Debi Bouffard
Latest posts by Debi Bouffard (see all)
- All About Will - September 13, 2011
I am the mom of 9 kids, including a set of twins, my youngest two.
My daughter, Emma, is four going on sixteen…
and her brother, Will, is four going on 18 months.
Will has autism. Not Asperger’s, not PDD-NOS, but classic autism.
The day he was diagnosed, I was devastated. It didn’t necessarily come as a surprise, but it was putting a stamp on it and confirming my fears… he would never be the same as his sister.
Ok, and I know it’s not fair to compare kids. I had had seven other kids before them, so trust me when I say that I know not all kids are the same, but it was still very sad to know my twins would never really be twins.
I guess the “funny” thing about that is, up until Will was diagnosed, I was never one of those moms who thought having twins was “cool”. I had grown up with two sets of twin sisters and was so over the whole twin thing, but somehow, Will’s diagnosis changed that for me and suddenly I cared that they would never reach their milestones at the same time, they would never share a secret language that no one else understood, and I thought they would never share a bond that no one else could break.
Of course, years later, I know better.
When Will was 2 and just being diagnosed I cringed at the idea of telling people he had autism; I hated just saying the word. I sunk inside myself and my marriage fell apart. Badly. I prayed no one noticed, but everyone did and it was hard not to when Emma was so smiley and chatty and walking and Will… wasn’t.
But now almost 3 years since he was diagnosed, it’s life and it does go on, and happily, I might add.
Will has autism, but autism does not have Will.
There are certainly days where it’s completely obvious to anyone observing my family that Will is “different” and there are very rare days when anyone believes me when I say he and his sister are twins. Emma is not only a completely “normal” 4 1/2 year old little girl, but she is actually above average in speech and quite possibly the bossiest little girl I have ever known ;)
Will, on the other hand, is very delayed in his speech & development and tends to spend time “playing” by himself (if we let him), but he is also the happiest child I have ever seen. There is seriously not a single thing in this world that makes him unhappy, aside from us singing “Happy Birthday” (don’t ask! I have NO clue.).
I used to be afraid of his diagnosis.
I thought it would consume me and our family.
I thought it would take away from his relationship with his sister.
Instead, his diagnosis has given me a better understanding of unconditional love and it has saved my family, saved my marriage and brought me closer to my faith.
And, as for his sister, she is his protector.
She is his biggest fan,
and he is her “birthday twin”,
her Will.
{ 94 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you SO much Jill for letting me share about Will here.
truly. <3
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
Debi, I love your post! I understand what you mean completely. When I first KNEW my son had autism I bawled and bawled and worried about all he would miss. Even more about all I would miss. Then as time went on, like you, I realized no one was missing anything. It was just a different kind of beautiful. A hard kind, but beautiful nevertheless. We were fortunate to spot it early, and that he responded so well to early intervention. There are a lot more moments we share now that we wouldn’t otherwise have had. But with autism, if you let it really be a part of your life and you open up to it instead of living in denial of it, it can be astounding. I feel like I am my son’s own twin. We have our own special language and things we do or say. He may sometimes be in his own world, but he let’s me join in, and some moments are just spectacular. I know you probably know what I mean. But it is so hard to put into words, isn’t it?! You did a great job! Much better than I could! :)
Jill recently posted..Potty training a toddler with Autism:
Thank you for posting this. I have a son (3) who, last year, was severly speech delayed. I was told initially that he had signs of an autism spectrum disorder and it it DEVASTED me. He did an ABA class w/ the local school district 3 days a week and w/in a year, the speech just exploded. After an evaluation, I was told that he could possibly be PDD-NOS, but a FIRM diagnosis could not be made because of the skills he already had and the progress he has made (and his age).
Debi, what a lovely story, thank you for sharing. I think you and your children are remarkable.
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I love how you said that “autism does not have Will”! Thank you for sharing your story!
