What Is An AutisMom?

Once there was a little girl.

She dreamed of all the things that she could be.

First she wanted to be a nurse...
She would care for the sick with gentleness, patience, and love.

Then she wanted to be a teacher...
She would teach children and help them have the best chance for success.

In high school, she thought that being a religious leader would allow her to provide comfort, care, and spiritual sustenance.

A little older, and she wanted to be a lawyer...
She would defend the poor and defenseless.

Finally, she wanted to be a doctor...
She would unravel all the mysteries of what made people sick and how to cure them.

Eventually this girl grew up and got married and she became a mom.
Two of her children flourished, and learned with ease, their future was bright, and she was delighted. But one of her children was different, she seemed locked her in her own little world, her abilities seemed to change, and she seemed ill. This mom's child was diagnosed with autism. Such a frightening, vast, overwhelming label for such a small, beautiful child.

The mom was scared, so she asked the angels, "Who can help my child?"

And the angels said, "You can help her. You will be everything that you always wanted to be."

"But angels," said the mom, "I am scared that my child will not be all the I'd hoped she could be."

"She may not be everything you hope for right now," replied the angels, "but she is all of the things that you can help her become."

--Adapted from an anonymous poem