Category | Subcategory | Example codes |
Assessing characteristics, growth, and changes of the child with ASD | Assessing child’s growth and changes | Their range of interest expanded, and it feels a little easier to play with them. (b) |
Comparing with other children | Compared to their sisters, they were slower to respond to language. I think it was their understanding of language rather than the production of it that was delayed. (d) | |
Assessing child’s characteristics | There are problems, like how they become fixated on things; thus, they have considerable trouble sharing their toys and sometimes shoves others. Things like that. (b) | |
Preoccupation with parenting children with ASD | Struggling desperately with parenting | I feel like it is my job to teach my children to become independent and take care of themselves. I am really struggling to do this. (e) |
Parenting techniques that do not work well | It really hurts, is really hard, when they do things like cover their ears. (b) | |
Parenting techniques that work well | They will try a little bite of the coating on fried chicken, for example. Now they will try eating things they choose themselves. (h) | |
Getting angry with the child | I know that it is good to praise them when they do even a single thing right, but I feel conflicted. I compare them to other kids, and I get sad and become angry at them. (b) | |
Doubting the disorder | It was when they were 3. They could not say even a single word and played differently from other kids, so I looked it up online and thought they probably have ASD. (j) | |
Using trial and error in parenting | I’ll say, “it is the rule,” and sometimes, maybe once in a hundred times, they’ll follow the rules easily, but they just will not do it every time. (k) | |
Parenting strain | I feel like I have failed at things like communicating with the daycare and I have to accept it. (d) | |
Concern and empathy for the child’s siblings | Effects on siblings | I am so busy with my older child that I have no time to take care of their 4-year old younger brother. (e) |
Concern and empathy for the child’s siblings | It is nice when they help out, but I do not want it to be a burden on them. (c) They stay calm when their brother steals their toys. (b) | |
Getting help from siblings | They will take care of them, for example, waiting for them. (c) | |
Thinking about the future of the child with ASD | Worry about entering school | There are several things, like whether to put them in a special needs class or a regular class. In daycare, I can talk to the teacher when I pick them up and hear how they are doing, but I cannot do that in elementary school, and I worry about that. (d) |
Anxiety about the child’s growth and development | I hope that as they grow, their developmental age gradually comes closer to their actual age. (a) | |
Having goals and plans for parenting | Respecting the child’s feelings | I really want to prioritize self-esteem, but I cannot seem to do it well. (g) |
Setting role for interaction | I get angry at them when they do something bad, but I have a rule that only I am allowed to get angry. I told my husband that they are never allowed to get angry at them. (f) | |
Teaching daily living skills | As long as they have life skills, such as going to the bathroom and eating by themselves, studying is secondary. (h) |