"Autism is only part of who I am"

Carson had a fairly good weekend with very few meltdowns. When he woke up for school yesterday he wasnt feeling well so I kept him home. I hated to do that because I know how much he misses when he isnt at school but I just couldnt send him when he was feeling so miserable. We had to bring him to the dermatologist for a rash that he has had since the beginning of July. Its on his face and it comes and goes. We have had him at the pediatrician twice for it and have tried a steroid cream and an antibiotic cream and they helped but the rash kept coming back. The dermatologist said most likely he has eczema so we have another ointment to try and if that doesnt work we will bring him back in 2 weeks.

Bringing him to new places with people who don't know he's autistic is always difficult. I dont want to tell everyone we come in contact with that he's autistic because I dont want Carson growing up hearing that over and over. Anytime we bring him to get a haircut I always wonder if I should say something that way the hairdresser will be patient with him but I never do. I just dont feel like its something that I need to always say and like I said I just dont want Carson to always hear me explaining him to people. Yesterday when we went to the dermatologist it was the same way. He had a meltdown when the doctor tried to look at his face and I wondered if I should say something but I decided not to. I dont know if thats the right choice or not but to me at the moment it felt like the right thing to do.

He cant go through life holding a sign that says "I'm Autistic". He is much more than a child with autism and yes its difficult for him to be around people and its difficult when people try to make conversation with him and he doesnt respond. However, I dont want his autism to become a crutch. I dont want him growing up thinking that he is weak or cant accomplish things that other children can.

One day when he is much older we will tell him that he's autistic but I dont want that to put limitations on him and we will explain to him that he is different but he can do ANYTHING that anyone else can do. I just want him to acheive everything he can in life and I will not sit back and let him get swallowed by his autism. I will be his voice and I will fight for him every day!