Autism... In My Family (1)

I have been silent for quite a while now. Been really busy with work and matters of the  home. Have always wanted to jot down some of the updates and happenings around me but time clearly envy me… To catch a decent 40 winks is also hard some times. But I guess that is life, kan?

So, this time I wish to share about the one thing that has been in mine and hub's minds -- autism and our kids. Yes, autism. A.U.T.I.S.M. Cara nyebutnya, O-TEE-ZEM. Many of you may already know its meaning. Some may not. In fact, some of mine and hub's family members do not really understand what it is. When they hear the word 'autism', some have this picture in their minds -- the image of a mentally retarded person. Well, close, but not close and true enough.

Autism is a complex developmental disability that affects the way children communicate and relate to the world around them. (Chewahh… That's me trying to sound like an expert, when in fact it is just an excerpt I saw in one of the many books that I read! Haha..). I got that definition from a book "How to Help Your Autistic Spectrum Child", by Jackie Brealy and Beverly Davies. It is clearly shorter and much easier to understand compared to others that I have read.

Now… What is the deal with autism and my family? BIG deal. You see, both of my twin boys have been diagnosed with autism. Yes, my two wonderful charming princes -- Ryan Asyraff and Ryan Aimar -- are both autistic. Based on the scale the experts gave, Asyraff is moderate, Aimar is mild. So what, you may say… Well, to people who are not in the shoe of people like me who have a child or children diagnosed with autism, no big deal. But for people like me, parents who have a child or children diagnosed as one, BIG DEAL. Yes, it is. I will start by telling you the history of us and autism… NEXT… :) Stay tuned...