Debi, I have been surrounded by autism from a young age. I have found myself drawn to it, and not because of my younger brother’s diagnosis (although he has asperger’s), but because there are so many unknowns. There is also such beauty in the children and adults who live with it. The faces of Autism. And that’s what I think about. So thank you for adding another “face” to the mix. With your help, people will soon understand more and not be scared by Autism.
Amber recently posted..The Face of An Angel
When my son John got into Kindergarten last year they flagged him almost immediately. I don’t know what was worse: being told that he has Autism, or feeling stupid for missing all those signs. Looking back, I can count on just one hand how many times he’s hugged me back and it brings me to tears. There’s a stigma that comes with being ‘Special Needs’ or ‘Special Ed’ in school and I lay awake at night fearing the road he has ahead socially, but he’s a brilliant little boy that never fails to impress us. Nothing makes a mom feel better like another mom sharing her story. Thank you.
What an inspiring story. And I love how Emma says he is “her Will.” That they are so close is wonderful and heartwarming. Your perspective on it all gives me hope for a lady I know whose son is autistic. Her son isn’t as “happy” as yours, but her situation has its own rewards, I’m sure. Thank you for sharing.
Angel_DWMW recently posted..The Event
Your story is great . . . and while ours is different, I can still relate to a lot of what you say . . . particularly the singing of happy birthday! No need to explain . . . with know words, I get that!
Our daughter is an Aspie. Thought you might enjoy her blog. She’s got this cool ability to let us see inside the world of the Spectrum. Some of her comments have stunned me. Maybe they’ll give you even more insight into your son’s world!
Visit her: http://atypicalaspergirl.blogspot.com/2011/09/whack-mole.html?spref=fb
Thanks for sharing!
That was so very sweet and a great perspective. Your kids are extremely lucky to have a mother like you!
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I know what it is like to have a son who has autism. I was just told a few weeks ago that my son is on the spetrum. He is luckly high functioning but it is still hard to hear. I think what made it worse for me is the fact that I knew deep inside what was wrong I just didnt want to admit it. I am glad that you have found good in his diagnosis it give me hope.
Thanks so much for sharing your story. My oldest son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, and I thought it was the end of the world. He was in speech therapy for a year, and is doing much better. He still has his quirks…he doesn’t like us to sing anything! But we deal with it. Keep up the good work.
what a beauitful beautiful post….! I have heard from so many mothers of special needs children that they become their child’s student. There is so much to learn from them, and so much we need to un-learn. Sometimes this can only be done when we view the world up-close through another’s eyes. You’re a wonderful mum, I suspect more wonderful from having your mix-n-match twins xxx
FennyPenny recently posted..Born to live, but not in this world…
Thank you for such a lovely comment.
I completely agree with what you said… I AM learning SO much by being Will’s mom. SO much that I didn’t know even after have so many other children before him (my 7 others & foster children). It’s amazing how I now view the world and life and even more amazing how I now view autism… something I long believed was a “death” sentence of sorts.
How wrong I was!
Will IS Life :)
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
debi, that’s a truly heart warming post to read. Supposed to be finding out today if my lil guy will be accepted by the Early Years Forum for assessment, this has lifted my mood ten-fold. Thank you so much xox
Thank you for saying that & good luck Lindsay. I pray your son is accepted.
It truly isn’t what a parent wants to hear when they suspect their child might not be “perfect”, but honestly, I believe God makes our babies perfect for us.
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
Thank you Debi. I’ve had a gut feeling for a couple of months that something’s not quite right, he may not be on the spectrum at all but even if he is he’s still my little sunshine-fruit and the most beautiful little boy in the world :-)
My 8 year old step-son is on the spectrum. He doesn’t present as a “typical” autistic kid, mainly because he’s a social guy. He wants to interact with people and share things with them. If you’re new, he’s easily upset by you being in his space, but once he has a chance to get to know you, he’s the sweetest guy.
