granted. Every milestone met, no matter
what the timing, will be cause for celebration. Every baby step will be a quantum
leap. You will find the people who understand that. You will revel in their support
and love and shared excitement.
You will encounter people who care for
your child in ways that restore your faith
in humanity. You will cherish the teachers and therapists and caregivers who see
past your child’s challenges and who truly
understand her strengths. They will feel
like family.
You will examine and re-examine every
one of your own insecurities. You will recognize some of your child’s challenges as
your own. You will get to know yourself
as you get to know your child. You will
look to the tools you have used to mitigate
your own challenges. You will share them.
You will both be better for it.
You will come to understand that there
are gifts in all of this: tolerance, compassion, understanding—precious, life-altering gifts.
You will worry about your other children.
You will feel like you’re not giving them
enough time. You will find the time. Yes,
you will. You will discover that the time
that means something to them is not big.
It’s not a trip to the circus. It doesn’t involve planning. It’s free. You will forget
the dog and pony shows. Instead, you will
find fifteen minutes before bed. You will
close the door. You will sit on the floor.
You’ll play Barbies with your daughter or
Legos with your son. You’ll talk. You’ll listen. You’ll listen some more. You’ll start to
believe that they’ll be OK. And they will.
“You will think
you can’t handle
it. You will be
wrong.”
Zoom Autism Through Many Lenses
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