Pat on the lap + eye rub = I'm sleepy and I'm ready to cuddle.
Mouth open wide + finger inserted = I'm hungry woman. Feed me NOW.
Right fist to left shoulder + pointing = I love you.
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"Hi God. Are you there? It's me, Mom. No, not YOUR mom, {E's} mom. Yes, I need to talk to you. I have a special request. Well, more like a list of demands. And yes, I know - I'm not supposed to demand anything of you, but I feel like ya kind of owe me this one."
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So no, fear didn't creep in with that note - it slapped me right upside my head. What was this going to be like for her? Would she struggle? Would she get it? Would she get frustrated and throw the pencils across the room? WOULD THIS BE THE MOMENT THAT WE DISCOVERED THAT THE DOCTORS WERE RIGHT, AND SHE HAD REACHED HER FULL LEARNING CAPACTIY????
So I did what all nervous wreck mothers do. I drank. Wine.
1+1=2 glasses, to be exact.
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Maybe I'm assuming too much with this one. I will be the first to tell you that I don't know a whole heck of a lot about Autism. But every parent that I know that has a child somewhere on the spectrum has said that they hate when people point out the obvious when they're kid is having a "rough day", and hate even more when people offer unsolicited advice on how to "handle" their child. As if Autism is a product of bad parenting, or lazy parenting.
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And just when I thought I couldn't possibly have any MORE respect for her than I already did, I acquired a beautiful set of shiny new crutches, and went from being a typically abled mama caring for her kiddo with special needs, to being the one with "special needs". HER needs became not so special because she has always had them, so for us it's just everyday living. Me, on the other hand....totally different story.
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Anyway, three and a half years later, and I think I've loved this kid out of mental retardation and straight into "I'm a celebrity and thou must love me" mode. She insists on shaking hands with EVERY SINGLE PERSON who enters a room - grown, grumpy old men included. She winks at handsome strangers (which works out nicely for me).
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