Of course, he wasn’t always that way. He used to be very aggressive (well before I came into his life). My fiance’ and his ex-wife have him seeing a specialist who put him on a special diet, and it dramatically changed his behavior. Unfortunately, that’s really the only thing it has improved.
Finn is 8, he is not potty trained, has severe speech apraxia, meaning he doesn’t speak at all, with the exception of “yeah”. Be can “say” a few other things, but not correctly.
He has sensory issues, too.
The one thing that made me want to comment here is one of the last things you mentioned in your post, that Will doesn’t like people to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to him. Finn hates it, too. He always has, apparently. We’re not sure why either, but his dad thinks it’s probably because of how he processes emotions. He feels them so strongly, that he can’t handle them, and he gets upset. The same thing happens when he sees someone that he hasn’t seen in a while that he’s missed, like his Grammy and Papa. He’ll start crying and sit down on the floor and cover his eyes and ears, sometimes he’ll even even bang his head, just to diffuse what he’s feeling.
So we think the attention and singing in unison are just too much for him to process, and he just flips out.
On a positive not though, he turned 8 just yesterday, and we decided we’d just try and sing, and he did great. He smiled and giggled the whole time. :) Baby steps.
Thanks for sharing with us. Sorry my comment is a bit long. I tend to ramble. :)
Karin recently posted..It’s Too Damn Hot
I believe God is going to do great and wonderful things with your Will’s life!
Life with Kaishon recently posted..Monkey Bites
Thank you B!
I believe He is as well <3
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
I love this post. thank you for sharing.
Amen, great post. Your kids are lovely.
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What a great post! Will is an amazing little boy. My husband is a twin and there are so many “twin” things that they do. I can see how you would have been upset at your twins possibly not having those moments.
It was probably one of the hardest things to accept, but I have definitely found that my twins share things I am not certain they would be sharing if he wasn’t on the spectrum as well…
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
Great post! Katie definately stresses me out on a dailty basis, but in so many moments I find myself wondering would she be as sweet if she wasn’t on the spectrum. If she wasn’t so rule oriented, would she try as hard? She doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her and I hope she can stay that way and that my biggest fears of her social interaction are never an issue. I love that I am told on a regular basis by grownups in her life that she is so lovable and in many cases, their “favorite”. She is certainly special and my pride in that makes those frustrating times a little easier to deal with.
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<3 you Julie and <3 Katie to the moon & back :)
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
I find that a child with Autism brings a family even closer than before. Is this true?
Anthony from CharismaticKid recently posted..Punishment and Removing Privileges: Am I Withdrawing Love from My Child?
I think it absolutely does Anthony.
It forces everyone in the family to view their relationships differently.
Selfish HAS to go out the door the day a child is diagnosed.
But, I also have to say, this can also be said of any disabled or sick child.
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
December 15, 2003 – the day my son, Jake, was officially diagnosed with Autism. He was 26 months old. This was a day I will never forget, but it wasn’t the end of life or happiness; just an adjustment to my expectations for him. I have a beautiful, smart, kind, funny, loving son who I can wrap my arms around every single day. I am a very lucky Mom, not everyone can hug their son everyday anymore.
He didn’t say his first word until the month after he turned 4 (November 19, 2005) and that word was “Hi”. Now he tells me he loves me before bed every night. He is almost 10 now, just started 5th grade, and is doing terrific.
Jake has two younger sisters who adore him. They know he has Autism but they see absolutely nothing “wrong” with him–he is just their brother Jakey.
Finally, I am also divorced — the divorce rate for parents of children with Autism is 85%. A very sad fact of the Autism community that doesn’t get talked about much.
SO very true Carol.
I actually did a blog post about the divorce rates & autism after discovering my husband’s infidelity. It was shocking. All of it and to think we were nearly a statistic… well, honestly, we weren’t just because I wouldn’t let us be, but that’s another post ;)
Autism can be very hard on a marriage and I commend you for raising a son who sounds amazing, along with 2 loving daughters who see him for who he is not his diagnosis.
