“This is something I touch about every year on - and that's the Victim Moms vs the Warrior Moms. And you're both out there, so hopefully you can recognize yourself if you are a Victim Mom after I explain this. Um, when our kid gets diagnosed, obviously I think we all fall into that same thinking of “Oh my god, I'm going to ...die. Not my kid. What am I going to do?” And there's this part that takes place - a moment where you have to decide, are you going to take charge? Are you going to give it everything you possibly can to save your kid? And then something surprising happens with a lot of other moms. They - this is all subconsciously, but they fall into this victim role and they like it."
Now, before you get pissed, watch it in context here.
Here is my take. "Warrior Mom" has come to mean a Mom who is doing biomedical interventions and/or the DAN (Defeat Autism Now) protocol. But I don't think that needs to be the exclusive definition. To me, a Warrior Mom is the one who is fighting for and advocating for her child in every possible capacity: at the Dr's office, in the community, in every stinking IEP meeting. She refuses to settle for the way things are and is continually raising the bar, challenging her child and everyone around him/her to do better. And a Victim Mom is one to throw her hands up and say "it is what it is and I can't change it." And guess what autism moms?? They both live in all of us!! THAT'S THE POINT! You choose (daily) which one you will be, and we need to be concious of it. As fierce of an advocate as I am, I have days where I fall into being the victim (though they are few and far between). But overall, I simply refuse to accept that this is as good as it gets, and that is what keeps me going, and by the grace of God, has lead to such huge improvements in my boys. Don't underestimate the power of attitude!
No comments:
Post a Comment