Awareness Month

April is almost over.

These months are flying by, which means summer vacation will be here before you know it, which means baby will be here before you know it!  Uh oh.

Before this month ends I feel like I have to do my part.

It is Autism Awareness Month.

I know I share a lot on this subject, but I feel it is soooo important.

I knew pretty much NOTHING about autism before my boy. 

I thought I knew, but I didn't.

If I can help at least ONE more person to understand something important about this disorder than I feel like I have done my part.

The thing that has been plaguing me lately is the fact that my son's autism is what I call "subtle autism."

There is no arm flapping, rocking, sitting alone in a corner.

I have more respect than you can imagine for parents with severely autistic children.

I in no way wish to take away from the things they are going through.

I would only like to share my experience with Asperger's and the difficulties it also brings.

 Asperger's Syndrome can be devastating in its' subtlety.

Everyday, I get the comment "He can't have autism!  He talks!"

I get people trying to comfort me by telling me that he will do fine in school, that we all have something quirky about us.

Yes, agreed.  We ALL have something quirky about us.

Even though it is frustrating, I appreciate their willingness to comfort and to be supportive.  I was completely ignorant when we first heard that my boy might be autistic.  Christopher was 3 and we were living in Oregon.  At a normal well check, the doctor suggested that my son may have high functioning autism.  Family and friends were shocked (as was I) and we were angry that this doctor had even suggested such a thing.  Christopher was a talkative, bright, beautiful boy.  We said "He can't have autism!  He loves to talk!"

My boy does not arm flap, rock, or sit alone in a corner.

My boy was the infant who could go a whole night without sleeping.

My boy was the toddler who couldn't go to sleep at night unless all his toys were lined up in his bed beside him.

My boy is the one who will rip up papers and scream at school because he can't stand writing while everyone is quietly whispering.

My boy is the one who cannot coordinate his legs to ride a bike,  his hands to catch a ball or color a picture.

My boy is the one who can only function with medicine I never would have believed I would give to my child.

You would think I would be happy to hear people say, "He can't have autism!  He talks!

In some ways it feels quite the opposite. 

It almost feels like someone you love has died and after you have finally accepted that fact someone says "He's not dead!!  He looks so alive!"

It is an emotional rollercoaster.  You start to feel like you are crazy!!  Do I not know my own child?

I relish in the times I get to speak with Christopher's therapists and special doctors. 

They understand the seriousness of his disorder.  They snap me back to reality and into "supermom" mode and give me the courage to get Christopher the help he needs.

Christopher's disorder has taught me to never minimize others problems. 

We can give a listening ear and offer our help.

Let's all be that for somebody.

I have wonderful family and friends who are there for me and I love them all for that.

I loooove my boy.

He is an extraordinary person. 

Autistic people are amazing.

Happy Autism Awareness Month!