--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Having a child with Autism can mess with…" description: "\"Having a child with Autism can mess with your head: You feel like you can move mountains for them yet you're powerless at the same time.\" — Stuart Duncan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/stuart-duncan-28094_autism_having-a-child-with-autism-can-mess-with_3020509.png" --- # Having a child with Autism can mess with your head: You… ![“Having a child with Autism can mess with your head: You feel like you can move mountains for them yet you're powerless at the same time.” quote by Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/stuart-duncan-28094_autism_having-a-child-with-autism-can-mess-with_3020509.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/stuart-duncan-28094_autism_having-a-child-with-autism-can-mess-with_3020509.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/stuart-duncan-28094_autism_having-a-child-with-autism-can-mess-with_3020509.png) > “Having a child with Autism can mess with your head: You feel like you can move mountains for them yet you're powerless at the same time.” [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Caring for an autistic child can feel both empowering and helpless, creating intense emotional conflict. **In simple terms:** Caring for autistic child feels both powerful and powerless. Key Takeaway Accept help and set realistic expectations. Themes parenting autism emotional conflict empowerment helplessness Mood frustrated hopeful determined Type reflective empathetic When to use this quote - family life - support groups - therapy sessions - advocacy work Key Concepts neurodiversity caregiver stress resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance advocacy with self‑care? - What support systems can reduce feeling of helplessness? A Different Perspective The feeling of powerlessness may persist despite best efforts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) [Autism Mess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism-mess-4887180/) [Child Autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-autism-1705046/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children with autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-with-autism/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Like you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-you/) [Mess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mess/) [Mountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain/) [Move mountains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move-mountains/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Powerless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerless/) ## Related quotes > [If you can't see the gift in having a child with autism, you're focusing too much on the autism and not enough on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/if-you-can-t-see-the-gift-in-having-a-child-with-autism-you-re/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [What it boils down to is that parenting a child with autism is a difficult job; writing about it is far easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-moon/what-it-boils-down-to-is-that-parenting-a-child-with-autism-is-a/) [Elizabeth Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-moon/) > [As a parent with a child with autism, its been really tough to experience your child having autism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deron-williams/as-a-parent-with-a-child-with-autism-its-been-really-tough-to/) [Deron Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deron-williams/) > [“Hearing those four little words, 'Your child has autism,' can hit parents like a Mack Truck, leaving them scared, confused,and overwhelmed. Once that happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-picon/hearing-those-four-little-words-your-child-has-autism-can-hit-parents/) [Deanna Picon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-picon/) > [“Yes, raising a child with autism can be highly demanding, but please remember, just as you worry about your child, so your child worries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naoki-higashida/yes-raising-a-child-with-autism-can-be-highly-demanding-but-please/) [Naoki Higashida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naoki-higashida/) > [As a parent with a child with autism, it's been really tough to experience your child having autism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deron-williams/as-a-parent-with-a-child-with-autism-it-s-been-really-tough-to/) [Deron Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deron-williams/) > [Parents of recovered children, and I've met hundreds, all share the same experience of doubters and deniers telling us our child must have never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/parents-of-recovered-children-and-i-ve-met-hundreds-all-share-the/) [Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/) > [It's not just the child that has autism. It's the whole family that has autism. It's not a one person thing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lindsay/it-s-not-just-the-child-that-has-autism-it-s-the-whole-family-that/) [Ted Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lindsay/) > [“Then the dreaded words, Your child has autism. These words echo in their heads like a freight train blasting through their hopes and dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-linda-barboa/then-the-dreaded-words-your-child-has-autism-these-words-echo-in/) [Dr. Linda Barboa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-linda-barboa/) > [“Adapting our own perception, following rather than leading and building bridges are all keys to helping the child with autism learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele-devine/adapting-our-own-perception-following-rather-than-leading-and/) [Adele Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele-devine/) > [If you have a child with autism, and he or she has good intelligence, with no delay in language learning maybe there is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/if-you-have-a-child-with-autism-and-he-or-she-has-good-intelligence/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [The worst thing you can do is nothing. (re: teaching children with autism)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/the-worst-thing-you-can-do-is-nothing-re-teaching-children-with-autism/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Winning isn't the end of the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pleat/winning-isn-t-the-end-of-the-world/) [David Pleat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pleat/) > [Children with Autism aren't missing. Instead, they are off making discoveries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-barnett/children-with-autism-aren-t-missing-instead-they-are-off-making/) [Jacob Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-barnett/) > [We can either continue to collectively stand on the sidelines and debate what is causing autism and if it is an epidemic or we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/we-can-either-continue-to-collectively-stand-on-the-sidelines-and/) [Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/) ## More by Stuart Duncan > [I like to think of my son as having an extra puzzle piece rather than missing one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/i-like-to-think-of-my-son-as-having-an-extra-puzzle-piece-rather-than/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [Parent's job = Prepare the child for the world. Parent of autistic child's job = Prepare the world for the child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/parent-s-job-prepare-the-child-for-the-world-parent-of-autistic-child/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [Hugs may come less frequently from someone with autism but when they do, you know it means everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/hugs-may-come-less-frequently-from-someone-with-autism-but-when-they/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [Goodwill is earned by many acts; it can be lost by one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/goodwill-is-earned-by-many-acts-it-can-be-lost-by-one/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [If you can't see the gift in having a child with autism, you're focusing too much on the autism and not enough on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/if-you-can-t-see-the-gift-in-having-a-child-with-autism-you-re/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [If a person calls themself 'autistic' and you tell them they have to use 'person