Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin is an amazing woman who has surpassed every expectation for any person who has stepped in her path.  We in the Autistic community look at her as the first Autistic person to speak about being autistic... novel, no?  There is a movie out right now ("Temple Grandin" is the title) about her life.

SPOILER ALERT! I'm about to talk in detail about the movie...

Being a mother of a mildly autistic child, I wanted to learn more about Temple's mother.  When first introduced I very much wanted to hate her.  There were moments I thought this woman had no idea what her pushing was doing to her child.  She WAS the cold cruel mother they spoke of in the 50s!  AHA!  Temple must have overcome her obstacle's DESPITE her mother!

Refrigerator Mothers, is what they used to call them, back when Bettelheim showed up on the scene with vast amounts of insight about stuff he made up.  Yes, that's right.  They blame the mother.  The cold hearted mother who has no love for this little person.  Of course it was usually the parents who wanted to find help for their children and not professionals.  You'd think if you wanted help for your child it would equate how loving you are, but nope!  Not during the 50s and 60s!

Temple's mother pushed her daughter through some of the hardest moments of anyone's life.  From the tantrums of toddlerhood to the first day of college, mother was there.

I hated this woman as I watched for the first half an hour because she just seemed so determined to make Temple do things Temple didn't want to do.  Imagine watching as they drive away from her Aunt's ranch in the passenger seat Temple looks lovingly at the ranch.  (Goodbye, my only friends) Mother did it.  As you are sitting there hating the mother for forcing her daughter to do this there is a flashback.  Beautifully done.

First you see tantrums, glazed eyes looking at sparkling lights and a four year old girl who hasn't spoken a word.  Flash to a doctor's office where the mother is told she has brought this upon her daughter.  (Can you effing imagine!?) Temple's mother protests.  She has another child and that child is normal.  The doctor suggests institutionalization.  The mother instead begins on the journey of teaching her child how to talk and communicate, all without professional help.  You see the frustration and patience of this woman flash before you.  Speaking, connection, screams, crying, pain all only seconds of images that represent a lifetime fight.

You realize, this is a good mother.  She took on the system and brought her daughter out of her shell.  It's a mother who knows what her daughter can do.  This woman knows what Temple is capable of.  She isn't being cruel or unloving.  Just the opposite.

.... I just think it's good to remember as parents that pushing your child to their best potential is not cruel. It's love.

I believe Temple would equate love with what her mother did for her.  It is hard not to bow your head in respect for this woman who made Temple Grandin the best she could be....

Eustacia Cutler is her name.....