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In reply to the discussion: Are you autistic? I am. [View all]

Hekate

(99,507 posts)
36. Thank you for teaching us, hunter. I remember the books that blamed "refrigerator mothers"
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 01:11 AM
Yesterday

That was when I was under-20 y.o. Later, when I had more life-experience, I realized that these mothers were trying as hard as ever they could to present themselves to psychiatrists and educators as calm and rational and intelligent and capable of understanding what was going on — and in so doing, to help their children. “Refrigerators” my ass. The world was run by men with the ability to judge them and their children very harshly indeed.

Recommendations

8 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Are you autistic? I am. [View all] hunter Monday OP
This was an excellent read and insightful. Thank you. chowder66 Monday #1
KNR and bookmarking. niyad 11 hrs ago #66
Probably. canetoad Monday #2
Recommended. H2O Man Monday #3
DURec leftstreet Monday #4
Yes Timewas Monday #5
This is such a hateful, ignorant, regressive period in history... hlthe2b Monday #6
Thank you for sharing your story mr715 Monday #7
Thank you for writing this. milestogo Monday #8
Great post Wild blueberry Monday #9
Thank you mountain grammy Monday #10
I am, too, and I feel for you EnergizedLib Monday #11
Yes Oneironaut Monday #12
Hunter, thank you for sharing your experience Ilikepurple Monday #13
Thank you for this. yardwork Monday #14
K&R mvd Monday #15
This message was self-deleted by its author Prairie_Seagull 19 hrs ago #50
I have Asperger's - my inability to read ppl led me to Psy. alittlelark Monday #16
I'm an Asp. ChazInAz 18 hrs ago #55
How did you overcome writing "like an ESL student with a head injury?" Sogo Monday #17
I started college as an engineering major and switched to Biology... hunter Monday #22
I suspect I may be on the spectrum. area51 Monday #18
Thank you for every bit of that and sharing it here. Maru Kitteh Monday #19
The kids told me that I am on the spectrum. Grolph_ Monday #20
For what it's worth, I think your writing is excellent. 3Hotdogs Monday #21
Very insightful, hunter... slightlv Monday #23
Covid DID its best, for now. vanlassie Monday #24
Sharing your story and experience has done us all a real service. Thanks ❤️ MLAA Monday #25
Apparently me too. KentuckyWoman Monday #26
Sincerely thank you for this Sympthsical Monday #27
Excellent. Thanks. I'm definitely on several spectrums. Fortunate to have found my way. Need more for Silent Type Monday #28
I am not, but I love someone who is. FM123 Yesterday #29
Thank you posting proud patriot Yesterday #30
You write very well for someone who is 'autistic'. Jack Valentino Yesterday #31
RFK jr is a total dick and a nasty moron. Would be nice to go back a couple of years when I didn't know he existed. Dave Bowman Yesterday #32
In the end, we're all, each, a bag of tricks... BurnDoubt Yesterday #33
Yes. meadowlander Yesterday #34
Thank you for this, meadowlander Hekate Yesterday #37
I am impressed by your strength Easterncedar Yesterday #40
This description is so helpful Alice Kramden 22 hrs ago #41
Thank you for posting this LetMyPeopleVote 18 hrs ago #53
Thank you for sharing meadowlander Ilikepurple 6 hrs ago #71
Excellent post. markodochartaigh Yesterday #35
Thank you for teaching us, hunter. I remember the books that blamed "refrigerator mothers" Hekate Yesterday #36
I gather most of us are, to some extent Oeditpus Rex Yesterday #38
My experience is similar to yours Mossfern 19 hrs ago #49
My mom had it both ways Oeditpus Rex 6 hrs ago #72
Thank you dearly, hunter, for sharing your experiences and perspective. It is laudable and helpful KitFox Yesterday #39
This is a wise and helpful thread Alice Kramden 22 hrs ago #42
Raises hand. nt. druidity33 21 hrs ago #43
Autism Mr.Bee 20 hrs ago #44
K&R spanone 19 hrs ago #45
Yep!...along with most of my family... MiHale 19 hrs ago #46
Thank you for sharing your story, hunter Clouds Passing 19 hrs ago #47
Probably Lithos 19 hrs ago #48
I put my parents through hell and I was completely oblivious to that. hunter 16 hrs ago #59
Thank you for your story LetMyPeopleVote 19 hrs ago #51
Pretty sure I am. no_hypocrisy 18 hrs ago #52
High functioning autism is in our family, so I'm very familiar with it. I have a cousin whose parents didn't understand Martin68 18 hrs ago #54
Thank you for sharing your life here. You are a fantastic writer. 1WorldHope 17 hrs ago #56
Thank you for posting--glad autism is being discussed now by people with lived experience. Timeflyer 16 hrs ago #57
This sounds just like my son, but currently he only has a diagnosis of ADHD LT Barclay 16 hrs ago #58
One of my kids is "on the spectrum" and now a successful adult. hunter 15 hrs ago #60
Thanks anyway. LT Barclay 7 hrs ago #70
Post removed Post removed 15 hrs ago #61
probably AllaN01Bear 14 hrs ago #62
My daughter is. Pacifist Patriot 14 hrs ago #63
There are strong upsides to having autistic friends PurgedVoter 13 hrs ago #64
terribly functional so not considered. pansypoo53219 13 hrs ago #65
found out I was Aspie when I was about 67 or so..Now 77. LiberalArkie 9 hrs ago #67
Thank you for your honesty -- your voice matters youssef5070 8 hrs ago #68
I think we are all born and live in our own world for as long as possible. Aussie105 7 hrs ago #69
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