first language'... you're not putting the person first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/if-a-person-calls-themself-autistic-and-you-tell-them-they-have-to/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [Forget the shoes, forget the mile long walk... just stop judging each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/forget-the-shoes-forget-the-mile-long-walk-just-stop-judging-each/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [The whole world can believe in you but that won't mean a thing if you don't believe in yourself too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/the-whole-world-can-believe-in-you-but-that-won-t-mean-a-thing-if-you/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [Autism; It's not new just because you haven't heard of it until now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/autism-it-s-not-new-just-because-you-haven-t-heard-of-it-until-now/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [Never underestimate someone with Autism, because there could be Brilliance struggling to get out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/never-underestimate-someone-with-autism-because-there-could-be/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [It is one's duty to make the most of the best that is in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/it-is-one-s-duty-to-make-the-most-of-the-best-that-is-in-him/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [Yes some people say ignorant things about autism but silencing them solves nothing. They need to be educated. That's how things change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/yes-some-people-say-ignorant-things-about-autism-but-silencing-them/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [While fighting for acceptance, we must remember that our own self worth is not determined by whether or not we get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/while-fighting-for-acceptance-we-must-remember-that-our-own-self/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [Autism is the filter through which all my other senses must pass, both input and output.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/autism-is-the-filter-through-which-all-my-other-senses-must-pass-both/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [Autism, like a rainbow, has a bright side and a dark side and even though it can mean rough weather, it can be beautiful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/autism-like-a-rainbow-has-a-bright-side-and-a-dark-side-and-even/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) [Explore all 20 Stuart Duncan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) ## More Autism quotes > [“We know that children with autism like order, that they are often very visual and that they can be quite literal. They deserve beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele-devine/we-know-that-children-with-autism-like-order-that-they-are-often-very/) [Adele Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele-devine/) > [In fact, when we as neuro-typical people encounter a person with autism spectrum syndrome who's always been that way it is that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/in-fact-when-we-as-neuro-typical-people-encounter-a-person-with/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [If you give us a safe vaccine, we'll use it. It shouldn't be polio versus autism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/if-you-give-us-a-safe-vaccine-we-ll-use-it-it-shouldn-t-be-polio/) [Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/) > [Autism is a big continuum, going from someone who remains nonverbal, all the way up to geniuses on Silicon Valley. And some kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/autism-is-a-big-continuum-going-from-someone-who-remains-nonverbal/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Metaphor isn't just a fancy turn of speech. It shapes our thoughts and feelings, reaches out to grasp new experience, and even binds our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-richardson/metaphor-isn-t-just-a-fancy-turn-of-speech-it-shapes-our-thoughts-and/) [James Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-richardson/) > [The position of Autism Speaks has been for quite awhile that we need to find out what's happening. We know there's a genetic component,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-emken/the-position-of-autism-speaks-has-been-for-quite-awhile-that-we-need/) [Elizabeth Emken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-emken/) > [Some people with autism who don't talk, all they hear are vowel sounds. Like if I said 'cup,' they might just hear 'uh.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/some-people-with-autism-who-don-t-talk-all-they-hear-are-vowel-sounds/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/children-must-be-taught-how-to-think-not-what-to-think/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Mild autism can give you a genius like Einstein. If you have severe autism, you could remain nonverbal. You don't want people to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/mild-autism-can-give-you-a-genius-like-einstein-if-you-have-severe/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [“The autistic mind is not the wave at the surface of the ocean, but the whole world that exists below.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krissy-bells/the-autistic-mind-is-not-the-wave-at-the-surface-of-the-ocean-but-the/) [Krissy Bells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krissy-bells/) > [In the person with autism, the brain may already be seeing the part and be less distracted by the whole, and in the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/in-the-person-with-autism-the-brain-may-already-be-seeing-the-part/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [I think that the definition of autism is too broad. You got to remember, autism definition is a behavioral profiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-think-that-the-definition-of-autism-is-too-broad-you-got-to/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [There is a small segment of people with autism that have savant skills, where they can memorize entire maps of whole entire city. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-is-a-small-segment-of-people-with-autism-that-have-savant/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [When you have autism or aspergers, it's so hard to get a social life but trust me, in the end everyone can achieve at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia/when-you-have-autism-or-aspergers-it-s-so-hard-to-get-a-social-life/) [Lia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia/) > [“Unfortunately, by this time it didn't matter. Self-diagnosed autistics and fakers were asking diagnosed autistics whether or not they had a diagnosis, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-d-taylor/unfortunately-by-this-time-it-didn-t-matter-self-diagnosed-autistics/) [Thomas D. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-d-taylor/) [Browse all 621 Autism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Having a child with Autism can mess with your head: You feel like you can move mountains for them yet you're powerless at the same time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stuart Duncan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/having-a-child-with-autism-can-mess-with-your-head-you-feel-like-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Autism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/having-a-child-with-autism-can-mess-with-your-head-you-feel-like-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/stuart-duncan-28094_autism_having-a-child-with-autism-can-mess-with_3020509.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/stuart-duncan-28094_autism_having-a-child-with-autism-can-mess-with_3020509.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/stuart-duncan-28094_autism_having-a-child-with-autism-can-mess-with_3020509.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Having a child with Autism can mess with your head: You feel like you can move mountains for them yet you're…” — Stuart Duncan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stuart Duncan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Having a child with Autism can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/having-a-child-with-autism-can-mess-with-your-head-you-feel-like-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/having-a-child-with-autism-can-mess-with-your-head-you-feel-like-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```