When my son was diagnosed with autism, I felt like my life as a mom was over. Here this beautiful little boy's future was being ripped away from him before he was even able to grasp it in his little chubby fists. As the years have gone by I have seen a better, clearer side to things. Yes, autism is hard. But, I'm also now able to see the good in autism. One of the good things about autism is the things we miss out on.
Bubba didn't go through some of the typical childhood phases. He never had the "why" phase. Thank God for that one. I hated it when we went through it with Roo, and it has yet to end.
He did however go through the " I have a penis, therefor I must grab a hold of it and never let go " phase. I blame husband for this one. Simply because he is male, and that seems fitting.
One time I took Bubba to the grocery store with me. It's the store both my husband and I work at, so we know just about everyone in there on any given day. This particular day I was talking to a coworker friend of mine and Bubba was in the cart behind me. My friend looked shocked and pointed to the cart behind me. When I looked I wanted to die; Both from laughter and embarrassment. Bubba was standing in the cart with his pants down and grabbing himself. Thankfully he was only 2 years old, so most people who saw chalked it up to him being a baby and a boy.
We have not had the "superhero" phase. This is a phase that as a girl I'm glad we skipped. I don't like super heroes. I'm a girl. I played with dolls and ponies, and occasionally army men (when my big brother made me). I just don't get superheroes. plus there are just too many of them. So thanks Bubba. Momma is happy you are stuck on trains.
And that brings us to a phase we have had and are still stuck on. TRAINS.
most little boys enjoy trains to some extent and for some length of time. For us it seems trains is the only phase we have never phased out of. Bubba has every single episode of Thomas The Tank Engine stored in his amazing brain, ready to pull out word for word at any given time. As a result, momma now has every episode of Thomas stuck in her brain, ramming against the parts that help me fall asleep.
The newest "phase" we have so amazingly discovered in our house is the one that just might send this momma to the nut house. I like to call it "The I'm an oppositional child who is trying to make my mom go nuts" phase. This is where every time I tell him to not do something, he yells the exact opposite. I told him to "stop jumping on his bed" the other day and the response I got was "Start jumping on the bed"!!!
This is not reserved just for me however. I'm proud to say he has whipped this little gem of annoyance out for daddy too. So, YAY !!
Oh and don't get me started on the phase we had last year. That one I'm sure is the reason his poor teacher ran for the safety net that is General Ed. He went through a stripping phase. Immediately joined by cussing a blue streak phase.That was a fun one. I can't say he didn't learn his language from me, though. Woops. I was however proud when I came to school and the teacher told me he told her to F- it, when he was frustrated beyond reasoning. Is it wrong that I was proud of him for using it correctly? I didn't think so.
So yes, autism is hard, but within the hair pulling and ear piercing screams is a joy, and I'm proud to say, I see it now.
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