I was going to blog about How William has been doing with all the Summer Therapy & Extended school year stuff but then it hit me..
A year ago Today William was diagnosed with Autism. I remember that Day very well. It wasn't a shock to hear what Dr.P told me. I knew in my heart that my Baby was Different. I did feel like my world would end. I blamed myself for his condition. I wondered why God was punishing me. I had more then a few pity parties for myself but to top it all off I felt alone. Family Support was all I asked for and understanding of my childs condition. I had a hand full of family supporting me but I needed more..So I reached out to perfect strangers ,who are now friends to fill that void. I needed that pat on the back. A hey Mom your doing a Great job. I Also wanted to know anything & everything about Autism. So I could better understand why William had screaming fits, Why he only wanted to eat certain foods, wear a certain shirt ectra. I educated myself to the best of my ability.
School started for William in September on the 15th. If you go back to that post you can see for yourself I was a nervous wreck. The only person I felt that knew him was me. Yeah sure Dad was here but he was still in denial mode. So that wasn't alot of help. Then on top of that I couldn't tell him every thing about his days at school. The good ,the bad and the Ugly were always sugar coated for Daddys ears . Then the less he knew the Better for me.
My first School Event w/ William was the fall festival. I was excited over that. Even though I had to hide threw most of the event. I met a couple of other parents w/ ASD children. One informed me that she didn't go bragging around that her child was Autistic. I felt like she was scolding me. So then I was afraid to even mention it anyone else. I didn't know if there was a Hush hush system at that school or not.
So I pretty much kept quiet for a month or two after that.
The Winter Holiday was good. William had started to really pick up on his vocabulary and start to become more independent. He asked for things instead of pointing and screaming. He started to open up to us and the new world around him. I was still in amazement over all he had accomplished in such a short period of time. My Back bone grew and I was given a Nice pep talk but the Autism BOE Specialist. She put the fire in my Veins and the teachers put the courage in my heart to push on for my Child.
The New year was a complete 180 change for me. I let everyone know in my own way that they either get on board with this or get outta my way. The train was leaving with or without them. Daddy quickly changed his tune and then slowly the other hand full of Family members followed suite.
William continued to progress every single Day. He did things and said things that I can still recall. I had teachers walking up to me every day telling me things he had done. I was a Little jealous I had not witnessed them myself. But I knew me staying at school with William was out of the question. He let me know my place early on. I was his way to school and his ride home. Towards the End of the year William ditched me every single morning for his Mrs.Lindsey.
Then finally on the second to the last day I decided to stay in the class with William. It was a rocky start but he adjusted well. If I had known that sooner I could have included myself in more of his classes. Owell there is always this school year.
Summer Therapy began along with Extended school year. William has really been a shining star for them. He's opened up just a little bite more to them. For a Child who didn't speak and screamed every single time a stranger looked at him I'm in Ahhh.. still to this Day. If Some one had asked me a year ago if I thought any of this was possible I would have said ..NO... William had proven me wrong.. I hope he keeps proving me wrong for many more years to come. I'm Proud of My Child and always will be ~Amanda
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