Gratitude Journal

Today, I’m truly grateful for…

1. My daughters.
2. My husband.
3. My friends, even when it’s been a while since speaking.
4. My family, including my in-laws.
5. My lovely goddaughter.
6. A roof over my head.
7. Warm blankets.
8. Heat in my home.
9. Hot coffee.
10. Cats to snuggle with.
11. Antibiotics.
12. Coworkers that I enjoy and respect.
13. A job that I enjoy.
14. Ricola.
15. Whoever thought of body brushing.
16. Whatever the “Plus” is in Puff’s Plus
17. My husband having hooked up the water to the filter thingie in the refrigerator and we get cold water from the fridge by pushing a button.  Who knew a simple pleasure could make so much of a difference?
18. The girls still enjoying their Christmas gifts and old toys alike.
19. Being a grown-up and getting to decide what will worry me and what won’t.
20. My android phone. How did I manage for so long without one?
21. Icy melt.
22. Delicious vegetarian recipes.
23. How much better I’ve felt since eating vegetarian.
24. My daughters’ teachers.
25. Being able to kiss and hug my daughters every morning when they wake and every night when they go to bed.
26. Watching my daughters play together on a snowy day.
27. Fuzzy slippers.
28. Door to door delivery service from the internet.
29. Pretty nail polish.

 

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I Promise To Parent Irresponsibly Tonight

There’s a catch in my throat that won’t go away.  It’s as if my body is currently set to the default of Ready To Cry.  I laugh a little more loudly than I should at things that are funny… or are trying to be funny.  I laugh at every silly thing my daughters say and do, even if it annoyed me before Friday.  Laughter sounds and feels strange to me, right now.  It feels out of place.  It feels wrong.

Today it’s a drizzly, freezing cold day.  It actually feels like the weary world is weeping to remind us to slow down for a while.

At the same time, I know that for my children I need to keep my smile.  I can’t hide it or be stingy with it.  I can’t jealously guard my children and tuck them away from the world.  I can’t let my anxiety get the best of me.  I need to show them that even if we don’t feel especially happy right now, we can still feel joy and anticipate happiness in the near future again.  Maybe even now.  But then again, I have that luxury.  I can pick up my eldest daughter from school and get my other two daughters off the bus.  There’s no one to tell me that I can’t take them home ever again.

As a human being, Sandy Hook weighs heavily on my heart.

As a mother to a seven year old, Sandy Hook has decimated my heart.

All too easily, I can imagine being a Mother of Sandy Hook.  The children there are children of Connecticut… of the nation.  The women who gave their lives that day are heroes, every single one of them.  They gave their lives for every child that attended their school, giving them precious moments to try to get away.  Those women could easily have been my own daughters’ teachers, who show my children care and love and compassion every single day.

And so as I sit here this evening, writing this entry after a very somber work day, I watch my children watching TV with their dad.  I watch one of my daughters putting together a new game she received as a Christmas gift over the weekend.  They should all be doing homework.  I should be on top of them, nagging their butts to get going and finish so that they have the entire night after supper to relax.  To be honest, I won’t feel guilty if they don’t finish it tonight.  I’ll feel guilty if I force it by going into bitch mode.   At the Christmas party over the weekend, I didn’t make sure that they ate a good supper before filling up on cupcakes, chocolate, cookies, and chips.  For breakfast yesterday I let them have reindeer ornament “pops” that we made (look it up on Youtube or Pinterest; marshmallows, chocolate, pretzels).

Don’t worry.  The sugary part of my current parenting won’t last the week.   Okay, fine, and neither will the “not forcing the homework” part.  I’ll make sure that I half-heartedly encourage them to do it tonight.  And tomorrow.  But I won’t enjoy it.  For now, I’m going to parent irresponsibly.

Related articles

• Shooting Victim’s Dad: Let It Inspire Us (fox8.com)
• Let’s Hug a Teacher Today (ateachablemom.com)

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Impossible Parenting Morning

Like thousands and thousands of other parents today, I did something this morning that couldn’t be done… had to be done.  Something that I’m feeling immense guilt over.  Something that’s giving me throat-choking, gut-wrenching anxiety:

I dropped my eldest daughter off at school and allowed my two younger daughters to get on their buses.

