Never thought I would be disappointed by my son NOT having autism, but it's hard when your kid is "just" weird.

My 8 year old had another evaluation to see if he was on the autism spectrum. We did this when he was 4 but he hit enough check marks that we were told to have another evaluation done when he got a little older.We did and he still checks some of the boxes, but not enough for him to be labeled autistic. I don't know what I was hoping for. I guess I thought it would be easier to say, "Sorry but he has autism." Not so much to use it as an excuse but to use it as a reason. My 5 year old has Type 1 and while we don't use that as an excuse either, I feel that it has been easier for kids to accept that he can't do x because he has diabetes.But my oldest is just weird. I don't mean weird in a bad way but he has sensory issues and trouble socializing. He struggles with empathy. He doesn't like large crowds and we had to leave him home with headphones for the 4th of July. He can't go to amusement parks or places like Chuck E. Cheese. He doesn't get invited to birthday parties. Last summer I overheard two kids call him weird as he was playing in the next door neighbors backyard. The neighbor defended him and they didn't hear me, but I wish he could say "I'm not weird, I'm autistic." He dreads his birthday every year because he's hates being put on the spot and doesn't partipate in school spirit days because he doesn't wear something weird.I don't know what I am hoping for with this post but I needed to vent.In case it isn't obvious I think my son is awesome. He has a great memory and his recall is great. He loves science and outer space and literature. He would rather recite Shakespeare than play with other kids. That's great but I wish things were easier on him. Since they aren't I wish there was a reason for that. via /r/Parenting https://ift.tt/2xvjrYO