OK, small warning, I love the show Scrubs. Because of it, I’ve seen every episode, at least twice. Including the one with the following clip from Taken Season 4, Episode 18:
Preceding this clip, Dr Cox believes that his friend’s son might be on the spectrum and runs a series of tests – that would normally be done by a specialist, not a hospital doctor, but that’s a different story.
This clip shows three people, and the responses you’ll quite normally see.
- One who leaves as soon as it’s about to get uncomfortable, not knowing how or what to respond.
- One who is in denial, who sees how his son does some things better, and wants to believe that his son is neuro-typical.
- And one who just wants to help.
I wish the last one was more common. And when you find out your child is on the spectrum, you’ll find a lot of people leave because they can’t handle it, and don’t know what to do.
Luckily there are those that stick with it…and you. You need them, so don’t push them away.
My wife and I were told that 50% of all parents divorce within 6 months of receiving a diagnosis. I remember being told that in the big conference room as we got the diagnosis for our eldest, our youngest was six weeks old or so sitting in his portable carrier, and our eldest was less than five years old. I knew I couldn’t abandon them.
We took it as a challenge to stay together. 18 years later, we’re part of the other 50%…and we work hard at not giving up on our kids, or each other.
No matter if it’s you, you and a spouse, you always need that third person. Someone who is not going to leave you and help you. We can’t do it alone.
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