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A Challenge to Parents: Try "Quitting" Autism for Just One Day Posted By: Caliboo818
Posted On: 05/30/2008
A friend of mine has an eleven-year-old son with moderately profound autism. One day, he expressed interest in the game of golf. His dad grabbed a bag of clubs and some balls, and took his son to the golf course. Amazingly, the boy was a natural! The two spent the whole morning playing 18 holes. The father's delighted quote: "you'd never have known he was autistic."
Those who have seen the video "Autism:The Musical" heard Lexy, a 13-year-old girl with autism, singing magnificently. Not long ago, she cut a couple of singles for itunes in support of the Miracle Project (the organization that runs the musical program for kids with autism). Listening to her, you'd never know she was autistic.

My son Tom, age 11, is diagnosed with PDD-NOS, a form of autism. Unlike other kids his age, Tom loves art museums. Not only does he walk through the galleries without complaining or fussing - he actively discusses the works of art, and gets excited when he sees a piece he knows. Walking through a museum with Tom, you'd never guess he was autistic.

Your child with autism may always be autistic, but there are places and circumstances in which it either doesn't matter - or in which your child's special talents make autism irrelevant. Whether it's at the beach, in the woods, at a concert, or creating a work of art - just for one day - go somewhere where autism doesn't matter.

Just for one day, quit being the parent of a child with autism. And become just a plain, ordinary, loving, proud parent.

What do you think? Can this be done
       
carmel66 wrote this reply on 05/30/2008
Sometimes - you just have to pick the right day. Not a "freak out" day...We frequently ignore the autism and have a blast. Sure, we notice some looks sometimes but we better get used to it. Even if my son recovers completely from his autism - he'll always look differnt.

Crofty wrote this reply on 05/30/2008
Good point sometimes, autism totally overwhelmes everything. I'm going to definitely try to step back from it and enjoy my children as just children!!!

Ginny wrote this reply on 05/30/2008
We go to Disneyworld. Seth is absolutly the best kid there. Granted, we use the disabilities pass so that we don't have to stand in line...but truely he is in his element there. You would never know he is Autistic!

christina wrote this reply on 05/30/2008
That is beautifully written. There are times when i can step back and it doesn't seem that anything is wrong with my son.

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