Zoom Autism Magazine Issue 1 Fall 2014 | Page 13

You will be a better parent for all of it. last drop of them. You will find the tools that you need. You will take bits and pieces of different theories and practices. You’ll talk to parents and doctors and therapists. You’ll discover a world of autistic adults who generously share their stories, and you will come to understand that they are the true experts. You’ll take something from each of them. You’ll even find value in those you don’t agree with at all; in fact, sometimes that’s where you’ll find the most value. From the scraps that you gather, you will start to build your child’s quilt—a little of this, a little of that, a lot of love. You will be OK. You will help your sweet girl be far better than OK. You will show her boundless love. She will know that she is accepted and cherished and celebrated for every last morsel of who she is. She will believe in herself as you believe in her. She will astound you. She will teach you far more than you will ever teach her. She will fly. You will be OK. With Love, Jess You will think you can’t handle it. You will be wrong. This is not an easy road, but the rewards are tremendous. Its joys are the very sweetest of life’s nectar. You will drink them in and taste and smell and feel every Jess Wilson can typically be found at Diary of a Mom, where she writes about life with her husband, Luau, and their daughters, Brooke, 11, and Katie, 13. Beach photos courtesy of Pixabay Do you have an inspirational story to share about your journey as an Autism parent? Send your 800 words or less first-person essay to [email protected] with “Close Up” in the subject line for consideration. Zoom Autism Through Many Lenses 13