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This coming Sunday is the tenth official World Autism Awareness Day, a day in which I could tell you I\u2019ll be \u201clighting it up blue\u201d or spreading awareness, but in reality I will be severely jetlagged in Ireland and hopefully putting autism on a shelf for a week.<\/p>\n
Really, I\u2019ll still have fifty-one weeks and thirty more years to think about it.<\/p>\n
In the past nine years I\u2019ve written at least one missive about the day each year, discussing my eldest son\u2019s burgeoning awareness of the world around him, and my youngest\u2019s awareness that he has autism too. I\u2019ve talked about our path from awareness to acceptance and even to celebration (yes, some of you are rolling your eyes, but reading at three and insane organizational skills are the yin to many a yang). I\u2019ve written about how much Autism Speaks has helped us, and how passionately I feel about the boys\u2019 collective progress.<\/p>\n
When it comes to autism, there\u2019s always a lot to write about.<\/p>\n
When the boys were little, our world was very small. Truth be told I only worried about what was happening in their world, was truly just trying to get through the day, or sometimes the hour. There was no global autism awareness chez McCafferty.<\/p>\n
But I\u2019m happy to tell you now, with my kids at ages ten and almost fourteen respectively, there\u2019s room for what I call the \u201cbig picture.\u201d Here are some things I\u2019m aware of this World Autism Day.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m aware that my eldest, severely autistic and non-verbal son continues to make progress every month of his life, and his courage astounds me.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m aware that my youngest has exceeded my expectations in what I thought he\u2019d achieve, that he is \u201cliving his dream\u201d as he is fond of telling me.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m aware that some days at my house are so difficult they\u2019d never make it on a reality show.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m aware that some of our moments are so filled with love and promise some people would not believe I have two autistic kids.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m still aware that Betsy Devos needs to brush up on IDEA.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m aware that the Supreme Court is my new best friend with their latest ruling on the court case which hopefully redefined a \u201cfair and appropriate education\u201d for generations to come.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m aware that I\u2019m nowhere near as patient as I often need to be.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m aware that not beating myself up about it is key, and I\u2019m trying my best not to do that.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m aware that I will never be at peace with leaving my son for half his life here without me.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m aware that my other son will most likely \u201cflee the coop,\u201d and for that I\u2019m eternally grateful.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m aware that I need massive quantities of chocolate to get through my day.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m aware that sometimes wine is needed to accompany that chocolate too.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m aware that this life, both for me and my kids, is sometimes grueling, beautiful, stressful, fulfilling, annoying, and miraculous, all at the same time. I\u2019m aware that autism is not completely gloom and doom, nor puppies and rainbows either.<\/p>\n
I am aware of the patience and consistency and boundless love from several villages of people that go into raising my kids.<\/p>\n
I am aware and am so grateful for everyone\u2019s contributions, and for my kids, just as they are.<\/p>\n
For more on my family visit my blog at autismmommytherapist.wordpress.com<\/em><\/p>\n Follow me on Facebook at Autism Mommy-Therapist<\/em><\/p>\n