People are jerks

Vaccines. Oh and autism.

Yep, that old gem! It's a topic everyone likes to weigh in on, and the wrong people think they're knowledgeable about! I don't read a lot of news, or news-type things that get shared around on facebook, but apparently some footballer's wife is charging people $200 each to hear her tell them why vaccines are bad? I don't even really know what I read, I couldn't get my head around the stupidity. Why anyone would pay that amount of money to hear an opinion is beyond me. She's not a doctor, she's not a pharmacist, she's not a scientist, she's just someone with enough 'celebrity pull' to get picked up by the media for their crazy ideas! 

Oh BTW, this is all just my OPINION. I haven't researched it in depth, but I'm happy to tell you more about it for $200 a head! 

Anyway, the thing about this whole vaccines are bad thing, is that people get so up in arms about it 'causing autism'.... which was disproved by science (go google it!)... how much of an asshole are you if you'd rather your kid DIE from a preventable disease, than possibly have some form of Autistic Spectrum Disorder?! Think about it. Really think about it.... You decide you want a child. You might take months or even years to make that happen. But then you decide you only want them if they have no "abnormalities"?? You'd rather risk that child you waited so long for, DYING than have a "disorder" 

Of course no one says "I hope my baby has a disorder or abnormality that will make their life difficult because people are assholes" We all hope for the 'perfect baby'. But it's our job as parents to do everything we can to keep our kids safe and healthy. And if they happen to have a diagnosis or 'label' of some sort, then we do whatever it takes to understand them and accommodate them and their needs in our lives. 

I'm going through this now with Mr 5. Last year his kindy was concerned he was showing Autistic behaviours and pushing me to have him assessed. At first I was pretty defiant! I didn't want anyone saying there was something 'wrong' with my child... Hasn't my family been through enough? Do I really need another thing to worry about? Maybe he's just not coping with life! I couldn't say I'd noticed a lot of the things they were saying... so then I started to question myself. Am I really that preoccupied that I don't even know my own child is 'different'...
I know it's not that something is wrong with him, it's just that he operates differently. He is how he is, and I'm used to that. He's still my beautiful baby boy and I love him quirks and all. The one thing I definitely wasn't thinking is "gee I never should have had him vaccinated!" 

This year starting school has been hard for him, and we're on a waiting list for an OT. He was observed by a few professional services last year and, they think that yes there are some different needs there. But more likely some sensory type needs. I'd love to find some strategies that work with him. He's very stubborn (no idea where he get that I swear) and he likes to take his time doing things. It has to be on his terms or there's a meltdown. What I don't want is a label!! If it helps him to focus and learn then that's great, but if it's just an adjective to put after his name, then no thanks! I want to be able to explain his behaviours not excuse them.

Again this is just my opinion, but there seems to be a lot of kids with 'labels' who are not helped to live with their needs. It's just a case for the too hard basket. 'Oh well little Timmy has ADHD so we can't do anything about it' Obviously not everyone is like that. 

I'm not a flawless parent. I get it wrong. Often! But I love my babies more than anything in this world and I'd do anything to keep them safe, happy and healthy. And judging from Miss 7's teacher interview yesterday, I have to say I'm dong a pretty fucking amazing job!