Managing Autism - A Personal View

To our beautiful Jack,

May you bask in the sunshine of your uniqueness.

May you shine in the beauty of you.

May you always know of the blessings you bring to our lives.

We love you to the moon and stars and back… forever,

 Mum, Dad & Annie. xx

Today we celebrate Autism Awareness Day.

Today we embrace what autism means to us.

Today we look with hope to a future of understanding and acceptance.

Today we look forward with love.

I pulled my car to a stop at the side of the street, and I glanced quickly out towards the road before I opened my door.  The traffic was heavy; cars everywhere, young people on bikes, and buses moving out quickly with the end of school rush.

A quick hand over was all that was needed - a few brief words as I took the bag, along with the drink bottle that had fallen from the bag’s side pocket.

“Any news?” I asked Steve, as I attempted a kiss on Jack’s head.

“Nothing to report… not ready to talk yet,” was the answer I got as the head below me ducked and looked out toward the distance.

A few more brief words and Steve was in his car and driving away, rushing to a meeting.

I looked down beside me to realise that Jack was gone, and as my eyes searched the foot path, I noticed a figure standing some distance away… at the edge of the nearby parkland, staring into the trees and head tilted - as though listening.

He had found the quiet… he had found the calm… he had found the ’sanctuary’ in the middle of all the noise and movement around us.

As I called to him he slowly turned.  He looked quietly towards me, not responding, but just listening… though not to my voice, it seemed, but to the distant wildlife.

And at that moment the world seemed to ’still’… he had found that moment, and he had recognised the beauty of what was in front of us that no one else around us could see at that moment.

Then a minute later his eyes focussed on me and he called “I hope a train doesn’t come past Mum”, and he ran towards the car and climbed in.

I smiled to myself and climbed into the drivers seat.

I felt blessed.  And after a long day, in that moment, I felt alive.