Her exact words?
"You'll never be bored again."
Boy, was she right.
The most incredible, amazing little girl God ever created keeps me on my toes. There is never a dull moment. I am NEVER bored. Or well rested. :)
She likes animals, especially frogs
She likes her playhouse
She likes playing with the neighbor girls
She likes to dance
She likes music
She likes to hold her arms way up high to feel the wind against her skin
She likes chasing birds
She likes when I make her bracelets out of dandelions
She likes lying on the grass and watching the clouds
She likes people
She likes helping Mommy cook
She likes ticking Daddy's belly
She likes getting her nails painted
She likes painting Daddy's toenails :)
She is full of energy, so much her little body wants to explode when it's not moving
She sparkles, she leaves a little trail of sparkle everywhere she goes
She is super fun
She is silly
She is loving and kind
She is polite
She is friendly
She is beautiful in every imaginable way
She is incredibly smart
She is a free spirit
She is independent
She is strong-willed
She is her own person, unapologetically
She is also autistic.
I preface that sentence with so many positive things about her. She is an enormous personality in a tiny little body, and autism is only a small part of who she is.
I've long been struggling with how much I share and with whom. Eventually, I'll probably make this page more private. When she's in middle school I don't want her classmates finding this. Or anyone who can hurt us, really. My hands are shaking a little as I type. I have always been private, and I struggle with talking about a lot of things.
But for now, here I am.
Completely naked.
My hope is that for people in our lives - maybe you'll learn something that can help you understand us, or how to interact with her. Maybe you have an idea or something we haven't thought of. Long gone are the days of parenting advice ticking me off. I know how to take care of kids. I don't know how to raise an autistic child. I'm totally winging it. Maybe you know something I don't. Maybe you have a resource I don't know about. Maybe you'll offer nice words of encouragement. (please do!) Maybe you realize, hey, I'm crazy busy, but she could use my support. Maybe you find a second out of your day for a simple, How's Elsie? Or maybe even, how are YOU? Aren't we a village, anyway?
For the rest of the people reading - yes, you, chick I went to high school with and haven't seen in ten years - maybe for her progress, her safety, and for our sanity, you'll send us a few prayers or positive vibes or good mojo juice, or whatever it is you do. We'll take it.
Maybe you learn something. Maybe, next time you're in public and a kid is absolutely losing their mind melting down and their Mom is doing her best to calm her child, keep her composure and not start crying, too, when she really just wants to hide under a rock...maybe, just maybe, you'll offer a genuine smile, or an it's okay, Momma, we've all been there. Or maybe you'll think to yourself, I have no idea what they're going through, so I'll just be nice and go about my business. Isn't being nice so much easier, anyway?? You don't know if the child is having issues, or if they're "normal."
Ew, normal.
Here's what's important: pay attention, Grandmas, read it over and over if you have to
No, our child isn't "normal." Yes, she's "different." But we're okay. She'll be fine. We'll be fine.
The terms "nornal" and "different" make me cringe. Necessary evil, sometimes, I guess. Especially when referring to special needs children. Aren't we all different? Some people are tall, short, blonde, brunette. Some people have pretty feet and some people have those icky Katie Holmes hammer toes. Some people are quiet, some are loud. Aren't we all different?
What is normal, anyway?
Normal is for boring people.
I can promise you, we will never be bored again.
-LJ