You must be an amazing mom!
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
Such a lovely post. A friends son is going through the diagnosis process and I know this made her feel better knowing that it isn’t the worst thing that could happen.
Thank you for your strength and for sharing.
Megan recently posted..The Dream
so very true!
One of my dearest friends in the world lost one of her twins to cancer at age 2 :(
Autism is nothing.
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
Popping over here from the PSMM group – what a great post, Debi! I love how we can learn so much from our kids when we drop our own expectations and simply see our kids for who they are.
Barb @ A Life in Balance recently posted..how does your garden grow? september 6, 2011
amen Barb!
It is ALL about the expectations that makes accepting the diagnosis so difficult, but as soon as we are willing to see past it, life just goes on :)
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
Our sons sound similar. Days when they just seem “different” but days when they seem quiet, but “normal.” It’s a hard diagnosis, but I’m so glad to hear your family is thriving in this new normal.
S Club Mama recently posted..UPrinting.com GIVEAWAY
You know, I often feel like the hardest part is just accepting the diagnosis… the rest, is just life ;)
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
Debi, this was terrific, and your twins are just darling! I have 6-year-old twin boys, both with classic autism. I love how you lead with that, actually– “not Asperger’s, not PDD-NOS”. That may not mean much to people who are unfamiliar with the subtleties of autism, but as a fellow resident of Spectrumville, it speaks volumes. Glad I found you here, and I’ll be clicking over to check out your blog!
Jill, I’m loving Scary Mommy even more than before, since you’ve been featuring society posts from moms of kids with special needs! :-)
Erica recently posted..The Night Before School Starts
Thanks erica. Looking forward to getting to know you as well.
It wasn’t meant to downplay PDD-NOS or Aspergers, that’s for sure, just meant to say, it isn’t the same, as you well know.
It’s funny how everyone seems to know the “no two kids on the spectrum are the same” bit and yet everyone puts all of these kids on the spectrum in the same category.
Life with autism is definitely different.
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
I love, love, love it when you say that autism does not have your son. What a great perspective!
Jessica @FoundtheMarbles recently posted..What’s With All the Haters?
Thank you Jessica.
I only wish I’d had this perspective from the beginning. I missed out on some seriously awesome moments being depressed when Will was “just being Will”.
I know for certain, I will not be missing out on anything anymore though :)
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
I meant to add- my son HATES the happy birthday song too. For a bit there, I had to take him out of the room at friends parties. Otherwise their videos were filled with screams. We have finally gotten to a point where, so long as I hold him tight and sing with him, we can get through a singing if happy birthday if we whisper the ABCs song to each other. I am not sure why that is the solution- he came up with it.
Jill recently posted..Bellows AFB beach cabins (part I)
Oh wow. I SO hope we’ll get to that point one day.
We’re STILL at the remove-Will-from-the-room stage or the videos are filled with his crying :(
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
I hope you get there too! A solution may appear when you least expect it- that was what, gratefully, happened for us.
Great post Debi! You have a great “little” family there! I love how you say “Will has autism. Autism doesn’t have Will.” That is an awesome way to think about!
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Thank you Steph. It took me a long time to get to a place where I can comfortably say that and mean it :)
debi9kids recently posted..How can I not want to share this?
Hey.
I have son with Asperger’s… he was diagnosed later that most. It’s been a HUGE challenge. What I love about my guy the most is how PURE he is. His hugs will bring a person to tears for their genuine affection…. he has truly enriched my life.
He is now 13 years old, and we’ll be applying for high schools this year…. can’t believe my baby is growing up so fast!
HUGS!
Farah
Farah recently posted..View of new World Trade Center from Vesey Street…
I completely hear you on the pureness!
I have often said that Will is not touched or tainted by society in any way… he’s oblivious and I often wish I could live so…pure.
