Light It Up Blue (or red)

​Autism from a mama who has been there. I am hoping to post every day this month. Please feel free to ask questions in the comments.

Light It Up Blue (or red) not just for awareness, because let’s face it almost everyone is aware of autism, and not just for acceptance. I refused to accept the limitations autism put on my son, but for education, for progress, for programs, for our kids.

The progress that allows us to bring our children out into public spaces without stares but with understanding and that enables them to access the adventures and experiences that a whole life affords us all.

And programs such as early intervention, group therapy, talk therapy, behavioral therapy, integration therapy, sensory desensitization therapy, and all the other amazing programs that have been developed and implemented over the years.

And for our kids, I refused to let autism hide my child. He was in there. And I wanted to know him. I refused to allow the wall of autism to keep me, to keep us, from having a loving relationship.

We went from his being nonverbal to our being able to have profound, insightful, and sometimes funny conversations.

He progressed from not being able to look people in the eye to sharing, both his testimony and his autism journey.

Our whole family changed as he went from panicking in crowds to participating in group activities: like the paint-night, Boondocks, and an Escape Room.

A whole world opened as he went from not recognizing people as individuals to being an amazing son, fantastic friend, and loving husband. 

It is hard; I’m not going to lie or candy-coat it for you. I’ve shed innumerable tears of grief, but also joy. And there has been love, lots of love.

Celebrate the small stuff. Be flexible. Laugh.