25 random things about being the mother of a child with autism

1)      My husband and I planned on having our first child after two years of marriage. Matthew beat us by 2 months.

2)      I took Matthew on a job interview when he was eight weeks old because I couldn’t bear to leave him with a babysitter.

3)      The first person that told me that Matthew, then three, was developmentally delayed was a speech therapist. She was also the first person who didn’t mention how adorable he was.

4)      My husband and I coached Matthew before his next evaluation with a child psychologist. We read him Richard Scary’s Best Word Book Ever.

5)      When the child psychologist confirmed that Matthew was developmentally delayed, I thought that meant he could catch up. I really did.

6)      When Matthew started lining up toys and laughing too hard at sprinklers in the garden, I knew something was seriously wrong, but I didn’t admit it to anyone.

7)       I was angry with him, and I felt guilty that I was angry.

8)      When Matthew’s younger brother Andy charmed family and friends with his personality and smarts, my love for Matthew deepened.

9)      Andy is now twenty. My most cherished childhood memories with him are the walks we took while Matthew was with speech therapist/psychologists/occupational therapists etc.

10)  Matthew’s youngest brother, John, was one week old when we tried our first miracle cure, auditory training. He is now 16 and helps Matthew with cheats on Nintendo 64.

11)  Andy is studying genetics. He is kind and funny. Matthew is jealous of him because he has friends and a drivers license.

12)  My husband I have stayed together-I hear that is unusual.

13)  How would we explain Matthew on a match.com profile, anyway?

14)  The year that I accepted that Matthew’s condition was lifelong was also the year I had a mini-breakdown.

15)  The best thing I ever did was find a good therapist.

16)  My sense of humor has saved me.

17)  There is nothing more genuine than one of Matthew’s smiles.

18)  There are more kind people in the world than there are jerks.

19)  I cried at every IEP except for the last one, which would be THE last one.

20)  I lost friends because of Matthew.

21)  I made better friends because of Matthew.

22)  When Matthew tells me he’s not in trouble, I know that he IS in trouble, and I remain calm.

23)  I am one of the most patient women on the planet.

24)  I am luckier that most.

25)  The lump in my throat will never go away.

Laura

Laura Shumaker is the author of A REGULAR GUY: GROWING UP WITH AUTISM. See a review of the book by our sister site 5 Minutes for Books.

Laura writes each Friday for 5 Minutes For Special Needs.

6 Responses to 25 random things about being the mother of a child with autism