If Love Was a Cure

I read a blog written by a mother with an Autistic son. Her son is almost 7 years old. She describes him as on the severe end of the spectrum. He's nonverbal and not potty trained. She is starting in-home ABA* therapy, a new diet, and new supplements. She is ahead of me in this life of Autism.  I find comfort in a lot of what she says because many of her struggles are my struggles too.

I watched a video she posted of some "critics" accusing her of trying to CURE her son of Autism. She explains that she's not trying to cure him, she's trying to make his life better. My heart sank because I'm still in cure-mode. I am thinking that this early intervention will cure this baby. Is that even logical?  I have always described Asher as being on the mild end of the spectrum. Is he though?

He's nonverbal, but I think he will speak. He doesn't have meltdowns, he's social, he's loving... Where does that put him on this imaginary spectrum? How big is this freaking thing? Am I being realistic?

Will I be where she is in 4 years? My family has a long road of questions and trials. There are always more questions to be answered and we are finding that many of the answers are not what we want. We are also finding that many questions don't have answers. I don't like waiting to see what happens.  This is the most bizarre life. I go from encouraged and energized to helpless and hopeless in a minute's time. Uuuugghhh!!!

I pretend a lot and I also breakdown a lot. I am strong, but I am SO WEAK. I'm starting to see that this isn't a phase, but it is a life--my life, his life, our lives.

*ABA therapy (Applied Behavioral Analysis) The approach breaks desirable behaviors down into steps and rewards the child for completing each step.

This is a great blog. She started with no readers and now, she has thousands. 

https://www.findingcoopersvoice.com/

How can this sleeping baby be so complicated?💙