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Empathy In Autism

Empathy (Photo credit: TonZ)

One thing we’ve had some issues with regarding Autism is the issue of empathy.  In this instance, I’m not talking about other people trying to empathize with my daughter, but my daughter empathizing with others.  It’s not only been difficult for her to understand the phrase, “Put yourself in someone else’s shoes” since it’s a saying and she just doesn’t like sayings… but it’s actually difficult for her put herself in someone else’s shoes.  She fully expects for you to try to understand her and even read her mind sometimes, but the expectation doesn’t go both ways.

It’s part of the reason that she has trouble predicting how current behavior will affect future events in books and in real life.

Yesterday morning had a slow start, but she did really well once she got involved in the routine, as has been more typical lately.  During our wait for her bus, she discovered that her older sister broke a doll belonging to her younger sister and that distressed her a lot.  She’s very upset at the thought of Anneliese being upset over this particular broken doll.  It made me choke up to see her being so compassionate and empathetic, especially predicting how her sister would react and feel at finding out disappointing/upsetting news.  It made me think that the work her teachers have been doing with her on storytelling is really sinking in.  The way we’ve been working with her at home and trying to have to her think situations through and think ahead… teaching her empathy… we’re not always sure that it’s clicking.  Yesterday was some significant proof that it is.  She’s thinking ahead to how things will affect people and that’s very, very new.  I’m very proud of her.  It’s more than in just simplistic, basic ways too.  She was explaining to me in detail why it would be upsetting to her sister and therefore to her! It was clearly difficult for her to explain to me, since when she gets upset she tends to verbally shut down.  It was therefore a huge step in two areas.

She was so emphatic about it that she was crying.  She brought me to tears over how emotional she was for her sister’s sake.  Man, I love this girl.

Related articles

• Area of the brain that processes empathy identified (sciencedaily.com)
• Experience Empathy – Watch What It Can Be Like To Live With Autism (upworthy.com)

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Pants, Pokes and Pumpkins

Pumpkin Muffins With Streusel Topping

This morning was a rough morning.  We usually stretch out the summer skirts for The Girl as long as possible since she loves wearing them so much.  This year seems cooler sooner than the last couple of years, so we’re transitioning her a little sooner into pants.  She’s not happy.  Part of the bribery process was telling her I would make something with the can of pumpkin that I bought for her a few days ago.  She kept asking for Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies but the chips have milk in them, so I kept trying to get her to choose a pumpkin recipe.  For pants? She wants chocolate.  I told her that if she can wear pants every single day this week without having a meltdown then I’ll make her a batch of Tollhouse on Saturday.

I was going to research a pumpkin recipe after the girls got home from school so that she could help me find something and expected her to ask for the Libby’s Iced Pumpkin Cookies, but I got a call from the pediatrician asking why I didn’t bring the two youngers in for their flu shots yesterday.  Oops.

If you ever read my entry from last year’s flu shot drama, you’ll understand why I enlisted help from my husband this year.  It still wasn’t pleasant but at least I had some muscle with me this time for The Girl.  The  Eldest already had hers last week at her physical, and The Youngest took hers like a champ.  It was Meltdown City for The Girl, however, and she was the Meltdown Mayor.  It still wasn’t as bad as last year.  I think it’ll be difficult to ever top last year.

When it was over, he sort of looked like a dear in the headlights.  He sat in the car, looking a little stunned to me.  I chattered on and on about how well it went and how good the girls were.  The Eldest and The Youngest commented on how that was the easiest, least dramatic year ever.  Again… stunned.

When we got home, The Girl decided on pumpkin muffins and I found the best recipe ever.  She ate three already, maybe four.  The recipe made 24, for crying out loud.  I think that’s a pretty good reward for being so good (relatively speaking).  I mean, this year I came away without any bruises from the event.  That’s a win.  No one bled profusely.  That’s a win too.  Only one child cried.  Another win.  The child that cried is still talking to me.  All around win.

Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel Topping

Submitted By: BRETTNSHARA
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Ready In: 55 Minutes
Servings: 18 (actually it’s 24)
“Moist and hearty pumpkin-oat muffins are topped with a brown sugar and oat streusel perfect for a quick breakfast or a holiday brunch.”
INGREDIENTS:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil (replaced with 10 tsp melted butter with excellent results)
1/2 cup applesauce
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup raisins (optional)

Topping (double this or you’ll be short):
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons rolled oats
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease or line 18 muffin cups with paper liners.
2. Combine 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup oats, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Whisk pumpkin puree, 1 cup brown sugar, white sugar, vegetable oil, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla extract together in a separate large bowl. Stir flour mixture into pumpkin mixture; mix well. Fold in raisins.
3. Beat 1/4 cup brown sugar with butter in a bowl until creamy and smooth. Whisk 2 tablespoons oats and 2 tablespoons flour, using a fork, into sugar-butter mixture until streusel topping is crumbly.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin tin. Sprinkle each muffin with streusel topping.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2012 Allrecipes.com Printed from Allrecipes.com 10/9/2012

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Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do?

Apple, Kiwi, Lemon, Bananas, Annoying Orange, and Pear. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I was driving with Anneliese (7 years old) and Gracie in the car after dropping the eldest girl off at middle school and were on the way back home to get them onto the bus.  Out of nowhere, Anneliese deadpans:

“Sometimes people are just too nice.  It’s so annoying.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nice people annoy me.  You know, when people are ‘tooooooo niiiiice?’ That’s annoying.  It makes me want to slap them and then walk away.” *~*

“Why would you say that?”

“Boys.  All the boys that like me are SO NICE TO ME it’s annoying.  They’re mean and rude and silly until they decide they’re in love with me and then they’re so nice it’s annoying.”

::after picking my jaw up from the floor in my head:: “Would you rather they pull your hair? ‘Oh hey, I like you so I’m going to punch you in the face and get your attention that way! Maybe you’ll punch me in the stomach and that’ll mean you like me too!’ Is that what you want? Or is this better… ‘Oh Anna, I love you so I’m going to stop trying to yank your skirt and give you chocolate instead! I won’t hurt you anymore, I’ll just try to make your butt fat! But that’s okay, I’ll love you whether you’re fat or skinny!”

She collapsed into giggles, and kept asking me to play both sides of the annoying-nice/loving-nice fence.  I foresee very bad teen and college dating years.  She’s going to go after the bad boys, isn’t she?

 

 

*~*DISCLAIMER: The Mister and I do not go around slapping people, each other, or our children.  We don’t go around saying people are “too nice” and emphasize that people should be nice to each other and discourage violence.  Just sayin’.  ;-)

 

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Anti-Autism Drug GRN-529? Rubs Me Wrongly

EEG of brain; via childrenshospitalblog.org

This could be the Mama Bear coming out in me (gosh, it really must be because I HATE the term Mama Bear), but this so-called experiment and drug GRN-529 (article pressed below with link) that supposedly reduces autistic symptoms in mice rubs me completely the wrong way. The article is very careful to refrain from calling  GRN-529  a cure and to state that it’s treating…  no wait… REVERSING symptoms of autism, such as making the mice more sociable and minimizing obsessive-compulsive behaviors.  But tagging it as a drug that specifically reduces ASD symptoms… especially when those qualities are present in so many other different disorders and are so often simply personality quirks in people… it bothers me as a whole.

Of course there’s the whole “messing with the synapses and neurotransmitters of the brain” thing.  Considering these mice weren’t actually given autism, since that’s impossible, but that they were manually given symptoms that’s one of my reservations with this experiment.  I also have issues with the mice being inbred on top of their manufactured “symptoms.”  Maybe that’s a mountain out of a molehill, and I can’t quite articulate right now why that one bothers me so very much, but it does.  I think it’s also a bit disingenuous to claim that it’s not trying to cure ASD when it’s attempting to target the neurotransmitters the way that they would.

Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not against medications when they’re warranted.  I’m not against researching Autism Spectrum Disorders and all of the surrounding issues.  I think part of what’s bothering me is that the more I learn, the more it seems to me that ASD is a collection of neurological differences and disorders.  I believe that at its core, ASD is genetically based and ASD’s affect a wide array of neurological issues.

