1 in 110 DO COUNT!

I recently receive my April issue of Parents Magazine.  As I flipped through the magazine, I noticed that despite April being Autism Awareness Month there was not one article on Autism. I was shocked and dismayed. Not even on article on the early warning signs of Autism? Are these people for real?

I wrote about it on Facebook. I liked Parents Magazines fan page and called them out on it.  I received a condescending reply.  I got the other Autism Mamas on board.  We've received no real response.

We will be canceling our subscription.

Parents Magazine just so you know our children with Autism in all of it various forms are deserving of so much more then your dismissive attitude.  Maybe next year you'll do a better job. Hope springs eternal.

Three??? What????

"Divas are not made, they are born."

~Fiona Apple

Three??? How did that happen??? She is a walking, dancing, talking, laughing screamy screamer of a girly girl. She is her own person.  Stubborn, strong willed, hilarious, compassion starting to show.  Developing typically and effortlessly much to my relief.

Happy 3rd Birthday to our Diva!! Look out world she's three now!!!

Light It Up Blue

April 2, 2011 is World Autism Awareness Day. My wonderful friend, Jess,  wrote this letter to President Obama asking him to Light the White House Blue in order to raise awareness for our children with Autism. If you are so inclined, please drop by and ask Mr. President to participate.

Our children can't have acceptance till the world is aware of them. Awareness is only the first step down this yellow brick road.

Leave a comment for my boy and all the other boys AND girls like him.

C'mon Mr. President. I'll even say please.

Run The Hill

 

So the marathon training is going well.  I'm getting really quick on the flats but hills ugh. I am not a fan of running hills. They are a necessary evil.

A necessary evil.  Boy Wonder has so many of them in his life. OT, ABA, ST, PT. Making him speak if he wants anything. Interruption of stimming and self injurious behaviors. 

When he was being taught to go up a flight of stairs foot over foot, I kept saying, "Come on Baby! You can do it! One foot in front of the other!"

So as I run my necessary evils, I keep telling myself, "one foot in front of the other." I'll get myself up  those hills just like Boy Wonder.

United/Divided

United we stand; divided we fall.

Aesop

 

In the end we are all separate: our stories, no matter how similar, come to a fork and diverge. We are drawn to each other because of our similarities, but it is our differences we must learn to respect.”
Unknown
 

I watched Dr. Oz's show the other day. I don't normally watch his show but a fellow autism mama told me the topic was going to be on the causes of autism. I know this is a hot topic within the autism community. I know and understand that we can't prevent it, if we don't know what causes autism. I, also, do not think it's one thing causing autism.

It was a very divisive hour. I, for one, do not get all the infighting among the autism community. I think we all have a common goal for our loved ones with autism. We want them happy, healthy and whole. We want them to have a life of purpose. We want them to love and be loved. Whether you choose the GFCF diet, you see a Dan doctor, you believe in ABA, Floortime, RDI, or biomed, we want our loved one to no longer suffer from whatever particular demons autism visits on them. 
We can not move forward if we continue to fight amongst ourselves. Our children needs services now and most of them will need supports through out adulthood. We are all entitled to our own choices and opinions regarding our own children.  We know our own child(ren) best. What works for Boy Wonder may not work for your child and vice-versa. No two children with autism are exactly alike nor should their treatments, therapies or education be exactly alike. Autism is not cookie cutter.

Time is marching on for our kids. For their sakes, shouldn't we all make an effort to respect each other's differences of opinions? Isn't that what we are constantly asking of other people? To respect our children's differences? What kind of example are we setting if we can't respect each other's different choices?

It's time to stop fighting amongst ourselves and to start fighting for the reason we are here in the first place. Our kids. Are you willing to try? 

26.2

26.2 miles for Boy Wonder.

For all boys AND girls challenged by Autism.

In honor of the parents who blazed the trail.

For those whose biggest heartbreak is yet to come.

In honor of my friend who flies all over the country to get health insurance reform passed for our kids.

And my friend whose words offer me comfort and hope that I'm not alone.

And her husband who tells me I can run it.

And my friend whose faith is inspiring.

And my friend who gave me a glimpse into the possibilities of the future.

And their siblings who grow up quicker but wiser and with more compassion then the average bear.
 
And all my fellow mama bloggers to the right and the rest of my village who don't blog but I think of everyday and fool around on Facebook with on a regular daily hourly basis.

A 26.2 mile run in the 2011 NYC Marathon for Autism Speaks Team Up in honor of our quirky brilliant beautiful children.

Legs don't fail me now.

If you'd like to support my effort, please email me at BoyWondersMom1004@yahoo dot com for the link to my donation page.

This Would Be Funny If It Weren't So Damn True