Who says we are staying sane?  :)  (This is a reply to Shootingstars's post, I'm just having some technical problems--I posted a lovely reply yesterday that was promptly lost in cyberspace, so I am being forced to create a Blog entry as a reply).

Well, the obvious answer to "source of strength" and "shoulder to cry on" is a religious answer.  I think we all explore that in our own way and faith, even my husband the skeptic.  I think Faith is better than Xanax, plus Faith often comes with a support group of people to care about you, pray for you, and bring you casseroles.  But, although I haven't been short on Faith, I've been away from that scene for a while.  

All right, let's talk about the unreasonable burdens and demands that are placed on us Mom's of ASD kids.  Let's face it, it takes most of my energy to just take care of and clean up after Wyatt.  Meeting his basic needs, buying groceries, doing laundry, vacuuming, dishes, cooking, getting him from point A to point B all the time, that wears out any mom.  Now we add a layer of IEP meetings, therapy sessions, insurance paperwork, OK--I guess I can handle that.  No, wait, we forgot "parent training."  I'm expected to be a therapist, too! And a doctor, special diet chef, lawyer, teacher, researcher, and the list is endless.  This is our life 24/7.  But we can't live that life 24/7, it is just not good for our sanity.

That's why we need time for ourselves.  We have to find respite.  We have to trust someone to watch our kid for a few hours while we go out, even if it is just for a walk or to stare at a wall, and remember what it was like to relax and not think about autism all of the time.  As Cindy wrote to me, sometimes we need to unplug.  Sometimes we need to turn off the computer, put away anything to do with autism, alarming statistics, and therapy methods, and turn on some music and dance.  We need to read a book, create some art, sweepstakes, yoga, whatever--get away for even just a few minutes at a time before we are interrupted again by that cute kid in our lives.

So that is my answer:  Do nothing and have a lazy day and a "mental health" break for yourself whenever possible!  Everyone needs time off.