It takes strength to survive;
It takes courage to live.
Strength and Courage
~David L. Griffith
The winds of change are blowing wild and free.
Make You Feel My Love
~Bob Dylan
4 years ago, Boy Wonder was diagnosed. All we’ve done is survive since then. There’s been ups and downs. There’s been joy and sorrow. There’s been 2 steps forward and 1 step back but we’ve been in crisis mode. We can’t stay here anymore. I can’t stay in crisis mode anymore. I also can’t be Mommy or Autism Mama all the time anymore.
I will never be the blissfully ignorant, happy go lucky person I was once upon a time. The past 4 years have taught me too much about judgments, incorrect perceptions, empathy, acceptance, patience and love. We aren’t who we were pre-diagnosis.
So I’m choosing to make changes. I start college this month. I’m looking to go back to work. I’m practicing forgiveness of myself and others. I’m thinking seriously about what would make me happy no matter what other people may think.
It’s time to stop surviving in the land of what could’ve been and time to accept what is and go after what would make all of us happy. Everyone deserves happiness. I just have to let go.
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Mom to Boy Wonder has 3 small children who range in ages from 2 to 6 years old. Her son was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2. She is returning to school in order to become an advocate for other special needs parents. In November 2011 she ran the ING NYC Marathon in support of Autism Speaks and is already signed up to run again it again this year. In her spare time, she blogs about life as a self-described Autism Mama, and enjoys reading, learning about wines, traveling, her kids’ nap times and watching television that is not Dora the Explorer. Her deepest belief is that you do not know what you are capable of until you try.
This post originally appeared on her blog HERE and republished with her permission.
thank you for sharing your story… i completely agree… the steps you are taking – and running! – are proof that we can climb out of that darker place.
for years our lives were in crisis mode – before, during and after my oldest son’s diagnosis of asperger’s 3-1/2 years ago. (he also has spd and anxiety). there were lots of days of feeling burned out from all the reading and the meetings and the therapy and the appointments and… well, you know. my daughter’s diagnosis (asperger’s, spd, anxiety, ocd) last summer was a turning point for me. no longer can i do this without oxygen… i needed “me” back again. baby steps for me since then, but in the right direction for sure. heading into evals with my youngest son next month, i’m in a much better place.
thank you for this new place of support and hugs!!
Fantastic! That’s one reason that I took up quilting and scrapbooking, and found a monthly group to go to for each.