As you can see by the date of the posts The Christmas or Hoiday Season has been interesting and overwhelming to say the least! Everyone I know has had issues with this year and our household is no exception!
Once again I want to make this journal exceptionally realistic --- I dont like to " whitewash" living with Autism.It is not a cakewalk! Yet it holds many joys and triumphs!
Recently we have been struggling with a huge amount of OCD{Obsessive Compulsive Disorder__an extreme need for sameness order routine and rituals} 90% of the time Dakota is about as typical as any young man.10% of the time is like a hurricane blowing thru the house or wherever we happen to be and you wonder if you will ever see the other side as you face "the gail force winds" of behavior!The strangest thing is to start an activity;everything is going fine you are having a great time its perfect ;hes doing well enjoying himself and somewhere a condition changes whether it be noise or crowds or colors or a routine and BAM everything you worked for or arranged just lost some of its luster because some how something went wrong and now hes in a place where I cant reach him. Worst of all hes doing something that could hurt, intimidate or bother someone else who is unsuspecting and clueless about Autism-- Its a Bitch
He is my baby and always will be and I want to protect him and give him every opportunity to experience the world as any "typical" person. When the behavior gets in the way there's just no redemption, no option you have to do what you can to "clear the field" and intercept or minimize the damage.Most importantly be strong enough to get up and try again-- Never give up, be Relentless because thats what a parent does and thats what any person without or without Autism deserves. To be a part of the community and the world.
Gettting back to the year in review and Christmas---Over all its been an ok year school has been good and vacation worked out pretty well and Vegas was a great celebration for Dakotas birthday-- Cant say we didnt have issues, we did and perhaps the years under my belt make it easier.The recent weeks have presented challenges that almost led me to admit myself to Camarillo State Mental Hospital--haha-- things have been coming at me from all angles and it has not been the Autism alone.
My observation is that Dakota lives with Autism constantly but it is not the only thing that defines him and as he grows older he is developing his own personality outside of Autism. It is often times very difficult to indentify the differences. Being the one who tries to "intercept " problems I now have to take pause and evaluate is this Autism or is this his personality.
I have decided that this is the way we have to reflect on this Year as well as anticipate the new year:Every day is a gift . Be thankful for the simple things --the car started; we have a roof over our head; Dakota was able to get up on his own with out a wheelchair or crutches; there were no bills in the mail today --it was only junkmail. Oh yes and I know Ty Pennington and Extreme Makeover Home Edition will be here very soon!!!!You make the day what you can and even if it is doing nothing but sitting at home and watching TV you have to find contentment.
We all want great things in our lives and want to accomplish great things but its not all life is about-- To many people rush around trying to do a million things and be a million places when all you have to do is just appreciate the day for the simple fact that you woke up----
I was just as guilty as the next person when Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled around this year and I will try next year to try to take heed of my own advice---
Oh Ty ------- where are you????? Ty are you coming????
{my wish for the New Year!}
