Tonight my son said a sentence consisting of three words that initiated a partial conversation....and I cried...tears of utter pride. My son is 3 and due to start Primary School next September yet, I am still awaiting the chance to have a conversation with him.... where both of us are fully engaged in one another, where I am able to understand him without having to decipher fragmented words in a very difficult puzzle. Not only am I waiting to have a precious conversation with my beautiful boy, but 'normal' family meals are still elusive....you know the kind where potentially once a week you all sit down to the same meal, enjoy one another's company, enjoy the meal, you know the small things many families take for granted? For our meal times are a mishmash of kissing, smelling, occasional pleading, touching chicken nuggets/waffles/fish fingers in an attempt to over come sensory anxiety with our boy.....everything has to be beige or of a pale colour, anything that may have a hint of vibrancy is not going near this little guys mouth (which makes hiding various vegetables in mash potato a challenge!) and Christ do not put anything of an odd texture in front of him either (scrambled eggs was not appreciated!). So he lives on weetabix, bread, soya milk, chicken nuggets (or fish fingers) and waffles...his 'safe foods'. If you hadn't already guessed there is a question of possible ASD.
As I write this I'm smiling, for although I have times where I can get completely overwhelmed by these intense behavioural issues...it is what makes my son, my son. He is loving, adventurous and brave. People fall in love with him and his personality. Although we may not communicate properly orally we do so in our own special way.
The aim of this post is to make us realise that everyone is different, everyone is unique and everyone develops at their own pace. We must appreciate the little things, the small achievements and cherish the now...never take things for granted, for the meaningless things to one person may mean the world to another, like hearing your son say "see Snow White".
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