Perfectionism
While it is certainly admirable to focus on the needs of our friends with autism, and to diligently tackle all the issues that arise in the lives of individuals with autism, perfectionism can be counterproductive.
or
continue reading
For example, a parent of a youngster dealing with several serious issues related to autism said, “We are just not able to keep up with all the things we should be doing for our daughter. We know she could benefit if we spent hours with her every day working on communication and social skills and academics and motor skills. But our best intentions often go to the wayside.”
These comments are echoed frequently by other parents, by teachers and therapists, and by others who are interested in the well-being of individuals with autism. It is probably important for us to step back occasionally and reflect on the big picture. Remember this: perfection is not the goal. Consider these thoughts.
FORGIVE YOURSELF. You are not going to be able to provide a perfect life for any individual, whether they are diagnosed with autism or not. Forgive yourself for that so you don’t waste time and energy beating yourself up about all your failures and shortcomings.
FORGIVE OTHERS. Our friends with autism are going to encounter imperfect teachers, imperfect friends, imperfect doctors, imperfect therapists. And their families, no matter how dedicated, are also imperfect. We will encounter individuals and groups who do not understand autism or who are intolerant of differences. We will encounter people who are critical of our parenting or teaching or therapy skills and abilities. Others will criticize decisions we make and paths we take. Although there is a time and place for indignation, sometimes it is necessary to just forgive the criticizers and move on.
TIP FOR THE DAY: Keep this perfect thought in mind: perfectionism is not realistic.
Also remember this: we offer “perfect” resources for time-strapped teachers, families, therapists, and others. Just click on http://FAQautism.com
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
Automatically generated related posts:
- Far From Perfect “We are just not able to keep...
- Falling Short We are falling short on all the...
- Imperfection Parents of a youngster with autism were...
- Gift for You Take some time – even five minutes...
- Five More Steps to Sanity We are continuing our discussion about steps...