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Hello!

Cruella

Cruella

Well-Known Member
I am a first-generation autistic, as is my husband who presents differently from me. We are raising and have raised autistic and non-autistic children. When I was a child myself, I was "raised disabled" under the DSM-II, and it wasn't pleasant. My outdated diagnosis at the time was Minimal Brain Damage, which is roughly an autism and ADHD combination today. I was diagnosed autistic under the DSM-IV. I plan on allowing myself to be a test subject for the DSM-V, because I'm used to being a psychological test subject while ironically simultaneously being considered muddy data.

I've been told by professionals that I seem like classic proof of the debunked refrigerator mother theory and that I also very much refute it. In other words, my parents never loved me and I adore my descendants.

My life has been and will continue to be odd. In 2012, Canada wouldn't let me immigrate due to being a disabled and chronically ill adult, so that was a bucket of fun.

Come under two weeks, I'll be 48 years old. The kids range from age fetus to age 18. Most of the kids are home schooled. Nah, I'm not religious. It's just easier for us that way, and I used to work in the public school system.

Username is after Cruella de Vil. I'm a non-evil and obviously maternal version of her.

I can't think of what else to say, so I'll leave it at this for now.
 
Refrigerator Mother Theory"—I have never heard of that before. I love the animated Disney 101 Dalmations! Bienvenue!
 
An old and damaging theory that autism is caused by lack of parental love, particularly lack of maternal love. Of course it isn't.

101 Dalmatians has so many different continuities. The animated versions are my favorite, too, and thank you!
 
Hello Cruella, and welcome. Your experience sounds different than many of us who are older and not diagnosed until much later in life.
 
My life experience is odd in general. Sometimes I still feel like I did something very wrong to have been "caught" as a child, especially since I was a girl in rural nowhere.
 
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