Planet Autism

We've all heard that men are from Mars, women from Venus, and Tom Cruise is from, well, some other planet. But many of us non-Top-Gunners are finding ourselves these days on a place called Planet Autism. I packed up and moved there a few years ago and haven't returned since.

Planet Autism is filled with therapies, doctor visits, moody kids, and a harried mom who missed the "soccer mom" boat and landed herself instead in the "therapy mom" boat. It's the much lesser known brand of the all-American mom, but the boat is filling up fast. It's a one-way ticket to Planet Autism. All Aboard...

I look at my calendar every day to tell me where I am going. It's been a little bossy lately. Don't let the picture of the pretty little palm trees swaying in the breeze fool you. My calendar is relentless. Last week I had an appointment every day; a few days there were a couple I had to bounce between in the same day. Lest we forget I had two kiddos being dragged to each appointment that had some sort of promise of making our lives better. I started to feel like the girl in The Exorcist. Somebody needed to stop my head from spinning or it may well have shot off my body into outer space. Hey, maybe at least I'd meet Tom Cruise.

Thank goodness for Brenner, because he did just that. No, he didn't get me Tom Cruise's autograph, but he did stop my head from spinning. He told me I was doing too much and I was taking our poor kids down with me. I fought back for a minute or two, but quickly caught on that he was right (please, don't anyone tell him I said that).

Taking a hiatus from Planet Autism is darn near impossible though. I live with therapists and doctors who almost come from different planets themselves. The pill-poppers are fighting the integrative doctors like the confederates did the union. I don't know how much it matters though because Lincoln still gets shot in the end.

So I guess it's up to me to end the madness. I was told tonight to go with my instincts. I think my instict has told me lately that I suck. I need to make some changes and let my kids be kids again. Sure I need the help and will still paint my address on Planet Autism, but I need to find a healthy balance before my head starts spinning again.

So maybe I will hit the sack and sleep on this one... balance myself out with a little shut-eye for now. Or maybe I will crash in front of the tv for a few. I have the sudden urge to watch Jerry Maguire.