Child raising: the perspective of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders

Parenting a child affected by a disorder with vast consequences for functioning such as autism undoubtedly modifies the family’s situation and broadens the scope and essence of parents’ responsibility. Daily experiences connected with facing new, previously unknown, problems are not an easy challenge. On the other hand, they constantly enrich mothers’ awareness related to parenting. The aim of the research was to learn the significant problems, feelings, opinions and reflections arising from the experiences of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders. The research material was collected through free-form interviews with 20 mothers raising autistic children. The analysis of the collected empirical material shows that mothers construct various concepts of parenting, including their own roles and everyday relations with the children. Their early reactions reveal the collapse of the previous vision of parenting and the loss of the real perspective concerning the perception of the child and their own role in child raising. Everyday parenting experiences – full of unique difficulties with building relationships with the children – allow the mothers to constructively seek individual solutions and patterns of coexistence.