Friday, October 17, 2008

Beautiful

Little Guy has been taking some self-empowerment and self-advocacy courses this semester down at the Independent Living Center. He hasn't talked much about it, except that he enjoys taking the shuttle down into the city and packing his own lunch.

Yesterday afternoon, before Hubby got home, he was helping me crawl on the floor looking for 3 missing pills (so the dogs wouldn't find and eat them).


Big Kid had been over earlier (sporting a new dyed-red mohawk and eyebrow piercing courtesy of a jobless dope-smoking bum who sponges off his folks and lives in the same apartment complex, but that's another story) and had hurled his pill box into the wall sending about 100 of them flying across the room. After we got them picked up and the box reassembled, we counted 3 pills missing.

Anyway we spent about 10 minutes in a fruitless search, and Little Guy blurted out, "Mom, do you still love me even if I have autism?"

Whoa. That's a new one. Where in the world did this come from? And how do I react without overreacting?

I assured him that I would always love him just the way he is.


"Even if I talk funny and have a hard time getting words out?"

(P.S. From a query I got in email, saying that it sounds like from my response to Little Guy that I thought autism was a bad or defective thing, I thought I'd elaborate a little on the conversation. I responded with, "Well I have freckles, I'm tall and I have a big butt. Do you still love me?" He said he did and by the way he loves my messy hair and did I know that I have a pimple, and I said that he will always be my baby boy and I love every single inch of him forever and always even when he forgets to clean out his ears. Yes, we are demented that way. I wanted him to see that having autism was one of many differences people have and didn't enter into the equation with more value than anything else)

This is a pretty big developmental step for him. He's never seemed to notice the differences between himself and others (or wasn't able to articulate it), and always seemed to be confident in our unconditional love for him.

So we spent a little face time talking about how everyone is different, and everyone is uniquely beautiful and made cupcakes and ate chocolate frosting out of the jar.

Nothing like frosting out of the jar.

I just wanted to take a moment to let all of YOU know that YOU'RE beautiful too.

Found this incredible production through Dave Hingsburger and Ashley's Mom.




Hope you all have a great weekend!

ATM

20 comments:

Brenda said...

Times like that, when you can really communicate your love for, and to, your kids, the connection makes everything in life worthwhile.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous.
I loved this, and I love you.
xoxo

Charlie said...

You're pretty beautiful yourself, Mom.

Mel said...

I think YOU are beautiful. So there.

Anonymous said...

Dang it, Woman, I'm tearing up now...

KrisMrsBBradley said...

*sniff*

Kim Ayres said...

Takes one to know one ;)

KL said...

I have seen that video before and I LOVED it then! Still love it now!

And you are right, Little Guy is Beautiful!! I sure do miss him!!

Give all your guys a hug for me!:)

CC said...

That is a HUGE developmental skip! Way to go!!

Anonymous said...

oh, Melanie has done that too. All of us have been on the floor picking up pills, praying we didn't miss one. We worry so much about the dogs! I just pray if the puppy found one, the bitter taste would be enough for her to spit it out.

Little Guy is really growing and it sounds like his awareness is too. I love how he can talk to you and how you have these great conversations.

I LOVED the video, and you are beautiful too.

Anonymous said...

Once again, I'm at a loss for something to say that hasn't already been said. Beautifully written by a beautiful soul. Thank you.

phlegmfatale said...

awww, i love this post!
I think it's our myriad differences and--yes-- oddities which make life such a rich tapestry.

Queen of the Mayhem said...

Sounds like he is really coming into his own!

I am always impressed by your parenting skills. Could you come do a number on Junior Mayhem? :)

Green-Eyed Momster said...

Beautiful stories like this come from beautiful love. Little Guy is just precious. Just as precious as Big Guy with a piercing and red mohawk. Did I read that correctly?
Frosting out of the can moments are the memories that fill a heart for a lifetime!! You show the people that you love how deep your love is when you share your frosting with them!! ;)

Big hugs to you too, ATM!!
:)

Ann(ie) said...

Frosting from the jar can solve multiple problems. Believe me I know!!! 8)
HUGS girlfriend.

Angela said...

You know unconditional love really is something

Anonymous said...

This made me tear up. LG is so intuitive, I just love that about him! :]

Anonymous said...

Big hug and kisses! ((ATM+LG))

imfunnytoo said...

You have his back and you show it here, and in many other ways

Sage Ravenwood said...

Thank you...for the love that is apparent for your son and your acceptance. For the video that let me know that there are possiblities like this available. I've been deaf going on 5 years in Jan. it's not an easy acceptance for me. This shows the beauty in all of us, autistic, deaf, whoever we are. (Hugs)Indigo