Holiday Message to Autism Parents

For those of you who followed my articles in the past, you will know I’ve been out of the autism loop for a while, consumed by the affairs of my immediate family of sixteen-year-old twin sons with high functioning autism.

Having seen them to their junior year of high school, I can tell all of you with younger children that it does get better.

Not withstanding the day in and day out rigors of dealing with autism, the myriad ways you work to bring your child to higher ground do, in fact, manifest in the expanse of time.

Your maelstrom of worries about the future settle out into finding what does and doesn’t work for you and your child.
Problems that seemed insurmountable and behaviors that seemed indelible have a way of easing and even sometimes resolving.

The thing I’ve missed most about not writing is that sense of community, the encouragement and power of knowing that there are other people out there facing the same hardships that I am.

Not being in touch with the most current autism issues is a double-edged sword. I don’t miss the heartbreak of fatalities and children with autism seized by the state, but I do miss the glimmers of light in new employment programs, promising treatments, stories of kindness and inspiration.

So to all of you reading this, I want to wish you a holiday of peace and quiet happiness in which you treasure what gains your child has made and appreciate your own courage and tenacity in being on this journey called autism. You are brave
indeed to ride point for your child.