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glyficTitle: Not far from the tree
Author:malurette
Fandom: Atypical
Characters: Casey & Elsa Gardner, mention of Sam
Rating: PG / K+
Disclaimer:
Prompt: "habits & routines" forladiesbingo
Warning: lots of blame against Elsa, some totally justified, some maybe not so much, I have a hard time deciding it myself
Word count: 600+
***
Her relationship with her mother? when Casey is feeling generous, she defines as
strained. When she's particularly angry or tired--and that's quite often lately, thanks "the awkwarf age"--she goes with non existant.
Sam's diagnosis threw the whole family dynamic off balance and Casey was so young then, she doesn't even remember a time before when it was any different. But she believes it had been different when she was a baby and needed her parents' full attention over an older toddler sibling learning (supposedly) his first taste of both sharing and baby-stepped autonomy.
Sometimes she suspects that Elsa would still have favoured an oldest son over a youngest daughter anyway because she's seen sexism go this way oh too often among classmates' families. But now Elsa's got ~justification~ on her side to always prioritize Sam and Casey resents her. Boy does she resent her.
She's not supposed to resent Sam himself--he didn't choose to be autistic and while he does make her life more difficult he doesn't actively choses to. But Elsa is a grown adult, a parent, responsisble for two children, and too often makes choices that neglect the second one.
Casey used to think that her dad was cool and laid-back and appreciated he didn't make such a fuss, that he at least didn't treat Sam any different and remembered she existed. As she's getting older however she's started to suspect that he may actually just be a different shade of irresponsible. That he doesn't want to acknowledge that Sam's quirks are a disability. Can she blame him? Heh. She doesn't know.
Elsa now, as far as Sam is concerned, Elsa is the opposite of irresponsible. She took on her role as an autism mom head-on and dove right in. She made it her whole identity--she threw her career away; wife and mother of two? hah! Elsa's the mother of an autistic son ...oh, yeah, and of an NT daughter too who can take care of herself thank you very much.
Dares Casey say it? Apples don't fall far from trees; Elsa made being au autism mom her special interest. She lives and breathes and explains the whole world by "helping her special son along".
And she's good at it, Casey hands that out to her. She built and invented games and ccommodations and routines and everything to make Sam's life and by extension the rest of the family's life, easier.
Take that big whiteboard of hers for example. Yeah it's useful and it's something any family--with or without neurodivergences or disabilities--could use one. But Elsa takes it over.
Whatever. Casey decides she doesn't need it to follow her own routines, or change them if needed.
There's regular running to keep fir and there's going running just to get out of the house. As often as possible when need be. Just get out. Run. Blow some steam. Clear her head. Work out until she can't think anymore. Until she's not angry anymore, or she's tired enough not to care anymore.
Another example, her own birthday. Several years back Elsa had to explain to Sam how this one day was to make Casey feel special--'cause he's got the 364 remaining every year to be their mother's special boy. He got it! he's not stupid or pig-headed. So back then on this one special day he pampered his little sister. He loves his little sister! even if he's got awkward ways of showing it. But then with time, even the best intentions got twisted. His attentions became rituals and are not about her anymore but routines to soothe himself. And Elsa seems blind to that.
And maybe Casey shouldn't blame Elsa; she didn't ask for it, it must be exhausting for her too to deal with her son and her moody daughter and everything else.
But.
But.
That's the things. She can't help it. No reasoning will ever help it. She's a teen and she needs attention and she does resent her mother for forgetting that.
Author:
maluretteFandom: Atypical
Characters: Casey & Elsa Gardner, mention of Sam
Rating: PG / K+
Disclaimer:
Prompt: "habits & routines" for
ladiesbingoWarning: lots of blame against Elsa, some totally justified, some maybe not so much, I have a hard time deciding it myself
Word count: 600+
Her relationship with her mother? when Casey is feeling generous, she defines as
strained. When she's particularly angry or tired--and that's quite often lately, thanks "the awkwarf age"--she goes with non existant.
Sam's diagnosis threw the whole family dynamic off balance and Casey was so young then, she doesn't even remember a time before when it was any different. But she believes it had been different when she was a baby and needed her parents' full attention over an older toddler sibling learning (supposedly) his first taste of both sharing and baby-stepped autonomy.
Sometimes she suspects that Elsa would still have favoured an oldest son over a youngest daughter anyway because she's seen sexism go this way oh too often among classmates' families. But now Elsa's got ~justification~ on her side to always prioritize Sam and Casey resents her. Boy does she resent her.
She's not supposed to resent Sam himself--he didn't choose to be autistic and while he does make her life more difficult he doesn't actively choses to. But Elsa is a grown adult, a parent, responsisble for two children, and too often makes choices that neglect the second one.
Casey used to think that her dad was cool and laid-back and appreciated he didn't make such a fuss, that he at least didn't treat Sam any different and remembered she existed. As she's getting older however she's started to suspect that he may actually just be a different shade of irresponsible. That he doesn't want to acknowledge that Sam's quirks are a disability. Can she blame him? Heh. She doesn't know.
Elsa now, as far as Sam is concerned, Elsa is the opposite of irresponsible. She took on her role as an autism mom head-on and dove right in. She made it her whole identity--she threw her career away; wife and mother of two? hah! Elsa's the mother of an autistic son ...oh, yeah, and of an NT daughter too who can take care of herself thank you very much.
Dares Casey say it? Apples don't fall far from trees; Elsa made being au autism mom her special interest. She lives and breathes and explains the whole world by "helping her special son along".
And she's good at it, Casey hands that out to her. She built and invented games and ccommodations and routines and everything to make Sam's life and by extension the rest of the family's life, easier.
Take that big whiteboard of hers for example. Yeah it's useful and it's something any family--with or without neurodivergences or disabilities--could use one. But Elsa takes it over.
Whatever. Casey decides she doesn't need it to follow her own routines, or change them if needed.
There's regular running to keep fir and there's going running just to get out of the house. As often as possible when need be. Just get out. Run. Blow some steam. Clear her head. Work out until she can't think anymore. Until she's not angry anymore, or she's tired enough not to care anymore.
Another example, her own birthday. Several years back Elsa had to explain to Sam how this one day was to make Casey feel special--'cause he's got the 364 remaining every year to be their mother's special boy. He got it! he's not stupid or pig-headed. So back then on this one special day he pampered his little sister. He loves his little sister! even if he's got awkward ways of showing it. But then with time, even the best intentions got twisted. His attentions became rituals and are not about her anymore but routines to soothe himself. And Elsa seems blind to that.
And maybe Casey shouldn't blame Elsa; she didn't ask for it, it must be exhausting for her too to deal with her son and her moody daughter and everything else.
But.
But.
That's the things. She can't help it. No reasoning will ever help it. She's a teen and she needs attention and she does resent her mother for forgetting that.