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
I loved reading this! My daughter is not autistic or on any spectrum but she has apraxia and SPD, and we’re now waiting on genetic testing results to tell us what else. I love how you put that he has autism but it doesn’t have him! I am gonna have to steal that if you don’t mind. It’s taken me 2 yrs to fully accept my daughters speech and developmental delays and now that we have, and we’re learning how her little brain works, life has become so much smoother. There’s no denying she has her days where life is pure hell (for her and us!) but now that we ‘get it’ life is so much better. Thanks for sharing about your son!
Please do steal it :)
I think all moms of children with disabilities or illnesses eventually do need to come to a place where it doesn’t define who our kids are, KWIM?
I hear you on tough days. Boy, do I hear you! (as in praying for the summer to end 1 week after it started because I needed him to be back in school…) But, betting that like me, you wouldn’t trade it for the world.
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
You have a beautiful family!
Skye Diaz | motherhood, etc. recently posted..chicago banning crib bumpers?!
Thank you!
Every single day I feel blessed (even the really, really bad mornings. ;)
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
What a beautiful perspective of the relationship between your twins. I am blown away by the phrase, “Will has autism, but autism does not have Will.” I never liked being defined by one piece of myself. We are all the sum of our parts. It seems like both of your children “sum” up terrific!
Sarah recently posted..Wild Weekend
Thank you Sarah.
I feel the EXACT same way :)
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
One of my favorite bloggers of all time and fellow twin (and special needs) mom. Got to love Debi.
<3 you Cat! Truly.
Why oh why do we have to have SO many miles between us???
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
Debi– great post. My little girl has Reactive Attachment Disorder, and I can so relate to the sense of devastation upon getting the diagnosis, even though you know it’s coming. You’re right, though– the diagnosis doesn’t own my daughter any more than it owns your son. They are the same wonderful kids no matter what!
Amy recently posted..Imparting our Faith
Amen Amy!
One of my dear friends kept reminding me when Will was diagnosed that he was the same little boy that day that he was the day before and what does a label matter… took me a while to grasp it, but once I did, I never looked back :)
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
Beautiful post thanks for sharing.
What a great post! I love the distinction–Will has autism not the other way around.
Victoria KP recently posted..Loss and Hope
My youngest boy, 7 yo, is Autistic so this post really resonates with me. My little dude is high-functioning so he comes across as quirky more than anything. I was worried in Kindergarten but in 1st grade he grew leaps and bounds. Now just starting 2nd grade his mainstream teacher just told me yesterday that he is doing so well, meeting her challenges, and “he’s so intelligent!” His abilities, his happiness, his intelligence, and his perspective on life just absolutely blows me away. Every.Single.Day. He is the thing I was missing that I never knew I was missing. So I know, I KNOW, how you feel.
Stef recently posted..I’m an escape artist
“He is the thing I was missing that I never knew I was missing” < I have actually written and said those EXACT same words about Will.
It's amazing how something I feared so much turned out to be something I needed.
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
I am a mother of a special needs child. She is 10, but could very well be 5. Our journey with her has been long and arduous. She has been given a number of labels, but the simple fact is that things are not right for her. Her life will never be like her sister’s. There are so many things she has already missed out on, and it will only get worse. It hurts, and I know your pain very well. But as you pointed out, you have to keep going on. We have the same situation where some days our daughter looks like a perfectly normal 10 year old, and other days it is clear that she has issues. I have written a post for Jill and Scary Mommy Readers about my life with my daughter. It will post October 18th. Thank you for sharing your story. It is always helpful to hear someone else’s.
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It is hard to realize things our kids might miss out on, but I try to not think about those things too often and instead focus on the amazing things my son does and will do.
Looking forward to your post as well :)
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
hopefully you will get there sooner than later! Our solution came when I least expected. I hope that may be the case for you too!
