Autism is Changing in our House

Autism is changing in our house. I have been resistant to write about this for a few reasons. Kate is older now, and though she would tell you she loves when I write about her, I wonder if she will always feel that way. Yes, I have thought about that, thoroughly. She currently loves me to read old posts to her and show her old videos and she howls with laughter when I discuss some of her less than stellar moments. Biting my cheek while I was checking out of the grocery store, removing two fistfuls of my hair during a particularly rough bedtime. Don’t get me wrong, she isn’t laughing to be cruel, because these were far from funny moments when they happened. She is laughing at the silliness of the thought of her being so hard on anyone when she has blossomed (for lack of a better word) into a kind little spirit that wouldn’t dream of hurting a soul. 

So, as I re-read our history with our now nine-year old girl. I wonder how she came so far and so fast and I’m lead back to the idea of ‘Our Team’. Grandparents, friends, therapists, teachers, EA’s, Siblings, family in general, and you guys. You guys that read this blog and comment how it has either helped you or informed you in some way. I tell our girls this, and they feel proud. They feel proud of sharing our story so that the next Mama who gets a surprise bite attack at the grocery store, will know, that it CAN get better. 

While Kate’s communication skills are still lacking, and her social skills leave something to be desired, her character is second to none. And while she sits below her peers academically and she struggles with food aversion, her constitution is staggering. Her growth has been breathtaking. 

While I feel proud of Kate and our family and all of the accomplishments to date, it is important to remember that these accomplishments may not be where others are headed, or even need to go. At the risk of sounding cheesy, just take it one small victory at a time, because I can clearly remember when biting dominated our conversations and our world. And if you told me then, when I was crying in the bathroom trying to cover up little teeth marks on my face, that I would be well beyond that issue today, I would never have believed you.

Keep going! 

T’il Next Time

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