I can really relate to this
By Thoroughrob
@Thoroughrob (11742)
United States
December 26, 2007 8:41am CST
Got this from my neighbor who has a son with autism and thought I would share.
Twas the Night Before Christmas
And all through the house
The creatures were stirring
Yes, even the mouse
We tried melatonin
And gave a hot bath
But the holiday jitters
They always distract
The children were finally
All nestled in bed
When nightmares of terror
Ran through my OWN head
Did I get the right gift
The right color
And style
Would there be a tantrum
Or even, maybe, a smile?
Our relatives come
But they don't understand
The pleasure he gets
Just from flapping his hands.
"He needs discipline," they say
"Just a well-needed smack,
You must learn to parent.."
And on goes the attack
We smile and nod
Because we know deep inside
The argument is moot
Let them all take a side
We know what it's like
To live with the spectrum
The struggles and triumphs
Achievements, regressions….
But what they don't know
And what they don't see
Is the joy that we feel
Over simplicity
He said "hello"
He ate something green!
He told his first lie!
He did not cause a scene!
He peed on the potty
Who cares if he's ten,
He stopped saying the same thing
Again and again!
Others don't realize
Just how we can cope
How we bravely we hang on
At the end of our rope
But what they don't see
Is the joy we can't hide
When our children with autism
Make the tiniest stride
We may look at others
Without the problems we face
With jealousy, hatred
Or even distaste,
But what they don't know
Nor sometimes do we
Is that children with autism
Bring simplicity.
We don't get excited
Over expensive things
We jump for joy
With the progress work brings
Children with autism
Try hard every day
That they make us proud
More than words can say.
They work even harder
Than you or I
To achieve something small
To reach a star in the sky
So to those who don't get it
Or can't get a clue
Take a walk in my shoes
And I'll assure you…
That even 10 minutes
Into the walk
You'll look at me
With the respect, even shock.
You will realize
What it is I go through
And the next time you judge
I can assure you
That you won't say a thing
You'll be quiet and learn,
Like the years that I did
When the tables were turned.
I hope you liked it, and can you relate? Do you know someone it relates to?
4 people like this
10 responses
@jiffys_frog_woman (4050)
• United States
26 Dec 07
My daughter is adhd and doctors think she may have touch of autsim also so i can relate to this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
27 Dec 07
Hope your holidays went well and very smoothly.
1 person likes this
@lbinkley (1075)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I really enjoyed this poem, and in a way I can relate. I don't know anyone with autism, but I have a sister who has Down Syndrome. Much of the feelings are the same... working so hard to achieve simple things, the small things making you proud. Working toward simplicity. Very much true with Down Syndrome as well. This was a very well written poem and definitely brought tears. Thank you!
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
4 Jan 08
I volunteered at a home for the children who were slow, and there was one boy with autism. Tney told me to be extra sensative, but I just talked to him anyway and did not really care if he could understand or not, I am not that emphatic. And there is a boy in the other church in our city who is autistic, but I did not go and start weeping and making a big fuss, because I know that his parents are very good at taking care of him. They moved to Ontario.
You could tell your friends that your child has autism. And maybe get him into a program with a teacher who is experienced in these things. And hoping that the same thing happens to the other people is not good. You have to work to find a cure for autism, or at least find what causes. If it is environmental, if it is caused by something you were given during your pregnancy, write to your congressman, send letters to who is in charge of medicine, if it is caused by a vacine given to your son when he was small, make your voice heard. Do not let others go through what you did.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I worked in and adult foster care home where we had several residents who lived with autisim - I can relate.
I also have dear friends with a daughter who also lives with autisim - I can relate.
I'm going to have to do some research to see if I can find the author of this poem - it is beautifully written and so very very true.
@heavenschild (4777)
• Canada
11 Jan 08
I certainly can relate to:
repeating things over and over,
hands flapping with joy,
stares and comments from family and strangers,
peeing on the potty at the age of ten,
rejoicing in the triumph of drinking from a straw or blowing out a candle,
Hoping that this time he'll rip off the wrapping paper
(All things that seem trivial to everyone else!)
Our Kids certainly do work hard at everything they do...My son is 4 1/2 and is nowhere near ready to be potty trained even though others think he should be but he can do so many other things like count to twenty and recite his phone number, put on his coat all by himself, he knows his colors and is great at puzzles...I could go on singing his praises all day long! :)
It is all due to the hard work he puts in with his private therapist (9 hours a week) and he is picking up so much at school as well...We are so proud of him!
Thanks so much for sharing this as it is all so true (My hopes and fears) and brought tears to my eyes!
Keep Fighting the Good Fight!!
~Heavens~
@sherrir101 (3670)
• Malinta, Ohio
2 Jan 08
I can totally understand this. Years ago, I used to work in a group home. We had a young autistic man there. Everything from the hand flapping to peeing in the potty, I can relate to. Out of all of the jobs that I have had, this one was my favorite. Sure, it was frustrating, but very rewarding at the same time.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
2 Jan 08
I work with an autistic/MR/DD population, and this is so true. Each little sign of progress is a reason for celebration. Everything is a milestone. People who have no clue, give advice.
The parents of these children have their hands full and they have a right to be frustrated and unhappy. They have a tough job
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
2 Jan 08
That's beautiful and I'm going to print it and give it to a friend of mine who has an autistic grandson who's 16. I know this woman from our local swimming pool and her grandson goes there with the YMCA day camp several times a week during the summer and I know just what this poem is saying. Pat is often so pleased with what may seem to others to be very small bits of progress. The boy, Sean, tries so hard to communicate with the ladies at the pool and with his sister and her friends but it's a struggle. Sean was adopted from Korean as was his sister who is perfectly healthy so he's a "special" child in more ways than one but he's also a very lucky boy because he couldn't have parents who loved him more if he weren't adopted. Thanks for sharing this.
Annie
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
28 Dec 07
I too can relate to this as my oldest son is autistic. It's funny, the only time I really feel jealous of someone's "normal" child is when I receive a letter (or something similar) with a picture of their "perfect" child. Right before Christmas my husband and I received a card from his sister and enclosed in the card was a picture of her 5 year old daughter all dressed up. On the back of it says "Ballet Recital Performance 2007". My heart sank and I fell into a deep depression that day as my 10 year old could never do something like a dance recital. But with having an autistic son I cherish the simple things like when he says a word he's never said before. This always brings a big smile to my face, even if others can't understand it.
