Joyful moments with autistic kids

You have to do it from time to time. You have to revisit those joyful moments.

Love these moments

Like the time my child told me he had a best friend at school!

I almost melted, cheered, cried, all of it.

There was a reality to it, though. The boy was Korean, didn’t speak much English, and I was pretty sure he didn’t know he was my child’s best friend!

Relish in them.

I have to admit that I was overjoyed to even hear my child say that he had a best friend. He had never, ever said anything of the sort!

There were more of these moments, too.

There was the time at a school open house when we were treated to a variety of projects that had been made by our child and his class. It was a very nice experience with our child’s classmates and the parents of the classmates.

Outside on the yard, we got a very special treat when we were rewarded with a joyful visual. We watched our child run around with other kids around the play yard.  And, it even looked like our child was a part of the group and not just “doing his thing” near a group.

What did it feel like?

To be sure we were witnessing “the real thing,” my husband and I watched the group for ten or fifteen minutes. It was such a pleasure to watch our son.

I remember those minutes well. My child smiling, running, staying with the group that had welcomed him.

That was what was truly happening.It feel so good.

And, for him, too. He was giving a sincere effort. All too often he would tell us that he preferred to play alone.

We have had to field the question, “Mommy, why do I have to play with my friends?” every once in a while.

Treasure these moments.

Try to remember them. Write them down if you have to.

Why?

First, because you’re parents and those are the good times. They should be remembered just for that simplicity.

Second, for parents of autistic children, it may just make you feel good about your child and your approach to helping your child. 

It’s a double check, if you will. Are we doing the right thing? Do we see progress? Is our child starting to get it?

I think about the good moments from time to time. I have to, I love them. You have to.  With what we deal with on a daily basis, those moments can be our respite!

Here’s a link for some creative ideas for fun stuff for autistic children:

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/10-activities-children-autism/