Wondering how we cope with the teenage years?

...the latest pose when asked if I can take a pic...
all dressed up to head out the tea at our local club

Sometimes questioning if we would actually make it through in one piece?

 never-the-less we push on through, hoping the outcome will be positive and not a total disaster.

No-one's perfect so we must remember not to be too hard on ourselves.

Our motto we follow is to clear the slate each evening before we go to bed, and start fresh the next day.

Choose your battles and focus on the important things, no regrets, no guilt, no what-if's. 

Watching A.J. progressing through his teenage years, it seems the more evident his quirky mannerisms are becoming, some of his ASD traits seemingly more severe, and yet I feel his age makes them more pronounced and obvious, exposing the cracks to things that were always there. 

From a public perception,

Visually we see a young man looking as though he could take on the world.

With the wisdom far beyond his years.

Then he will speak, listening to his conversation topics, the monotone of his voice, his fast paced dialogue, all this combined may have others struggling to comprehend or understand what he's trying to communicate.

At this age there is an expectation of maturity, so when others are visually talking to our teenager, they don't instantly recognise the bigger picture, not knowing or understanding his diagnosis - Aspergers/ASD -

-seeing a child at the chronological age of 15 almost 16,

-with an academic age of 17/18,

-yet he's emotionally/socially closer to the age of 11/12.

That type of combination is the hardest to comprehend.

As he continues to struggle with the concept of social interactions he can express a clumsy, child-like mannerism, he still paces and mumbles as his form of 'stimming' to regulate his emotions, laughing and joking when he should be serious, not responding to visual body language, or the hardest for others to accept is replying in what may seem to be rude or ignorant, due wanting to respond although not realising or knowing what the correct responses should be.

Overall, if we could get back to basics and let kids be kids, removing the high demands thrust upon their everyday life, to let their hair down and enjoy the moment.

So much 'political correctness' and 'pampering to the masses' leaves little margin for personal expression.

With a higher expectation for our kids to behave or react in a much more mature manner than was expected 20-30 years ago, and why.

Being unable to physically let go, due to the concerns of being harmed or fearing being teased and bullied for being 'different'.

If we hurt ourselves we were quick to get up, brush off, and hope no-one saw us.

Now it is an excuse to lay blame to someone else for financial gain; resulting in limitations to our kid's play options and physical outlet.

So what if we all behave a little differently to each other?

What is - right - normal - correct - who can really judge or dictate these thing anyway?

So sad really.