The last year or so of my life, I’ve become enlightened. About the way life goes when you’re faced with a challenge.
I didn’t know that I would be given this opportunity to discover life again through a child’s eyes, let alone through the eyes of a child with Autism. It’s been hard on me (as if you couldn’t tell, crazy blog lady here these days) but I have glimpses throughout my week where I feel like I’ve done a good job and made a difference in Jovie’s life.
I think that’s the common feeling amongst the playgroup we go to every Friday. We’ve all been given a challenge, whether it’s Autism, or Down Syndrome, or one of the many other disorders, illnesses or special needs that our children fall under. Last Friday, I looked around the room and every single mum there was smiling. Sure, we may go home and in the quiet of the night break down in tears, but together we are doing this. We’re not alone.
And I think that’s one of the biggest things you have to remember when you’re raising a special needs kid – you’re not alone. Keep reaching out, whether it’s on the internet or in your community – there are people out there going through the same things you are. And talking about it DOES HELP.
I don’t profess to know everything about Autism, but I’m more than happy to share my struggles and triumphs as a mum and as a woman. I’m very happy to listen to yours too.
just working on my own mini campaign for Autism Awareness 🙂
World Autism Awareness Day is on April 2 this year, they’re running the Light It Up Blue campaign (website to go live March 19, though I don’t know why a splash page couldn’t go up right now…) so I’m going to do my part is spreading awareness and maybe fundraise a little bit at the same time
my webpage has been updated, and if you’re interested in buying a print of my artwork for autism awareness, please let me know
a new logo for 2012 🙂
Overheard in the bath tub this morning, the sounds of a 4 year old boy trying to teach his 2 year old sister how to say his name.
‘Say JAS-PAH, Joey’
‘…’
‘Like this, JAS-PAH’
‘…’
‘Joey, say JAS-PAH. Say JAS-PAH!’
‘…’
There are times in your life where you feel proud, and there are times where you feel profoundly sad. This was both for me today at bath time.
Jasper is beginning to understand more and more than Jovie is different to other kids. He’s first to say ‘Joey doesn’t talk yet’ when I talk to Jovie directly. When we drop him at daycare, Jovie likes to roam around the room but he brings her back to me saying she needs to go to ‘baby school’ (e.g. either therapy or her supported playgroups).
There’s glimpses throughout the day where he tries to ‘speak Jovie’ – our ‘home therapy’ includes bubble blowing and he watches me work on Jovie’s joint attention and tries to copy. And like in the bath tub this morning, he’s trying to encourage her to speak.
We tell him that Jovie needs a little more help than other people and that we need to teach her things, that you can always talk to Jovie because she can hear you (though she doesn’t understand). But ultimately we’ve decided he’s still a little young to understand the whole scope of things.
There will always be questions and maybe I won’t have all the answers, but to a 4 year old boy who just wants to play with his sister I don’t think any answer really makes sense.
Parents of kids with Autism – how have you explained Autism to your other kids?
