When my oldest son was in kindergarten we were behind schedule, he had one of those mornings where he didn’t want to go to school; he didn’t want to get out of bed: it that ended up in a huge battle to even get him to get dressed. Mothers of autistic children will know that this is not the normal battle a mom has with a child who does not want to go to school; this type of struggle would chill even the most skilled veteran. We missed the bus and at that time we didn’t have a second car so I had to call my mother in law to take us to school. I was rushing him from the parking lot into the school when all of a sudden he grabbed my hand and told me to stop. I of course was upset and frazzled because we were already late for class, but he insisted that we stop to look. He reached for my hand and pulled me down till my face was near his, than he lightly grabbed my chin and directed it to the caterpillar he saw on the ground near a tree. “Look,” he said “One day that ugly bug will become a beautiful butterfly and will be able to fly. One day I will fly too.” Overcome with emotion I grabbed my son and hugged him. At that instant I realized that while others think of him as “an ugly bug” he is actually a butterfly in the making, getting ready to grow his wings and fly off to do whatever it is his heart desires. He is a dreamer, a lover and enjoys taking in all the wonders of the world that are around him. If only we would stop and look at the world the way autistic children do, we would realize what a wonderful place this world really is and how much potential we all have.
-Rebbekah Lynn White
Related causes: Youth, Health
Great story. I know in my heart that one day Tanner will change the world. Right now I have to fight to change the world just to support and accept him. This reminds me of the moment that Jenny talks about when he compares himself to Dory in Finding Nemo. They are aware and feel much more than we give them credit for. Sometimes the battles that we fight are of our own making... What he ate, how much sleep, clothes to scratchy, and the list goes on. Hang in there!