I've gotten used to the stares in the grocery store.
Yes, I know he's spitting on his leg (licking the cart, biting the box of fruit snacks, etc). I'm ignoring it because it will cause a bigger scene if I try to make him stop.
It's not a discipline problem. He's not spoiled. He's not misbehaving. He's not seeking attention.
He is autistic.
Garrett was diagnosed with severe Autism Spectrum Disorder and a 50% global developmental delay at 21 months. There is no cure, only therapy and biomedical treatments to help him function a little better.
Raising a child with Autism isn't easy.
Garrett is two and a half years old and doesn't speak. This comes with it's own set of challenges and questions. I have no idea what he wants most of the time because he doesn't point. He just recently started taking me to things that he wants. Up to 50% of children with Autism have difficulty acquiring language and 14% are unable to speak by age 9.
Garrett is hypo-sensitive. He has a very high tolerance for pain, heat and cold. He also has no sense of danger.
Garrett seeks sensory input. Sometimes it means that he spits on a surface and rubs it around with his hands. Sometimes he mouths inappropriate objects (rocks, dirt, crayons, etc.) Sometimes he hits himself in the face. Sometimes he slams his face into the wall or floor. He got himself kicked out of the childcare at our old gym because he was spitting on everything. It's never easy to see your child get hurt. Garrett hurts himself and doesn't even realize it.
I don't think I'll ever "get used" to all of Garrett's quirks. They tug at my heart every day. There is so much that is unknown right now. Not just about Autism itself, but about Garrett's Autism. Each autistic child is so unique.
Will he ever speak? We don't know.
Will he ever be potty trained? We don't know.
How much does he actually understand? We don't know.
Will he ever be able to function on his own? We don't know.
Will he be able to make the decision to be baptized? We don't know.
We don't know. But we do what we can. We spend hours in the car driving to behavioral therapy appointments each week. We open our home to speech and occupational therapists. We try supplements and dietary interventions. We take action to raise awareness.
We become advocates.
We do what we can to make his life better.
---------------------------------------------------
Katie is the wife of a sailor and the mother of two boys. When she's not chasing children, you can usually find her on facebook and occasionally updating her blogs, My Endless Day of Diaper Changes and Garrett's Developmental Journey.
Yes, I know he's spitting on his leg (licking the cart, biting the box of fruit snacks, etc). I'm ignoring it because it will cause a bigger scene if I try to make him stop.
It's not a discipline problem. He's not spoiled. He's not misbehaving. He's not seeking attention.
He is autistic.
Garrett was diagnosed with severe Autism Spectrum Disorder and a 50% global developmental delay at 21 months. There is no cure, only therapy and biomedical treatments to help him function a little better.
Raising a child with Autism isn't easy.
Garrett is two and a half years old and doesn't speak. This comes with it's own set of challenges and questions. I have no idea what he wants most of the time because he doesn't point. He just recently started taking me to things that he wants. Up to 50% of children with Autism have difficulty acquiring language and 14% are unable to speak by age 9.
Garrett is hypo-sensitive. He has a very high tolerance for pain, heat and cold. He also has no sense of danger.
Garrett seeks sensory input. Sometimes it means that he spits on a surface and rubs it around with his hands. Sometimes he mouths inappropriate objects (rocks, dirt, crayons, etc.) Sometimes he hits himself in the face. Sometimes he slams his face into the wall or floor. He got himself kicked out of the childcare at our old gym because he was spitting on everything. It's never easy to see your child get hurt. Garrett hurts himself and doesn't even realize it.
I don't think I'll ever "get used" to all of Garrett's quirks. They tug at my heart every day. There is so much that is unknown right now. Not just about Autism itself, but about Garrett's Autism. Each autistic child is so unique.
Will he ever speak? We don't know.
Will he ever be potty trained? We don't know.
How much does he actually understand? We don't know.
Will he ever be able to function on his own? We don't know.
Will he be able to make the decision to be baptized? We don't know.
We don't know. But we do what we can. We spend hours in the car driving to behavioral therapy appointments each week. We open our home to speech and occupational therapists. We try supplements and dietary interventions. We take action to raise awareness.
We become advocates.
We do what we can to make his life better.
---------------------------------------------------
Katie is the wife of a sailor and the mother of two boys. When she's not chasing children, you can usually find her on facebook and occasionally updating her blogs, My Endless Day of Diaper Changes and Garrett's Developmental Journey.
Comments
This I have observed...
Garrett has a tremendous MOM! he is one child with autism who will reach whatever potential that our Father in Heaven has for him. This blessed boy has a tremendous mom advocating for him, and serving as an example for many moms/gramas...whether we have a child with autism or not.
My "special" child (not autistic) has other IEP issues. We have learned so much by having her in our lives. The biggest blessings for all of us have been the gospel and all the people that have moved through our lives at different stages.