Choose Your Words Wisely

Choose your words wisely.

This is one of the first pieces of advice I give parents of children with any sort of language (not articulation) delays or issues.  Now if only I could remember it as often as I should.

Today she was arguing with her 4 year old brother.  I told her to stop being ugly.  Yup, that's what I said.  Being ugly?  Mean, rude, insensitive, right?

Well, to a literal 7 year old female who (once the words are in her head) can't process them the exact way I intended them, heard "you're ugly."  And that's why I am in time-out.  The mean mom who called her daughter ugly.  I can explain to her until I am blue in the face what I exactly meant but she still heard, "mom thinks I'm ugly" in her intricate mind.

I am NOT looking forward to the teenage years.  NOT.ONE.BIT.  She's currently in her room crying her eyes out and sobbing, "mom says I'm ugly" and won't come out.  Yup, mom of the year award right here!

Yes, I know.  My blog is about finding the joy in autism.  Well, some days it sucks.  Yes, she is fearfully and wonderfully made.  She's perfect, smart, unique, and loving.  But sometimes it just sucks.