Author: Gayatri Vathsan
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Autism Awareness: A Mother’s Perspective – IX
Part 9: Therapies, Choices, and the Long Road Between Our son Krishna was diagnosed as autistic about six years ago at NIMHANS. What happened next? Shock, devastation, grief, fear. To be honest, as parents, we didn’t want our child to struggle lifelong just to survive in this world. We were scared witless about his future.…
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The Case of Manjamma’s Vanishing Relatives
“Is Manjamma’s work good?” my new neighbour asked me. This lovely young family had just relocated to India, and the lady was rediscovering the luxury of having domestic help. “Manjamma’s work is excellent,” I answered honestly. “When she comes.” The lady didn’t think to ask what I meant by that little addendum. We went on…
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Parenting Is Tough
Parenting is tough. Parenting an autistic child who cannot express themselves is an order of magnitude tougher. And there is no book or guide to walk you through this parenting journey, despite all the books on the subject. Because each parent’s journey is unique, whether their child is autistic or neurotypical. My journey till now…
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Autism Awareness: A Mother’s Perspective – VIII
Part 8: Labels, and the Way We See I started writing this series on autism awareness because I needed to share what I’ve learnt till now on my journey with Krishna. I’ve been overwhelmed by parents who reached out to me to share their own stories. I’ve also been shocked by the experiences of some…
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Autism Awareness: A Mother’s Perspective – VII
Part 7: Behaviour Is Not the Problem My son Krishna loves to clap and play with his fingers. He also hits his hands, feet, and head against hard surfaces – the walls, the floor, or my skull if nothing else is handy. Sometimes it’s a gentle knock. And sometimes, not. My husband and I didn’t…
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What Does “Normal” Really Mean?
Krishna, my 10-year-old son, is not “normal.” I wonder if your first reaction to this statement is: Why is she dissing her own son? I am not. Krishna is on the autism spectrum; he is neurodivergent. Don’t think—worse! She’s dissing those poor neurodivergent people! Rewind. Let’s look at the Merriam-Webster definition of “normal.” NormalAdjective :…
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Autism Awareness: A Mother’s Perspective – VI
Part 6: The Myth of the Emotionless Autistic Let me tell you a story. A story about perceptions and misconceptions. One day, we had guests visiting. It’s a rare occurrence because our son, Krishna, has stranger anxiety. The visitors were a couple my mother’s generation, and their son and daughter-in-law. I thought that the older…
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Autism Awareness: A Mother’s Perspective – V
Part 5: What is Stimming in Autism? Krishna has always expressed excitement and happiness in a very particular way—by tensing his entire body and vigorously shaking his head. When he was a baby, people smiled and said it was adorable. When he was a toddler, they still found it endearing. But after his diagnosis, something…
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How Are You Coping?
“How are you coping?” Such a simple question, isn’t it? And yet, when it was asked, I found that I didn’t know how to answer it, because the words rose and then stopped somewhere in my throat, thick and unformed, while my eyes burned with something I had not expected. And I am not someone…
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Autism Awareness: A Mother’s Perspective – IV
Part 4: Emotional Expression in Autism I have been sharing my experiences with autism through my son Krishna’s ongoing story, which is now six years old, post diagnosis. At the time of diagnosis, however, we knew next to nothing about autism. The word evoked vague memories of Dustin Hoffman in Rainman. Or obscure news stories.…
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Autism Awareness: A Mother’s Perspective – III
Part 3: The fallout of SPI in Autism A new year with new beginnings – this is my hope and prayer for my son Krishna and all other children on the autistic spectrum. Of course, the adults too. I’m hoping for 2025 to bring more sensitivity and awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorders. The last week…
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Autism Awareness: A Mother’s Perspective – II
Part 2: SPI What does it mean to live with autism? Let me share a little of my experience the past 10 years as the mother of an autistic child. Autism and sensory processing issues (SPI) Autism majorly walks hand in hand with sensory processing issues. We experience the world through sight, smell, taste, sound,…