The behaviors can be so very difficult to deal with as a family, as a parent, and especially the child who becomes a teen and later an adult.  The destructive behaviors in high functioning individuals should be approached on an individual basis.  I worry, I think, that a drug like GRN-529 might end up being something that is “pushed” much the way ADHD medications are pushed for highly active and spirited children that aren’t actually ADHD.  Don’t like the symptom? Drug it up even if it’s not therapeutic.  Let’s make everyone else’s lives easier.  That might sound contradictory coming from me, since we have Gracie (my darling 3rd grader who has Autism) on a low dose of an ADD medication along with her seizure medication.  She’s able to concentrate and work at school.  She’s been better able to follow directions.  In her own way she has commented on her improved ability to focus, and that she likes that feeling.  She has less anxiety while at school because of it.  She has less anxiety about bed time than she used to (granted it’s still there, but not like before).  We’re also in the decision-making process for our eldest daughter regarding her ADHD.  It’s not easy making these decisions and figuring out if what we’re considering tips the scales in “we’re doing this for her and not for us” favor.

This particular bit of mouse research feels a bit misdirected.  I know that the research itself is much more complicated than the article is laying it out to be, but ASD is so much  more than that area of the brain.  It’s so much more than OCD and social awkwardness.  So maybe my feeling is that this bit of research is missing the point more than anything else.

Or maybe I’m over-reacting or misunderstanding or being overly critical or (gasp) all three.

Experimental drug reduces autism symptoms in mice, gov’t study shows – HealthPop – CBS News.

April 26, 2012 1:13 PM
Experimental drug reduces autism symptoms in mice, gov’t study shows

(CBS News) Autism affects one out of every 88 American children and while there are available treatments for early intervention, there is no cure. A new government-funded study has found an experimental treatment is effective at reversing symptoms of autism in mice.

For the study, published in the April 25 issue of Science and Translational Medicine, researchers from the National Institutes of Health bred a strain of mice to display autism-like behaviors. Similar to how children with autism have social deficits and engage in repetitive behaviors, these mice did not interact and communicate with each other and spent an inordinate amount of time engaging in repetitive behavior – in this case self-grooming.

Cue the experimental drug called GRN-529. The drug was designed to inhibit a type of brain cell receptor that receives the neurotransmitter glutamate. Glutamate is typically involved in learning and memory processes and stimulates other areas of the brain and nervous system.

When mice with the autism-like behaviors were injected with the experimental compound, they reduced the frequency of their repetitive self-grooming and spent more time around strange mice, even sniffing them nose to nose. When tested on a different strain of mice, the experimental compound stopped all repetitive jumping behavior.

“These new results in mice support NIMH-funded research in humans to create treatments for the core symptoms of autism,” Dr. Thomas R. Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, said in a statement. “While autism has been often considered only as a disability in need of rehabilitation, we can now address autism as a disorder responding to biomedical treatments.”

The researchers said although most mouse brain findings often don’t translate to humans, the fact that these compounds are already being tested for an overlapping condition strengthens the case for the drug’s effectiveness. This class of compounds is currently being studied in patients with the genetic disease Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of intellectual disability. About one third of patients with Fragile X syndrome also meet criteria for autism.

“These inbred strains of mice are similar, behaviorally, to individuals with autism for whom the responsible genetic factors are unknown, which accounts for about three fourths of people with the disorders,” noted study author Dr. Jacqueline Crawley of the NIMH. “Given the high costs – monetary and emotional – to families, schools, and health care systems, we are hopeful that this line of studies may help meet the need for medications that treat core symptoms.”

Some experts exercised caution with the new findings. In an accompanying editorial in the same journal issue, Baltazar Gomez-Mancilla, executive director of translational medicine neuroscience at Novartis, wrote, “It is too early to speculate as to whether or not autism spectrum disorders can be reversed by small molecules.”

Dr. Uta Frith, a professor of cognitive development at University College London, told BBC News that neurotransmitter problems have long been suspected as an origin of autism, “However, it will be a long time until these findings can be translated for human patients. Tampering with the synapse may well result in undesirable side effects,” he said.

Related articles

• Experimental Drug Improves Autism-Like Symptoms in Mice (abcnews.go.com)
• Agent reduces autism-like behaviors in mice (naturenplanet.com)
• Experimental Drug Eases Autistic Behaviors in Mice (news.health.com)

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An Extra Little Girl

Anna & Kahlan

There’s nothing quite like the sound of a baby giggling.  I love having baby noises in the house again; giggles, snuffles, squeals, heavy breathing, babbling, hiccups, blowing razzberries,  even the crying.  Of course it’s not permanent.  I usually only get to keep this particular baby for an overnight or three and then I get to give her back to my brother. 

