C'mon, y'all know these don't often go together as much as we want them to.
Autism and birthday parties -- kinda like nuts and gum. We parents of the "specials" know only too well the hurts our kids feel when they are left out of the social gatherings relative to childhood.
Organized sports, play dates, sleep overs and yes, the dreaded birthday parties.
I can say whole-heartedly that my son has not attended a single one. We have received countless invitations in the few years Timothy has attended school; of kids who mercilessly invite the entire class~ and for that I'm grateful (don't get me wrong). Really cool sounding parties too.
I wonder if the parents know what would happen if I brought Timothy? The interruptions... the meltdowns... how I would hate to take the spotlight from the birthday child.
So we politely decline. Every. Single. One.
Until this one arrived:
I don't know this Mom or even this child personally. I want to. Desperately.
This Mom wrote exactly what I needed to see that day and didn't even know it.
This Mom gives me hope for Timothy's future when sometimes I get stuck in the darkness of his diagnosis.
This Mom is everything I strive to be.
This Mom rocks.
If I could tell her anything, I would tell her this:
Dear (Super Cool) Mom,
You don't know me and I don't know you, but my son, Timothy, sometimes sits beside your son at school.
Timothy has severe autism spectrum disorder. He is also a seven-year-old little boy who loves and plays with all of his heart. He needs a lot of extra help at school and sometimes seems just plain oblivious to what's happening right underneath his nose.
He wants friends but sometimes doesn't know how to make them.
He wants to play but sometimes doesn't know how to ask.
He wants to be included but sometimes doesn't know how.
But, I want you to know, that...
Because of your son he is included.
Because of your son he feels wanted.
Because of your son he has a voice.
And I want you to know that because of you I can get through another day.
Because of you I can get through another appointment.
Because of you I can take more stares and more questions.
Because of you I have hope for Timothy's future.
I just wanted to tell you what a fantastic job you are doing with your son.
This Mom------>(ME) will be RSVPing a "HELL YES" for the first time ever. And I can't wait.
Bam! Catalina Wine Mixer!
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