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Autism, Mental Health and the Labelling of Monster

It’s time. For those of you that know me, I hate labels, short cuts and excuses. For other people. I LOVE short cuts and excuses if they are mine. And though we’ve been struggling with Monster in many ways since he was a toddler, he was so unique, so outside the different labels that we heard suggested or considered, or mumbled over the past few years, I never pushed to have one because it seemed at the time more like an excuse than a necessity. In fact, I may have pushed against one. If my child obviously fit a mould, I would have embraced whatever label was suggested to get him help.  But most of the time, most of the time he only grazes the top.  He doesn’t fit the box, the criteria, the different expectations for a kid with the various labels that have been offered. So I just said no. Monster has an imagination that makes you wish you could see what he sees while he runs, jumps and sings his own theme music around the room. He’s been working computers and video game consoles and tablets since he was a toddler.  Usually, better than we can.  And at 4 I already knew he was a gamer.  Which is strange for us, since his dad and I aren’t.  We have considered sending him to live with my brother. He loves puzzles and wants to know each detailed bio of each obscure super hero. He makes you laugh.  He has the best grin.  He is affectionate and cuddly and will never hug on demand but will always hug on his whim. He wears costumes and capes and two different shoes and…