Anyone that knows me knows that this is how I cope with things. I like to google and research, I like to educate myself on the subject. Not a bad trait for a teacher in training I think. So it makes sense that I've been trying to gain other insights in what its like for other families who have children with autism. The problem is that as the saying goes "if you've met one child with autism...you've met one child with autism." No two children with autism are alike. There are similarities sure and I can relate to a lot of what other parents are saying but really, there can only be one Alice...that much is a given.
A common theme I'm finding though is exclusion at school, not just exclusion of the child with autism by the child's peers but exclusion of the parent by other parents too.
I feel very thankful that this is something we never have never really had to deal with. In fact we've had the opposite. I like to think that maybe it's because of me, that I'm so friendly and likeable it makes up for any issues Alice may have....but really all the credit should go to her.
Alice is very hard not to like. Even when she is being cheeky (which is often) she is irresistible. I am not just being a bias Mummy here...I more than anyone know exactly how much hard work she can be. But ever since she was a baby people have adored her. We go camping every year with the same people and she lights up their faces when they see her. She walks around the different camp sites and makes herself at home. Her smile is infectious. She makes a dull room shine bright with her light. She is impossible not to love.
Even at school, her teacher will tell me something that she's done that isn't really the right thing to do and the teacher is laughing as she tells the story. Like, for example at her first whole school assembly when she tried to get up and put on a show for everyone...because of course they were all there to see her don't you know?
I watch her with the other kids at school and even they can't help but love her. The roughest boy in her class just yesterday when she asked for a turn of his toy just handed it over to her. The sweetest boy in the class is always putting his hand up to help her with things. She gets to school and the other kids greet her with genuine affection. The proudest moment of my life was seeing her play with a little girl - they were running around together holding hands, marching over to a group of boys to tell them what was what both with their hands on their hips.
And the parents, the beautiful parents at school, every single one who knows about Alice has been nothing but supportive...in the short time I have known them they have become my network of support. I know that when Alice bounds out of the classroom and starts chatting to me when she is meant to be getting her bag the smiles they give her are real, no fake or full of pity. They can see how much life is inside her, see how she glows. I feel very fortunate that we have this environment for her to grow in.
I am aware, through my reading, that this is not always the case. I am also not so naive to believe this is will last forever...I shiver in fear at some of the things I know we have ahead of us in her schooling future. But for right now she's happy and that's all I can think about today.
And really - who can blame everyone for loving her? What's not to love about this face?
No comments:
Post a Comment