April is Autism Awareness Month and today, April 2, is World Autism Awareness Day. Seems like the perfect time to share our family's story.You know those bumper stickers? The ones that say "I'm the proud parent of an honor roll student?" Or some crap like that?
Facebook has become the auto bumper of parenthood. And our status updates are the bumper stickers.
Now I realize that I'm just as guilty as other parents for filling your timeline with tales of my children's triumphs. I too share videos, photos, and updates about my two amazing kids winning chess matches, singing on stage, and well ... practically everything else they do.
After all, LJ and Julianna are incredible kids, and despite my best efforts to ruin them, they are going to turn out just fine.
But something changed in our family a few months ago that has given me a very different perspective about what parental "pride" is and how we identify our children's true successes.
In December, LJ was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, which is a developmental disorder that is considered to be at the "high functioning" end of the autistic spectrum.
Anyone who has met LJ knows what a smart kid he is -- but they also might have noticed that he's shy, often withdrawn, and might even seem rude -- sometimes he won't make eye contact, shake your hand or answer your questions. He often gets along better with adults than kids his own age.
We've been searching for answers for awhile, which for years came as a long list of diagnoses from a longer list of doctors -- ADHD, OCD, SPD, dysgraphia, and general anxiety disorder.
Every single day is a challenge for LJ: keeping organized, making and keeping friendships, following instructions, working with others, waiting his turn, noisy cafeterias at school, crowded hallways -- all of this creates an unbelievable amount of anxiety for an Aspie.
Teenage drama is hard enough for the average kid. For one like LJ it can be unbearable.
Through it all, LJ has shown unbelievable character and resolve.
He has played in the band, slogged through two advanced classes, found a hobby in electrical engineering, and carried himself with grace and dignity when his peers fail to understand him.
And he got his first-ever D last quarter.
And I don't care.
My respect and love for my son are not impacted by his test scores, his chess trophies, or his stats on the basketball court.
Every night when we get home from school, I am thankful for his smile, his perseverance, his desire to "know more about himself", and his pure, innocent heart that aches to not be "different" anymore.
I'm convinced the world needs more LJs -- "quirky" as he may be. It sure would be a boring place without kids like him.
Yes, I am the proud parent of a child with Asperger syndrome.
I think I'll put that on a bumper sticker.
