Processing the Autism Diagnosis
When we first got the diagnosis, I had such a whirlwind of emotions. There was a part of me that was still in denial, struggling to accept it. At the same time, I also felt a sense of relief—finally knowing what was going on with my child. But even with the relief, I felt completely lost. It was like stepping into a world I didn’t understand, and I wasn’t sure what the next steps would be.
My husband and I dealt with the news very differently. He kind of shut down, withdrawing into himself, while I became a ball of emotions. I cried—a lot. I cried while I was driving, looking at my child in the backseat, crying because I didn’t know what the future would look like for us. It was tough, and there were days when the sadness felt overwhelming.
It actually took me some time to process everything and really understand what autism meant before we even started any therapy. I needed to wrap my head around it all.
I also went online to try and find other Kenyan mothers who were going through the same thing, just to feel like I wasn’t alone. But I didn’t find much support or many stories from others in similar situations. That made it even harder, feeling like we were on this journey by ourselves.
Taking Time to Understand Autism
After the diagnosis, I threw myself into researching everything I could about autism. I spent hours online, reading articles, watching videos, and diving deep into forums. There are so many resources out there, and I’ll probably link a few that I found helpful in case they can be useful to other parents.
One of the most eye-opening things I discovered was hearing from adults who are autistic. Reading their stories really gave me a new perspective. It was so inspiring and brought me so much hope because it showed me that our lives weren’t over. These adults were living full, meaningful lives, some of them thriving in ways I never imagined. It gave me a sense of peace, knowing that my child could still live a “normal” life and eventually communicate in his own way. It reassured me that we had a future full of possibilities.
Later on, I decided to open up about our journey on my Instagram page. At first, I was nervous about sharing something so personal, but the response was incredible. I was amazed by how many parents reached out, sharing their own stories about going through the same struggles and emotions. It was comforting to know we weren’t alone in this journey, and it made me realize just how many families were in the same boat.
But at the same time, I also saw how overwhelming it was for many parents when it came to finding accurate information about autism. There’s so much out there—articles, blogs, advice from well-meaning friends and family—that it can leave you feeling more confused than supported. I experienced it firsthand, and I knew it wasn’t easy to sift through all the information to find what’s helpful and reliable.
That’s when I felt this strong urge to help. I realized that by sharing our story and what I’ve learned along the way, I could guide other parents in the right direction. I wanted to provide them with the correct information about getting their children evaluated and understanding autism better, without all the unnecessary overwhelm. It became really important to me that other parents didn’t feel lost or alone like I did in the beginning. Instead, I wanted to create a space where they could find support and resources that would make their journey a little bit easier.
— Wendy
