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Our Family's Journey Through Autism And The Untold Beauty Of It. Megan is an amazing child with autism through her we have learned the beauty of autism.
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Friday, February 2, 2007

Welcome To Our Journey


Welcome to our journey, I wanted to start this blog to share the beauty of autism with you. Through this journey with Megan I have learned so much, I am so blessed to be her mother. She has shown me things I would never have seen, taught me things I never thought I would learn, she has shown me the beauty in all things, most of all she has shown me the beauty in diversity. Megan is now 10 and is in grade 4 she attends our local school and had a full time aide Miss Eileen. Megan is mainstreamed in the class and has always been, her peers and school team are her biggest supporters. When she touches your life, she leaves an impression on your soul, the most beautiful feeling, she is my angel, sent here to save me from my own destruction. Through her I have come alive, and been able to see the beauty of life and and all its tribulations. This is a story of our journey through autism.

I love this poem, and hope you enjoy it too!

Ode to Special Moms

(by Erma Bombeck)

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint, Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint, Cecilia.
"Rudledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint, give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," says God. "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But has she patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it.
"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."

God smiles. "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."

The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word.' She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations.
"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, pen poised midair.

God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kelly- Thank you SO much for sharing your journey with us. I also have an autistic child. Here's a post I did with a scrapbook page on my Zachy-boy.
http://stampinmama.typepad.com/stampin_mama_a_mama_that_/2006/07/simple_scrapboo.html

Also, I have a project going on for him here:
http://stampinmama.typepad.com/sunshinemama/2006/11/help_zach_see_t.html

February 16, 2007 at 4:55 AM  
Blogger Sue said...

Hi Kelly -
I have been following your stamping blog for sometime and just today had some extra time and checked out this link.
Our oldest daughter was born handicapped (not autism but many other problems) and this was my favourite poem too!! I kept it on the fridge. We were blessed to have her with for much longer than the Doctors pedicted.
Our now oldest daughter is a Music Therapist and has and does work with many autistic children. I am often amazed at the accomplishments of these special children.
Enjoy your daughter!

Sue

March 10, 2007 at 1:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh Kelly,
I'm finding it hard to type through my tears. What a beautiful little girl you have.
Gina K.

March 14, 2007 at 9:47 AM  
Blogger Laura said...

Kelly, your blog is beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing it. May I post a link in my own blog? Thanks, Laura

March 25, 2007 at 1:05 PM  

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