Well, World Autism Awareness Day is over for another year. I love that day, I really do. It feels like the whole world is seeing us, reminded of us, and hopefully they given a bit of an education on this wonder that is autism.
My son, of course, asked to go to McDonalds for Autism Day. How could I refuse? He knew it was a day of celebration, celebration means McDonald's, or moreso, their PlayPlace.
As my children were exploring the wonders of McDonald's play structure, I noticed an older boy walking happily around the base. As soon as he covered his ears when the younger children squeale with delight, I knew he was one of our own. He spoke to me,and I spoke back, smiled when he smiled. An older lady who had been watching through a glass window came and sat next to me on the bench. She motioned towards the autism pin on my shirt. "I see you're wearing an autism pin", she motioned towards the boy, "my grandson has autism."
"Yes", I replied, " I saw him covering his ears, and thought that he might. My son has autism too."
We chatted back and forth, the conversation was pleasant, comfortable. The lady was comfortable, and so was I. All because I wore a pin that marked me as a safe person.
So many of us moms sport our autism bling. We have bracelets, earrings, keychains, scarves. So much of it bought as fundraisers, so much of it that just calls to us. Sometimes we wear it so others might better understand our children, and sometimes these small symbols make us recognizable to each other.
Imagine if more people wore their acceptance. If our communities were filled with people who wore their support for others to see.
I am glad I wore that pin that day. It was a poignant reminder of why awareness matters, and why WAAD is worth celebrating.
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Very nice Natalie! It's awesome when you feel understood and not all alone!!
ReplyDeleteI ran across your blog while searching for other parents of Aspergers kids who write and share their experiences. Our 20 year old daughter has Apspergers and, well, some days are better than others : )I still cry for her, misunderstand her and struggle with parenting her. We didn't discover she had Aspergers until she was 17, but it was a revelation to finally understand what those last 17 years had all been about. It explained everything!
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping your blog. It has helped me to simply know there are other parents out there. I wish there had been more Aspergers awareness back in the 90's when our daughter was young.
I want to use this means to let the world know that all hope is not lost Getting pregnant after having tubes clamped and burned, I know IVF and Reversal could help but the cost is way too high, i couldn't afford it either and i so desire to add another baby to my family been trying for 5 years, not until i came across Dr Zico, who cast a pregnancy/Fertility spell for me and i use his herbal remedy/medication and i got pregnant. l hope that women out there who are going through the same fears and worries l went through in GETTING PREGNANT , will find your contact as i drop it here on this site, and solution will come to them as they contact you. Thank you and God bless you to reach him email via: zicoherbalhome@gmail.com
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