do you know the panic/dread I have with buying school pictures?   Or making that Christmas card?  It sucks.  I can't relate to a parent complaining that they have "to many" to pick from.  I just can't.  Please let me have that problem.  I'd love it and embrace it and possibly french kiss it to boot.

The updates on the grades and the school projects and the standardized testing.   Man I almost can't even read it some days.  I'm so sorry that your kid didn't get that extra credit question on the test but I'd love just once to have my kid take a test.   Finish a standardized test even.  Yeah my kid can tell you who the 20th president of the United States was (James Garfield, you don't have to feel bad for not knowing. I had to check with him too) but he still can't write his name.  So yeah, I'm sorry you're in homework HELL with spelling tests to study for or math worksheets to check, I just wish I had that problem to complain in solidarity with you.

I know I know.  The grass is always greener but it's just so damn hard to remember that.  I'm sure if the kiddo was "typical" I'd be bitching about something.  Like the kiddo just got invited to a birthday party for a kid we know.  She's neurotypical and frankly as happy as I am he is included, my stomach just goes in knots at the idea of going.  Cause I can't just be like "go play honey" while sit back with the other parents.   I get to hover and direct and keep engaging him with the other kids.   This next one is at a park we haven't been too.  I bet no other parent is going to do a walk thru/ recon like I will this week with him.   Just getting him used to the setting.   They won't have a thousand conversations explaining things like "presents first, than cake".   I see some parents actually drop their kids off at parties and then come back later for them.   That's never gonna be us.   The very concept blows my mind.   I envy that but at the same time I think "well then you're missing a party" and really as stressful as they are, hey, it's still a party.

I hate that I feel like this.  I will allow myself the pity party for one though.   I'm not a robot.  I'm not an autism guru.  There will be days that are great and others that are sucktastic.  It's the path I'm on and I have no map.  Oh Jeez, were you following me?  I haven't a clue where I'm headed.  I'm all for a road trip so feel free to tag along.   I'll even share a side of fries with ya. :-)