You know you're the parent of a difficult child when...

[nerfherder]

When you absently start diagnosis'ing your pets in your head.

Our next door neighbors have one of their horses that's a chronic "cribber." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cribbing_(horse)

When I first noticed this behavior, I watched it for a bit and decided "That horse is autistic." And whadya know, it *is* a form of stimming behavior. The previous owners stopped by one day (horse people) and I said something about it - J, a farrier, winced and said "Yeah, that's cribbing." Obvious from their behavior they knew how to resolve it, and were really unhappy that the neighbors STILL hadn't moved the horse into more appropriate surroundings for her behavioral needs.

 

[JKF]

When you get excited because you receive a notice saying you are exempt from parent-teacher conferences but then realize it's not because your child is doing well - it's because you already have a phone conference with the teacher every. single. day.

 

[BusynMember]

Back to serious...when you get a phone call, see difficult child's name, and your stomach clenches with fear and dread.

 

[JKF]

Back to serious...when you get a phone call, see difficult child's name, and your stomach clenches with fear and dread.

Uh yeah MWM - I'm with you on that one! I know THAT feeling all too well!!!