“Despite books and classes, nothing really can prepare you for being a parent, but when you notice your child isn’t hitting his milestones like the others, it’s just another element of confusion and worry. I knew my son was autistic from 11 months old, we had to wait until he was 3 to have it on paper but I feel like as a mum I just knew. At that point I didn’t really know much about autism and admittedly, I was upset. I thought my son would never communicate, never be independent or have the same opportunities in life that anyone else has.
But after a long (and continued) period of self-educating, I was able to learn how my son’s brain works differently, I got to see the world through his eyes a little better and really, I discovered that autism is his little super power.
He surprises me daily with his kind nature, his curiosity and how he makes me appreciate the little things through his unique ways.
Though non-verbal, my son knows what he wants (and anyone who knows him knows he is incredibly strong willed when it comes to getting it!) and even though he hasn’t said it, he expresses his love for his family in his own unique ways. Everyone who meets him comments on how loving and content he is.
Of course, we still have days where we are overwhelmed, over stimulated and feel like we are fighting a losing battle but there is also so much joy in our lives, little victories here and there make everything worth it.
We owe a lot of my son’s development to the nursery who have shown him the patience, love and acceptance for him to be himself and we thank all the staff for that.
The path with autism is not typical or straight but it also doesn’t define him. I am no longer fearful or anxious knowing that he is ‘different’ He is happy and healthy and that is all that matters. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for our smart, kind, funny, resilient and creative little boy.”
Autism training plays a crucial role in equipping parents and early years practitioners with the knowledge and skills to support and understand children effectively. Visit Education Essex Online and search for ‘autism’ in the Training Hub to view our training opportunities.