Autism: 8 Amazing Aspects of My Child by Summer Ginn
Yes, you read that title correctly… No, it was not a typo. I know you’re wondering what on earth could be so amazing about a condition that causes so much heartache to those affected by it? The thing is, society and the media do such a great job at portraying autism as a debilitating condition, parents often times consider the “A” word worse than a curse word. It terrifies them. Without knowing all of the wonderful things that come along with autism, I certainly understand their fear. This is why I am sharing some of the most amazing attributes of my daughter, which she likely wouldn’t have if she was not autistic.
1. People with autism see the world from a different perspective.
If you simply observe someone with autism, their actions or behaviors may not make much sense to you. That is because their brains work differently than ours. They are very detail oriented, so they notice things that other people aren’t even aware of. Don’t force them to view the world the way you do until you have tried to view it from their perspective. Their perspective is actually pretty beautiful.
2. They can be the most loving individuals
Like me, you probably have always assumed that people on the spectrum are not capable of love, empathy, or connecting with another human. In fact, this is exactly why I was initially in denial about Raelyn having autism… I thought “but she is so sweet and loving… She can’t have autism!” My daughter is not some sort of rare autism exception. I have since learned that people with autism are some of the most loving, sweetest, kind hearted
people you will ever meet. They just express their love in a very different way than “typically” developing children. Raelyn may not be able to say “I love you,” but when she taps me on the shoulder and hides behind me… That’s her way of telling me that she wants to play our game that she only plays with me. That’s how I know she loves me.
3. People with autism are the most honest people you will ever meet
A large part of autism is not being able to pick up on social cues. These people are extremely literal and lack the ability to be deceptive. This can sometimes result in them being brutally honest, since they lack that filter that would normally prevent someone from saying something offensive. I admire people who aren’t afraid to speak their mind. In fact, I think someone with autism would be the perfect shopping buddy… They will tell you what outfits make you look fat!
4. They are very selective about who they open up to
If you ever have the pleasure of being one of the select few that an autistic person opens up to, you should realize how special that makes you. Seriously. It is an honor for them to let you into their world. Once they do, they will love you forever.
She was determined to take my ice cream cone!
5. They are tenacious
Regardless of the daily struggles they face, when they set their mind on something, they will not stop until it is achieved. We could all learn something about this from them.
6. They are the quirkiest people on the planet.
This naturally makes them hilarious, unique, and so much fun to be around. How amazing would it be to stand out amongst all of the boring people of the world?
7. They maintain a sense of innocence
Because they don’t pick up on many social cues, this offers some protection from the cruelty of this world. They often times don’t understand when someone is making fun or being sarcastic. This can be heartbreaking for a mom, but it can also be a blessing. It helps protect their loving spirits.
8. Loving someone with autism allows you to experience love on a whole new level
People with autism don’t display affection the way typical people do. To be able to form a connection with an autistic person is something that should be cherished. Once this bond is formed, you will learn to experience a whole new meaning of love. They will teach you to express your love often times without even exchanging words.
So there you have it… My condensed list of why autism can be awesome. Don’t get me wrong, it is extremely difficult to have a child with autism. But being difficult is not the same as being bad. I absolutely love having an autistic daughter… She teaches me new things every single day. She has forced me to view the world from her perspective, and I must say… Her perspective is pretty incredible. She has taught me to love deeper and more fiercely than I ever could have imagined possible. There is something magical about having an inseparable bond with someone who can’t even speak.
It is so easy to get caught up in all the things your kid CAN’T do. So it is important to remind yourself of everything he CAN do. Do it often. And don’t just remind yourself…remind your kid as well. Whenever you start feeling that having a child on the spectrum is the worst thing that could’ve happened, come back to this post and remind yourself that you actually have a remarkable little kid.
To read more about our journey, click here.
