It Sneaks Up On You…
It sneaks up on you.
A Dad and his 6 year-old son sitting four seats over at a ball game…
A family picnic with cousins and siblings running around together giggling…
A coworker sharing a story of his boy’s latest little league achievement…
A TV commercial with a precocious little kid slinging one-liners with impeccable comedic timing…
An innocent Facebook post from a friend sharing a cute little anecdote about a question his 3 year-old asked at the dinner table…
It sneaks up on you. And it’s brutally cruel.
I think I know what "it" is and if I'm right I must say it sneaks up on us way to often… and sometimes way to easily…
I just keep reminding myself that my precious little David is still my precious little David in spite of everything. Same goes for my precious little Joshua.
I agree, "it" does sneak up on you. I wrote a post last month called "To Every Parent…" after just such a situation. You can read it if you like.
http://enduringthesilence.com/2012/01/24/to-every-parent/
What helps me, is to let myself feel the sadness for a moment, and then to immediately force myself to turn my attention to the progress my daughter has made in the past year. I can't compare Ella to others her age. I cannot compare Ella to Ella before the severe allergic/adverse vaccine reaction that took her from "typical" to autistic within 15 minutes. I can't live in those moments. But if I can focus on where she was when this all started, to where she is now – then I can remain hopeful.
Thank, ladies. Debbie, your post captures it perfectly. Thanks for sharing it. Keep on fighting!
Thanks, Eric! You too!
Oops! I left off "Dad".
That should read "Thanks, Eric's Dad! You too!"
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I don't remember why my comment was removed before but I was not that blog literate then. So here is another go at it.
Yes, it does sneak up on you and it snuck up on me again yesterday while I was driving to get my kids from school and again last night when I finally got the report from the school psychologist for James' IEP. When it comes to Autism perspective, I am a positive person. I can turn any horrible Autism experience around and find even a glimpse of wonderful in it. I was listening to a new Rascal Flatts CD and really enjoying it and then track 6 played and I started to cry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIslcAtrWvs I was immediately taken back to 12/20/2006 the day that James became Autistic. Fast forward 5 years 4 months and 3 days……. that is 1951 Days of worry about his future, 46,824 hours of intense therapy, 2,809,440 minutes of potential opportunities of growth, 168,566,400 seconds loving James with Autism!
James has recently been faded from his Autism program because he has exceeded their expectations. He is in a typical 2nd grade class keeping up academically. He no longer requires and aide he is just a typical 8 year old in second grade. Last night I got the report from the school psychologist for James' IEP on Wednesday. I was fully prepared for his educational Autism diagnosis to be taken away because educationally he is typical. My heart stopped when I read the words , "Based on the assessment results, James meets special education eligibility criteria for Autistic Like Behaviors." I know he will never lose his medical diagnosis but…
Thanks for sharing this again today and you must have known that I needed this!
I suspect my experience with Autism is a bit different than yours, but it sneaks up on me too…..
http://this-is-not-what-i-signed-up-for.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/trying-to-be-satisfied-with-what-ive.html
Thanks for saying hi on Facebook. It's good to meet you.