Quirky, Eccentric, and Anti-Social Parents: The Truth About Aspergers Syndrome Parents and Neurotypical Children

Transcend Mediocrity, Book 107

By: J.B. Snow

Narrated by: Mike Norgaard

There are many books and articles out there about the difficulty that neurotypical parents have in raising Asperger children. Neurotypical parents find out that their child is on the autism spectrum, and they often experience a sense of grief when they come to realize that their child will never be what they might have envisioned. The child may be quirky, awkward, and difficult to relate to.

There is a well-known poem in the autistic community called "Welcome to Holland" by Emily Perl Kingsley. It tells of excited parents hearing everyone else talk about going to Italy. They pack their bags. They are so excited to see Italy like everyone else. Their trip destination is suddenly changed, and they end up in Holland instead. Italy clearly isn't Holland. But they must enjoy Holland for the beauty that it is. In the same way, people must enjoy the personality, challenges, and the love that their autistic child brings into the world.

There is another side of the coin, however. What about when the reverse is true? There are many people who have Asperger's disorder who go on to get pregnant. One or both parents might be undiagnosed but still on the autism spectrum. There is a chance that the baby may turn out to be an aspie as well. The child fits in just fine with the parent who behaves in a similar way to them. After all, many aspies run in the family. But sometimes a neurotypical child is born to one or both aspie parents.

This audiobook seeks to provide you with the deficiencies that can occur between a neurotypical child and a parent who has Asperger syndrome or who falls on the autism spectrum. We hope to educate adult children who grew up with an aspie as to why they might be experiencing Complex-PTSD, who may have felt alienated as children, and who are largely confused in their world. This audiobook also seeks to educate those who may mentor or work with an NT child who was born into an aspie family or who has constant exposure to aspies.

©2015 J.B. Snow (P)2015 J.B. Snow

not perfect but not terrible

This is a bit too general and short but overall it's good and helpful. It needs more explanation about both the autistic and Nero-Typical brain functions that cause the behaviors that the two types find so hard to understand about each other, but as a very, very basic start point it's not bad.

Helpful but Balance Needed

As an new Aspie mom I don't want to run away from these kind of stories. I want to learn from them and troubleshoot my own situation. So this is helpful to read. BUT I also think that it is a personal experience that is presented as if it is a matter of fact, general and all-inclusive account. All Aspies are different, just as all NTs are different. All Aspie parents are different. There are some characteristics that are pretty consistent, that's how people receive the diagnosis... But it will be expressed differently through different personalities. I wish there was a stronger review of these parents positive traits also, unless they really were just bad parents all through. I had an Aspie dad and an NT mom. I struggled with them both. But I have learned to practise gratefulness for all the things they did so right. Let's appreciate our parents. Most have serious flaws (including the NTs), most are doing their best. But thanks for sharing your experience. It is a valid experience. It is helpful.

Enormously helpful

A short effective glimpse into the challenges and potential resolutions between Asperger's and Neurotypical family.

good overall principles, could use broader stories

I am neurotypical with an Aspie mom, and it was nice to hear explanations for the frustration and exhaustion from the neurotypical child's side of the relationship. However, I will say that some of the details of Aspie behavior presented in the book seem to be describing one or a few specific people, so it would be nice to hear a collection with the experiences of multiple people to weave a broader picture of aspie+neurotypical dynamics. But considering the length there is a lot of great information here and the author clearly understands the neurotypical child's point of view. Also great narrator.

Short!

I was hoping for something deeper on the subject. All I learned was that I may suffer from CPTSD if I was raised my a parent with ASD. Appreciate that affirmation. Now what?

This book is very one-sided. Thumbs down.

This book is very one-sided and derived from the author's trauma. It gives no complete overview of the characteristics of a spectrum of neurodivergent parents or their neurotypical children.