( Everyday Life with Autism )

Dear Parents,

You are working so hard to make your dream come true. Your dream of seeing your child losing her/his autism. Alternatively, your second best dream, to see your child inspite of her/his autism happy, independent, and successful. Most importantly, you work so hard to secure your child’s future, more than any other parents do.

You are working outside the house to earn your living and provide for your family’s needs.

Your work hard inside the house to offer your child peace, love, comfort, support, education, and therapy.

You stay up late and wake up before anybody at home does to learn more about how to help your child grow and prosper.

Between work and home you race to take your child to different activities and therapies.

In the weekends you plan to take her out to entertain her and share real life experiences (restaurants, movies, friends’ parties…) and spend some precious happy moment with her.

You attend IEP school meetings, you respond to teachers’ requests, you help with homework, you lend a hand with presentations, you arrange play dates.

You join support groups, you go to medical appointments, you celebrate her birthday with family and friends, then once more with classmates.

I didn’t even mention your responsibilities towards your other children, partner, or yourself.

The list goes on.

Have you ever thought about how much you do and endure?

Give yourself a pat on the shoulder!

You parents, you are all a troop of warriors fighting your battle relentlessly focused on one thing: the light at the end of the tunnel.

Be proud of yourselves. Because everybody else around you is watching with wonder and amazement: “How could you possibly be that strong-willed, committed, and determined?”

The only thing I would like to remind you with is to never blame yourselves and say things like: “I should’ve done…, I ought to …, I must do…, I have to…”

Take a break, we are not supernatural beings. We are human beings, we have limited endurance, time, patience, energy,…

Parents, trust yourselves, Because your love is an inexhaustible source of all what your child could need.

Don’t torment yourselves with irrealistic thoughts. Change your perspective.

Do your best everyday. Don’t look back.

Hand-in-hand with your child you can make it a happy enjoyable journey.

Live one day at a time.

After all you do, deep in your heart you know that your child is safe and happy. Look your child in the eyes and she’ll reassure you.

Keep up the marvelous job!

We are so proud of you.

Keep your eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel, it keeps getting closer.

Our hats are off for you all!

nadia shanab

Tags: autism, flexibility, independence, parenting