Most of her time is spent playing with my girls and they all make each other laugh and tire each other out.  The baby is in an endless state of hiccups, it seems, but as long as she’s not eating she doesn’t seem to mind.  She’s eight months old so she’s a lot of fun to play with.  Anneliese is kissing Kahlan‘s toes from foot to foot back and forth really quickly and that’s making the baby laugh hysterically.  It’s like that, though… they do whatever they can to hear that giggle and see her smile.  They want to keep her happy.

Luckily for them it’s easy to keep a happy baby happy.

I’m especially proud of Gracie because the transition to having a baby in the house isn’t easy.  Especially when the baby pulls hair, makes loud noises, makes bad smells, messes up routines, and does things The Wrong Way.  The baby is, for the most part, a sensory nightmare but Gracie deals with it with grace because she adores babies and loves her cousin… and gently “teaches” her The Right Way To Do Things.  She lets the baby “get away with things” and handles herself really well.  I realize that the stress will come out later on after the baby leaves on Sunday, but this is great practice for Gracie.

The fact is, though, that I just love having my goddaughter around.  She’s sweet, happy, easy, smart, beautiful, silly, and she loves her big cousins.  You can’t help but smile around her.

Related articles

• Gracie-isms (littlefallofrain.wordpress.com)
• Something You Can’t Joke About With Autism (littlefallofrain.wordpress.com)
• Gracie’s Rules III (littlefallofrain.wordpress.com)
• What’s Your Baby Up to This Month? (enfamil.com)

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Easter Without The “Real” E.B.

This year is the first year that all three of my daughters are aware of the reality status of the Easter Bunny.  Me being me, I’m feeling a little torn about that.

First off let me make it clear that I didn’t spring that information on them.  Oh look, ha ha! Easter… Spring… I didn’t “spring” it on them! Ahem.  No, my youngest daughter figured it all out on her own.  I should preface this even further by stating that this past Christmas was her second Christmas knowing the reality status of Santa Claus.  She figured that out on her own.  From there, she connected the dots.

Then she and my eldest held up the conspiracy for their sister, my middle daughter, until this past Christmas.  Then they decided to just openly start talking about the reality status of Santa.  Then more teeth started to fall out and that led to the Tooth Fairy.  Of course now there’s Easter and Mr. E.B.

Gracie is taking it all in stride.  We haven’t spoken directly one on one about it, but the conversations have been in front of her and her sisters are trying to include her in them.  In one of these conversations Anna asked her,

“Oh wait! Do you still believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny?”

“I didn’t for always.  You and Junie belief.  I pretended but then I believed.  Now I don’t again.”

Clear as mud? So that solves that.  No apparent trauma.  The kids are quite happy to all be in on the magic for the kids who do still believe and to pretend for the sake of their friends and cousins and other little ones who aren’t in on the holiday magic.  They like being part of something that the grown ups know, and being trusted to help make it fun for the little ones.  They’re having fun with that.  I’m proud of them.

I think they made such a great transition because the main focus on Easter has always been about Jesus rising from the dead after the sacrifice he made for us, and the celebration that Easter represents.  It’s about family and the joy of our faith, the miracle of the Resurrection and looking forward to learning about the continuation of Jesus’s ministry after the Resurrection and prior to his Ascension  (it was the Ascension, right? With Mary is was the Assumption? I always get them confused.  Okay, yes… Jesus Ascended because he rose up into Heaven all on his own.  Mary’s body was carried into Heaven by the Angels after she died so that her body wouldn’t be corrupted by decomposition ie. was “assumed” up into Heaven not of her own accord).  This Lent has been especially special since it was the first one where Anna was in catechism classes through our church.  We have a wonderful CCD program with great teachers and a great director, and they make it fun for the kids.  It helps that it’s a wonderful, accepting church with a young parish and progressive membership.

Hmm… this got a bit longer than I intended.  I get a bit windy sometimes. 

Related articles

• Yarn Along: Jesus and the Easter Bunnies (twyste.com)
• Easter Wishes To All – About Easter eggs (galsnladiesonly.wordpress.com)

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April: Autism Awareness Month

Logo of World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, by UN (United Nations). Português: Logo do Dia Mundial de Conscientização do Autismo, 2 de Abril, criado pela ONU (Organizações das Nações Unidas). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’ve always said that awareness is only the first step, and that it’s not ever enough to simply be “aware.” It’s certainly never, ever enough to be tolerant. What people think this month is about is slogans and slacktivism, Rain Man, and key chains.

