photo space_zpsab443ffb.png photo ootd_zpsvmcsbmod.jpg photo youtube_zpsl7hdozar.jpg photo 88_zpsqoko5stl.jpg photo midnight_zpsssf1cubd.jpg photo home_zpsh9wc5ewz.jpg

Friday, June 18, 2021

I'm Fine But —"

"What do you do?", new people I meet will ask me. "I'm a designer and book author", I tell them. Yes, a designer AND author. Pretty ironic though that this author hasn't been able to write anything for the past two years. Not even a single page. I even struggle in writing a blog post nowadays. I told this to my husband the other day and he said to me, "just write whatever is in your head at the moment". Ah, yes. How could I have forgotten that. Perhaps I have been asleep for too long. 

"How are you?" 

"I'm fine", I will most often reply with a smile. I'm fine, I really am. I just like to omit the second sentence which is supposed to follow, which actually depicts more of the reality. 

 "I'm fine. But, my life is complicated". 

My life is complicated. I just don't tell people. I want to be honest with you. Having an autistic child is not easy. It's far from easy. It's like having the stress and exhaustion of raising a toddler, but multiplied by 10. Just multiply everything by 10; patience, strength, effort, time, energy. As a family, our dynamics are completely different. Our routine is different. We cannot do what other families do. We do what other families don't do. When it's summer and everyone heads to the beach, we go to the mountains because we will always look for a place where no one is around. It's a quiet life far from others, but very noisy within our very own. Our son is very loud, always screaming. And so I learn to be quiet, to balance the noise. Our son turned 7 this year, and yet we still do the exact same things since 5 years ago. He still eats the same food, watches the same cartoon, likes the same toys, and for us parents, we relive these moments every single day like a loop. It's very repetitive. I wish there was a "Stop" and "Next" button in our lives, but there isn't. So I learn to accept that this is my story. Our story. 

As our son's screaming becomes louder day by day, the noise in my head has too. The volume levels are just so high my head hurts. They say it takes a village to raise a child. But where is that village? I don't see it. I am certainly not in it. In this whole wide world, there are only two family members who actually care, support and help us in dealing with our life-with-autism struggles. Said two people are my own mom and dad. The others just look at us, as if their stares help moreover make us feel any better. There is no village. It's a very small circle. The definition of 'family' has been redefined in my head.

My life is complicated, but I'm fine. I have learned to compartmentalise the things in life so one does not affect the other. I don't let our complications affect me in being me. I'm still my old cheerful self who loves life. I still get up excited for Mondays (new week woohoo!), I still get dressed, I still work, I still create, I am still grateful for all of it. I am learning to untangle this tangled ball of yarn that is my head, and perhaps writing can help. Just remember: never let your struggles defeat you. 

21 comments:

fettyasihta said...

Kak Dii.. long time no see, glad to see you again here! 😍😍😍
Sending you lots of love and hugs! Still following you until today, you're really amazing! Wishing you and your family abundance of happiness, and stay healthy.❤❤❤❤

Anonymous said...

You'll get through this kak. May Allah protect you and your family

Chindy said...

You are an amazing person and amazing mom. Dont ever forget that. I look up to you

D said...

hi kak di! hang in there :)
i wish you & your family a very bright (brighter than your outfit!) days ahead!

gladysglados said...

Kak Di, this is one of the most honest and vulnerable post you've ever posted. I know this might not ease things in ypur life, but you do inspire me. Bless you and your family. 🙏🏼

gladysglados said...

Kak Di, this is one of the most honest and vulnerable post you've ever posted. I know this might not ease things in ypur life, but you do inspire me. Bless you and your family. 🙏🏼

kestrel said...

You are such a strong gal. Your life seems so stressful yet you find many ways to go through it everyday. One day at a time. Following you in your challenges

Anonymous said...

You must be the strongest one because you've been chosen to take care of him :)

Anonymous said...

Hi kak, I hope the struggles in your life contains hikmah (whatever and however you interpret it)

stay strong kak, I found ur blog when I was at SMP and now I'm 27, it's influence me a lot

nina said...

Hello there, sending you virtual hugs!
I am like yourself, we have the same number of kids and age, i've been following you since you're still single back then, and so did i!
I somehow can feel you, this is an honest post, truely believe that Allah grants you that amount of love and strength so He send you your son.. love how you chanelling your problem into somehow creative one! be you, strong you, always dear!

p.s. even I cant see a village around me altough i'm living in my country and have normal kids, so you are not alone at all :*

https://nanonindy.blogspot.com/ said...

Kak diiiii i've been waiting for your blog post. And I cried while reading it.
Aku ngefans kakak dari 2008. Follow instagram juga. Beberapa kali DM selalu dibales, baik bangeeet kak Di <3
Aku ikutan nangis baca postingan ini, aku ngerti banget kaaaak. Anak pertamaku juga ada kebutuhan khusus. Semuaaaa yang kakak tulis disini semua poin nya bener. Kalo bisa peluk kak Di, aku mau peluuk, tapi gabisa. Jadi aku cuma nangis.
Semangaaat ya kak, kita yang dipilih Allah karena kita kuat.
Sending lot hugs and kisses from Indonesia, xoxo

bramandewi said...

You're amazing DR! with a lot of things happen in your life, you still inspired me with your creation. looking at your IG it's just like get a daily dose of inspiration and a reminder to keep creating (no excuses). thank yoouuu.

itshuba.blogspot.com said...

Hi kak Diana, salam suksess.. Saya Baru dalam dunia blogging..kak Diana idola ku..😊😊⭐⭐⭐⭐ Semoga saya jadi seperti kak Diana..

eKa said...

big hug for you, Di,, may Allah bless you and your little circle :)

bu endah said...

thanks for inspiring.

Unknown said...

Hai kk diana, smoga perjuangan dalam hidupmu mengandung hikmah, terima kasih kak

Michelle Valiana said...

hang in there Kak 🤍 I really do admire you

Anonymous said...

hi! semangat Diana Rikasari

Anonymous said...

Hi diana, how about you make a collection inspired by autism? I think it will be cool. Hope you and family are always surrounded by good people :)

akikuya said...

thanks for inspiring.

hunz said...

I was so confused and my heart is so randomly absorbs so many feelings recently and changes quiet sometimes too. So funny that your blog came across my mind, maybe my brain knows that you’re blog has been so long a place to lift up my spirit especially with this kindda post. Thanks Di.

Blogging tips