Grateful for my family that didn’t treat me like a problem
By Eli Mercer on
I’ve seen so many stories on Reddit, TikTok, everywhere about families who treat autistic people like they’re a problem. And honestly, it makes me realize how lucky I am, because my experience has been the complete opposite.
I deal with sensory overload, shutdowns, needing routines, hand-flapping, pacing the whole mix. Some days it feels like my brain is full volume while the world won’t turn itself down.
But my parents never made me feel “too much” or “embarrassing.”
My mom always noticed the little things, like how certain fabrics hurt my skin. She used to cut tags out of all my clothes without even asking. My dad never commented on my stims or my pacing he’d just say, “Do what you need to do, kiddo.” When I hit a shutdown at a family gathering, they didn’t treat it like drama. They just helped me find a quiet space.
And when I decided to take my first solo trip, they didn’t baby me. They supported me fully. They believed I could handle it, and I did.
And that love makes all the difference.