Autism Awareness

I've had really great intentions to blog like crazy during April- you know, Autism Awareness Month. I know you've at least heard of it- pictures and videos are all over facebook and the puzzle piece is everywhere. (Even over there --->!) But other than braving Saturday morning soccer with a stimming, screaming kid, I haven't done much to spread the awareness.

This year marks our fourth Autism Awareness Month since Waylon's diagnosis. In the beginning, I started this blog to help my family be aware of what autism is, and to help them understand Waylon. Eventually, it expanded to friends, then facebook, and last month there were 737 blog hits of people who came here to learn about autism. Whoa. That's huge. And I love it.

Here's the way I see it. Waylon is six now, and although I've heard lots of great stories about the kid who just "grew out" of their autism, it's not looking hopeful for us. And every bit of awareness I can spread now, will help Waylon in the future. If the number of shared photos and videos to my facebook wall is even an inkling of an indication, I know Waylon is loved. And maybe I'm a bit bias, but when you read the blog and learn more about who Waylon really is (not just the stimming, screaming kid in the bleachers), you'll love him even more. And that's what awareness is about.

In nursing school, we learned the stages of grief- DABDA. (Well, that's how I memorized it for tests anyways). Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. They work the same whether you didn't study and failed a test- (I 'm not going to fail this test, Crap I failed this  &*%$! test, Maybe she'll let me retake it for extra points, Now I'm going to fail this class, Oh well I guess I'll study better next time) or whether you have a child diagnosed with autism (I'm over-reacting he'll be fine, God why did you do this to my son, Maybe I'll pay for ridiculous amounts of therapy and it will go away, I'll never be able to have a life that doesn't include crappy pants again, I have a beautiful happy healthy son who I am proud of no matter what.) It's so true. But it's not like they're always in that perfect, neat order. Somedays, I find myself angry, and somedays I find myself in acceptance.

So I use this blog of awareness as my crutch. I hope you don't mind. When we are having a rough moment in the park, or the front of church, and I can feel a thousand sets of staring eyes come upon me, I think, "maybe they read the blog..." and I hope that they understand. Every one of the 737 blog hits last month were like fist pumps in the park, or the church pew, or the grocery store line, or the soccer bleachers.

 It takes a village to raise a child. African proverb

 Thanks for being part of our village.
 And happy Autism Awareness Month!



"Kids with autism are actually geniuses, you know. I saw it on 60 minutes."
#thingsIhearsixtimesaweek
Well, he doesn't play the piano like Beethoven or do math like Einstein.
The boy likes cars.
Future NASCAR driver? We'll have to wait and see.


As a sort-of Autism Awareness post-script, I want to mention: If you know of anyone who's child is not meeting the typical developmental milestones, and they are concerned, don't blow them off.  If I had a dollar for every time a well-meaning, kind-hearted person told me, "Oh, he'll talk someday and then you will wish he had never started!" Um, no. While many kids who start out with a language delay can catch up, there are many who don't. There are resources out there, like the Tiny-K program, for kids who are even just a little bit behind. It takes a strong parent to realize there may be something wrong with their child, and to do something about it while they have plenty of time.