Hi! Still here!

Wow, it's been over a month? Hmm.

Well, umm.

Been kinda busy with a lot of stuff, and . . .

OK, here it is. Daughter has a new diagnosis.

And I haven't wanted to write or talk about it much.

So far, in fact, the only people I've talked to are: the diagnosing doctor (duh!), the school system, Husband (of course), and the few friends and family that I feel the most comfortable sharing with. Specifically, my parents (but in-laws have not yet been told) and my one friend with a close family member with the same diagnosis.

So . . . it's still hard for me to say. Or write.

But I suppose the practice is good for me. Right?

Daughter has Asperger's.

There. Said it. Asperger's.

And I know, in my gut, that this is right. Because Husband and I had, essentially, the same reaction.

Oh! Well. That explains a lot.

This is not the reaction we had to the ADD diagnosis. That was more of a: Hmm. I guess I can see that.

My mother had a similar reaction, from which she immediately back-pedaled, realizing as she spoke that I might feel differently: That's a relief.

This is why I can't talk about this yet. I am not ready to hear words of condolence or pity. I am not devastated. I am not "mourning the child I thought I would have." I am . . . relieved.

Because what "Daughter has Asperger's" means is this. There is a reason for all those little odd behaviors. There are social skills she needs to learn that she cannot "just pick up", but that she most likely can be taught. And the school system can, will, and must help her with all of it. They have already started.

Did I say once that there is never a resolution?