Bahar Zali here. I have two boys—an 11-year-old and an almost 15-year-old soon-to-be sophomore—both diagnosed with high-functioning autism, but their challenges are very different. My biggest struggles are similar to what the previous mom described, along with my teen's extreme rudeness and difficulty understanding social norms. He believes that "being honest" means loudly saying whatever he thinks is right, anywhere and in front of anyone, with no filter. He has a very high IQ, but very little grit, perseverance, or imagination right now. He's spending most of his summer online—gaming and watching videos—and constantly pushing to remove any parental controls or oversight. What worries me most is that he seems unable to imagine or plan for his future. When he was younger, I could introduce books, projects, and activities that nurtured his interests and engineering talents. Now he rejects almost anything that comes from me. He doesn't even seem to remember the things he used to be passionate about or excel at. It's heartbreaking to watch a child who was once so advanced for his age say that all he sees in his future is a minimum-wage job in a cheap state. What I want most for my child is to believe in how capable he is and to understand that the best things in life are worth working for—while somehow preserving both my sanity and our relationship along the way.

@Annemarie Prokop You’re not alone. I'm really looking forward to learning from each other.