Being a Parent of a Child with Autism

There are so many virtues I’ve come to understand by being a parent of a child diagnosed with Autism.

Patience is HUGE, oh and I can’t forget kindness and definitely compassion. Then there’s love. When it came to love, I was clueless, I didn’t know how to love anything or anyone honestly until I gave birth. That’s when I learned what the meaning of love was really all about!

One of the most important virtues that pulled me though all the tough times was faith. I don’t know where I would be without it. I probably would have jumped off a cliff.

The years between Jordan’s birth until he was about three years old were extremely difficult and my life required extreme patience.

Let me give you an example: There were days that I had to stand in a driveway as my child examined every inch of a vehicle, up and down, sideways, in and out this could take up to 45 minutes or possibly up to an hour. And sometimes, this was not my vehicle or my driveway, it was someone else’s. God forbid they were going anywhere before Jordan was finished!

Massive Meltdown!!!!! Can you imagine me asking a person if they can wait to leave give my child another 15 minutes?

In the fall, Jordan would love to stand in one spot for hours on end, tossing the leaves into the air and watching them slowly float downward and land on to the ground, as he performed the Three Stooges’ Curly Shuffle with his feet he was filled with joy and excitement. This was done over and over and over.

One day as he was 30 minutes or so into his routine, I suddenly had an epiphany. I was being forced to slow down and smell the roses, seeing the world though the eyes of an autistic child or should I say Gods eyes!

Jordan’s daily outbursts- my child appeared to be frustrated and at times even in pain, holding his ears while his body trembled- taught me compassion. I would hold him in my arms speaking gently trying to sooth him and understand his position.

Autism also required me to show kindness, and as a result a love began to emerge from the depths of my soul. I had absolutely no idea I was capable of giving, let alone receiving this kind of feeling from any human being.

From somewhere above came faith that God was in my life. The Universe was trying to show me though my experiences with my child that God is all around me; in the trees, the birds, the flowers and the Sun.

I grew up fast and I missed a lot of my childhood and Jordan gave me the opportunity to do it all over again!

In order for him to learn how to be social I had no choice but to become his social coach. In order for Jordan to have friends I had to be present to assist him with the skills he needed to develop those friendships. He needed to learn to play and to communicate with other children. For years I was friends with many children under ten!

Did I want to sit and play with Jordan and all these children? HELL NO! My attitude would be “It’s all about me.” Jordan taught me otherwise. Our nature should be about service to others. What can I do for you?

When it came to faith, I had no idea where Jordan was going or where he would end up. All I knew was his life depended on me. In order to survive this feat, I needed strength which came from the universal source- God.

A belief emerged that everything would turn out the way it is supposed to. I just needed to trust in this source.

I never could have imagined how Jordan’s life would play out. It’s still unfolding. Two days ago he received his driver’s license. He has a plan. He wants a job and he wants to go to college to become a broadcaster. God works in strange ways, doesn’t he or she or it?

Special Note: Thanks Tim(: xoxoxoxo