This is Autism Awareness month. Many, I dare say most, families have a member with autism in one of it's many forms. Some may not even know it because that person is very high functioning and maybe just seen as reckless or clumsy or difficult. But each is precious and unique like my son's goddaughter.
Journaling reads:
Hi! I’m The Princess – Uncle Justin said so! Even if you look hard at me, you might not know I’m ‘tistic. I don’t have the worst kind, but it’s really hard to be me with the best kind. Some days are GREAT. Some days stink. I’m kinda like this puzzle on those days – just bits and pieces of me and I can’t behave no matter how hard I try. Some days are like that piece at the bottom when I’m not in there. Those days I’m quiet in a land far away. Bright colors help me learn, but sometimes they yell at me and I have to go hide in my room where the colors are soft and light until it’s quiet in my head. Mommy and Daddy luv me SOOO much and I luv them, too, but sometimes I can’t say it. It’s there, in my brain, but I can’t make it come out my mouth. I think they know, though, ‘cuz I give them lots of BIG hugs.
It was really scary a few weeks ago when Daddy was on, uh, uh - Uncle Justin, what’s that word? – oh, yeah, deploybut – and Mommy had to go to the ER ‘cuz her pendix broke and she was super sick. I went to stay with my friend but my pieces fell apart and it scared me. I didn’t mean to keep them up all night, but I couldn’t stop crying and screaming. Then Uncle Justin got there to take me home ‘til Grandma and Grandpa could get here from the Pacific Oshun. He’s the bestest! He held me each night ‘til I fell asleep and made me feel so special playing with me all day, that my puzzle even had corners and straight edges that I could put together. And he got me Happy Meals. Yum!
‘Tism isn’t fun. Daddy and Mommy say the doctors are working REALLY hard to find out how to show my brain a new map so it will go straight and not all wonky. I’d like that!!! but everyone says if I work hard with the people that luv me, it will be alright, and I will grow up just right so I can live like everyone else does, just in a different way. Hey, I can be different - I’m The Princess! Uncle Justin says so.