The problem is that people don’t know because it’s invisible. You can’t see it. And it’s behavioral, so it “should” have a cure. Someone or something caused it. All we need is better parenting/medication/whatever.

::sigh::

For me, Autism Awareness has become synonymous with Autism Education. That includes educating myself as well as others about Autisms and the misconceptions people have about them. They don’t realize that it’s not about parenting or what’s involved in schooling. They don’t realize that it’s a group of disorders and that there are several comorbid diagnoses as well as additional health problems with ASD’s. They listen to whackadoodles like Jenny McCarthy and former doctor Andrew Wakefield are reliable and credible Autism specialists. They think people with Autism have no feelings, are incapable of emotion, don’t smile, don’t play, aren’t happy, and live in isolation.

People just don’t KNOW.

It’s a popular thing right now to post on your FB status. Well, it’s always popular to post that you support something or other on Facebook.  You even get those passive aggressive and aggressive aggressive statuses threatening that if you don’t repost, you must not really care insinuating that you in fact support the evil that is the opposite of The Good You’re Trying To Promote.  You can slap on a bumper sticker or donate a couple of dollars to some vague charity with a puzzle piece for its symbol. But they don’t educate themselves.

You’d be amazed at how many people sit up and lean forward when I talk about my daughter and how many questions they ask me. You’d be amazed at the hunger some people have to know more. Some people don’t care to know more than I offer, though. I know that when I leave someone after a conversation the chances that they’ll research more on their own is slim to none unless their lives are touched by someone with Autism.

The fact is that most people are comfortable being slacktivists. They’re comfortable “showing” support with what amounts to waving a flag. But if all they do is “show” support with a button or blue avatar, it’s only slightly less bad than someone who is actively denigrating disabled people. Show support, but be active in that support. That’s what I try to do.

But I do it year round.

[Edit: Please be assured that I'm not demanding that others advocate for Autism as I do.  I'm speaking really for myself.  I'm fired up about this and this is an internal conversation I've had with myself to motivate myself... this is not intended to shame anyone into becoming a formal or active advocate.  But because I participate to the extent that I do, and because our lives are affected by Autism so profoundly, there are some serious emotions attached.  It's not personal against the world.  It just is and it comes with the territory.]

I think it’s wonderful that there’s an Autism Awareness Month and a World Autism Awareness Day.  I honestly do.  But for many people, that’s the only time of year that they ever think about Autism.  It only exists for them at that time of year because that’s when they’re inundated with the puzzle piece ribbons and influx of articles and flurry of Facebook status changes and profile photo changes.

I don’t have that luxury.  My daughter has  Autism every single day.  It affects my household every single day.  It affects those who spend time with my daughter every day.  It doesn’t turn itself off when she gets home from school.  It doesn’t magically turn off at supper time or when I say “Bed time!” It never goes away and that’s just how life is.

I have a three happy, beautiful, intelligent daughters and one of them happens to have Autism.  It’s a learning experience with a high learning curve every single day.  It’s not easy for me, but I can only imagine how it is living inside her head.  Sometimes she gives me a glimpse.  Sometimes I envy her outlook… her Autism has given her a unique perspective and some pretty special skills.  She’s taught me to be a better mother, a better person, a better human being.  Because of her I have a much more open mind than I ever did before.  Because of her, a whole world has been opened up.  Before her I didn’t have a clue as to what Autism meant.  I didn’t even have preconceived notions about it because I knew next to nothing about it.

That’s why stepping into the shoes of “Autism Support” and “Autism Advocacy” equals Autism Education.  People fight against what they don’t know or understand.  They want to change and fix and assign blame to what they don’t understand.  They feel anger and mourn what they don’t understand.  It makes people uncomfortable to not understand something but then there’s that mask of Autism Support that comes in the form of meaningless slogans and heart bumper stickers.

But hey… I have a bumper sticker.  I’ve also lit up my profile photos blue.  But I’m always ready to answer questions and actively advocate.  It’s the least I can do.  The rest of the time, well, I’m raising my daughters.

Related articles

• 1 In 88 Is Not Just A Number {Autism Awareness Month} (makingtimeformommy.com)
• Is There an Autism Epidemic? (randi.org)
• Autism Awareness in April and Beyond… (myautismhatrack.wordpress.com)

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