Jill recently posted..Bellows AFB beach cabins (part I)
Once again Debi your words have provided wonderful honesty, insight,and perspective. As you well know, my son has high functioning autism and is a twin and I truly believe God gave our boys strong -willed and determined sister to protect and understand them for a reason. Will’s smile will always light up my day. It really is contagious.
Thanks Shar.
I’ll never forget how much you have encouraged me and given me strength when I absolutely needed it.
Thank you!
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
Autism has changed my family for the better. Without my son’s diagnosis, I would have never learned about my gluten intolerance {all because I did the GF diet with him}. His “label” has made me reevaluate our relationship with food, and its profound effect on our wellbeing as adults and development of children.
The word autism scares the crap out of people. I wonder how many children will have to be affected {1 in 2?} for people to realize that is an epidemic.
I really think my son’s autism is a medical issue. I have diapers to prove it. :)
nicolette @ momnivore’s dilemma recently posted..Gluten-free Chocolate Rice Krispie Treat Recipe
Nicolette,
Glad to hear from another GF mama!
We did the same thing in our home once Will was diagnosed (we already had our oldest on the diet for Celiacs, so it was easy)
It’s AMAZING the difference the diet makes in Will and everyone else in our family.
I firmly believe that autism is being caused by chemicals in foods that we eat. I believe those chemicals are altering our genetics and I am certain it’s why the numbers have been rising steadily since the 1950′s (you know, back when people ate REAL food)
Not only did my family go to the GF diet, but we also maintain a natural and organic diet as well.
(Looking forward to checking out your blog & recipes!)
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
I’m in tears reading this Debi, because I remember back when he was diagnosed and how much you have all grown as people since than. This post reminded me when I was given the official word, and that both my girls are autistic. I read this, and it just flashed in my mind, and I burst into tears. Very emotional today.
As I have told you a million times, and will tell you in the future again I am sure … its normal to feel anguish when you get the autism diagnosis. I know I was in heavy denial. I argued with the psychiatrist. But I knew in my heart that it was true. I thought autism was going to ruin us.
It did the opposite. Although we have our days (or weeks, as in my case right now) where we feel defeated, and feel like it just may win, something happens, and not only does life get better, and brighter, but family gets closer. Like when my girls were classified non-verbal, and after 3 months of therapy, were saying words! When they printed their names for the first time. When I was able to go through a day or two with absolutely NO tantrums. When the girls come up to me randomly to cuddle and get hugs and kisses and tell me they love me …
I cherish it, and I am thankful. Love you Debi! Love Will’s smile! It makes me smile everytime!
Thanks Alisha! (just sitting here crying now :)
I know EXACTLY what you mean! It’s those tiny moments we take for granted in “normal” life that we suddenly don’t take for granted anymore and that is powerful and soul lifting.
LOVE you, my friend.
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
Hi Debi,
What a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing your story! As a mother with a pretty special kid myself (multiple disabilities), I love your honesty and acceptance. Unconditional love is pretty powerful. Nobody said life would be easy but certainly interesting. You have a fantastic attitude & an amazing family.
Best,
Colleen Mook
Thank you so much Colleen.
I think when you have a child with a disability or an illness, it forces you to look at life differently and honestly, I think those of us given this path are blessed beyond belief.
We get to see the world through the most innocent, untarnished eyes and that is an amazing gift <3
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
Debi, thank you so much for sharing this beautiful post. My son doesn’t have autism, although he has certainly been evaluated for it, but he does have severe ADHD, ODD, and anxiety. In short, he has some pretty serious mental health issues that we’re trying to help him work through, but it will be a lifelong challenge for him and our family. I commend you on your honesty.
Laura @TheODDMom recently posted..Will He/We Ever Learn???
Laura,
I have been down the ODD/anxiety road with one of my children and I can tell you, it will get better. I NEVER thought it would and used to cry myself to sleep every night and now… life with that daughter is AMAZING (and she’s NOT medicated. Everything is managed with diet after YEARS of trying one drug or another)
I know what you’re going through and it’s a challenge.
