There are also times when your child may get very upset and lash out. We all may feel frustrated when we can’t find the words to say what we need or want. Your child may cry, yell, or act in ways that seem sudden to others. But these moments are not about bad behavior. They are your child’s way of trying to communicate when their feelings are too big or too hard to explain.
Holly shares that sometimes Cody will say, “Too many words!” when he feels overwhelmed and cannot take in everything around him. She explains that this does not mean he is giving up. It means “the timing or the delivery might not be meeting his needs.”
As a parent or caregiver in these times, you do your best to stay calm, listen, and help your child feel safe until the moment passes.
If you have a child with ASD, going out in public can be hard, too. It breaks the routine. Noise, bright lights, and busy places can feel like too much. Even a short trip takes planning. Sometimes you may need to leave quickly. There may be moments when others stare or do not understand. Those moments can feel heavy. As a parent, you want people to see your child with kindness. Your child is not misbehaving—they are trying to say, “This is too much.”
