| My son was born in 1997 and diagnosed | | | | He always has a big smile for others when he |
| with Autism not long after that. Back then, when I | | | | introduces himself in his usual friendly fashion of first, |
| confided to my grand-father that my son was taking | | | | middle, and last name. While he has left his bike, |
| longer than doctors expected to talk, he told me to | | | | along with his scooter, outside- and gotton both |
| just give him time and he would speak eventually. I | | | | stolen, he still manages not to dwell on negatives too |
| got the reputation of being an over protective | | | | much. He does always manage to double check the |
| worry-wart of a mom. Indeed, with time, my son | | | | dead bolts for his mother every night. |
| blossomed. He went from lining up his toy cars on | | | | He loves mini-golf, going out for pizza, and |
| the dining room table with headstrong meticulation to | | | | popping pop-corn. He gives me a fresh look at life, |
| coming over to me after a hard day at work and | | | | daily. All in all, I've expected a great deal from him |
| patting a reassuring hand on me, for comfort. He is | | | | and he has made developmental strides. Even |
| eleven now and with the help of speech therapy, | | | | though I was extremely protective at first, I have |
| now talks with advanced articulation as he reminds | | | | allowed him to do the things that he feels able to do |
| his two year old sister to wash her hands. | | | | and he has been a bigger help to me than I ever |
| I just gave birth to my second daughter, in | | | | imagined possible. He has gone from reserved |
| June and had been adament about not allowing my | | | | classrooms of strictly special needs children to being |
| other two children to hold my infant without me | | | | mainstreamed into classes with all children. |
| being present. Much to my amazement, after | | | | I have not tried osteopathic treatment, any |
| coming out of the restroom I noticed that my son | | | | detox, emotional freedom technique, sequential |
| had picked up his baby sister and was holding her | | | | therapy, or chelation. I have simply practiced |
| with expertise. | | | | patience, love, and dicipline. |