Have faith! There is an absolute light at the end of the tunnel.
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
Debi,
We’ve done the food thing as well. He was tested for food sensitivies last year, before we tried any sort of medications. Poor little dude is off gluten, eggs, casein, soy, and sunflower. It definitely made a huge difference, but not enough of a difference at this point to avoid the meds. The meds are amazing, but they’re not a cure. He still has lots of problems and will need a whole lot of behavioural therapy in the coming years. Thanks for your encouragement.
Laura @TheODDMom recently posted..Will He/We Ever Learn???
Oh I could just sit here and cry over how much I love this post. I am also the mom to multiples and have a daughter with autism. I too feared that she would never have a connection with her siblings and she would somehow be on the outskirts of life but it has been the opposite. Her siblings have kept her “in” this world. They keep her engaged and playing and even though she is years older than them, they have given her a place to be exactly who she is and be loved and accepted no matter what by other kids.
Jessica recently posted..Moving Forward
<3
It's nice to know when something I write connects with someone who KNOWS exactly what I mean :)
Oh I love this! I’m so glad that they still share a close bond. Your descriptions of your daughter as his protector and he as “her Will” are priceless.
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Thank you.
Those are actually her words. She calls him “my Will” :)
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
This is a wonderful post. I also have a 4 yo with autism. 4 going on 18 months was a perfect description. My two year old daughter is also very verbal, ahead of the curve on so many things (though sometimes I think it just seems that way in comparison to my non-verbal son). She has already surpassed him in many milestones, and it highlights my son’s differences even more. But so far, they take each other exactly as they are. Time will tell what their relationship will be, but right now, she follows him around like he’s the greatest big brother ever and I love watching it.
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That is fantastic that your kids have that relationship.
I hope it continues to blossom as they get older.
There is just something SO special about siblings.
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
This brought tears to my eyes. Kids can be so AMAZING! Give them both hugs for me.
Michelle Saunderson recently posted..I Cannot Believe My Dishwasher is Not Working!!!
Thank you & done :)
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
They are both absolutely beautiful and your positive outlook is inspiring!
Thank you Heather.
It’s taken me a long while to get here, but now that I am, I can’t imagine being anywhere else ever again :)
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
What a wonderful post!! Thank you for sharing this journey with us! Will is a lucky little boy to have a mamma who loves him so much!!
Thank you, although I think it’s me that’s lucky to have him :)
debi9kids recently posted..Little Devil Caught in the Act!
When you said “autism doesn’t have Will” I got chills. You are a great mom, this was a great post, and you son sounds like a wonderful little man
Not Winning Mom of the Year recently posted..It’s a bird, it’s a plane…
Thank you so much!
It means a lot that my words struck a chord with so many people :)
A very touching post….thank you! ~P.
Pattie recently posted..Bleeding Green
What a wonderful post, and a beautiful little boy. An inspiration to all.
What a wonderful post Debi, very inspiring :)
lesa recently posted..Star Wars Children’s Birthday Party
What a beautiful testament of a mother’s love for her children :)
Your twins may not share the “same” bond as other twins, but there is a connection. And I am sure it is a very strong one, thanks to you and your whole-hearted acceptance of Will.
Makes me think a bit of Martina McBride’s song God’s Will.
Thank you so much for sharing a bit of Will with us :)
Headacheslayer recently posted..Headacheslayer’s Fieldtrip: To The ER
Thanks for this. It did make me cry. I have suspicions about my 3 year old. He speaks sometimes, mainly his consistency. But when you said that about singing Happy Birthday…I kinda lost it. My Connor FLIPS OUT when people sing happy birthday. I don’t get it. I hate to say that I’m scared. But he thrives in other deals. I need to have him checked out, but insurance companies are so hard to deal with.
Crap, I vented. Sorry ladies.