Most people wonder what mothers do in their down time. You know, when the laundry is done, the house is clean, and the little ones are all down for glorious nap time. I can tell you right now the answer is very simple. That answer is, Netflix! We look forward to the days where we can just sink into the couch and find a good show that we can truly relate to. In fact, I'm pretty sure that most people can relate! What's better that getting deep into a show that hits you right where your memories lie? Where you can shake your head after a scene and say, "Yup I do that all of the time!" or "I totally remember those days". Having a show that you can wholeheartedly relate to is what really keeps you coming back for more.
I immediately got those feeling of relativity when I started watching the show, Parenthood. Being a parent is something that is the same label for everyone that has children but we all deal with it in different ways. Parenthood shines a light on all sides of raising children such as, your daughter having her first boyfriend, school issues, drugs, alcohol, HORMONES, divorce, and what has hit me the most, discovering your child is diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Asperger's, also known as a high functioning form of Autism, is portrayed through the character, Max Braverman. When I first began watching the television show I wasn't really informed about the Autism Spectrum and how it worked. I really felt for the parents who now had to swallow the fact that their child was diagnosed with something that can't be "fixed". I watched them go through different schooling, therapy, bullying, and the stares from others who didn't understand. Looking back now, I can see that I was someone who truly didn't undertand.It wasn't until a few weeks into the season after Max's diagnosis that my son randomly became nonverbal and started showing symptoms of Autism. He became violent and would self harm himself by head banging because he could no longer communicate with me. It's been a long road since with Speech and Behavioral therapy along with trying to teach sign language to a two year old. After a three month wait we have finally been scheduled to come in for an evaluation at Kennedy Krieger with Center for Autism and Related Disorders. It's hit me like a wave and now I know exactly the feelings that the writers were trying to portray through Max's character, and it makes me happy! It makes me happy knowing that through television writers want masses to understand more about disabilities related to Autism. Through Max and his parents people may understand now why my son is having a meltdown in the middle of Target instead of assuming he's a "spoiled brat" or that I'm doing parenting completely wrong. Myself along with thousands of other parents have probably spent numerous times watching the show crying because now they don't feel alone in all of this.
So thank you Parenthood! Thank you for shining light on an important topic that not many know about. Thank you for the countless laughs and the countless tears because we swore nobody else got it. Thank you for portraying life at a realistic level other than one that portrays humans all the same. Not all individuals are mentally the same and deserve the same amount of understanding and respect. With that said, the only thing that you have ever done wrong in my eyes is canceling my absolute favorite show. I can only hope that other shows will start raising awareness by promoting it within their series in the future.
I have attached a link below of a fellow blogger who relates to Parenthood and Max's Asperger's Diagnosis.
http://www.autismohio.org/index.php/the-latest-news/general-news/2094-does-qparenthoodq-hit-the-mark-with-portrayal-of-child-with-aspergers
