Becoming the Mother He Needs Me To Be

People who meet me as a parent are always surprised at my tenacity.  When I react to something that I don't agree with, or decide on a course of actions, they act like "Whoa, where did that come from?" But why?  I'm just one of millions of parents who do what needs to be done every day for their kids.  What's so surprising about that?  But if they knew me, knew my story, maybe they would understand.  I'm the girl who refused to listen when the priest came to the chapel where I was praying that fateful night the hospital called us my husband and I, to say that it didn't look like our son was going to make it. He was trying to tell me that I needed to accept God's will but I refused to listen to him and instead, turned directly to the altar and kept praying. I was determined to fight for my kid and although, it looked like the the end was near, I didn't just sit around and waited for it to come.  I didn't want my son to die and my faith taught me that, when it looks like all is lost, you call God.  I wasn't going to accept this diagnosis without a fight.  I still remember how I felt that night and what I was thinking. "As long as my son is still breathing, I'm going to keep praying and keep asking God to spare his life". And boy did I pray!!! I prayed hard! I prayed completely inhibited because I was desperate. I knew this was a desperate situation. I had already been told but I loved my baby and wanted nothing more than to see him live.  This moment was like walking through a ring of fire. In my mind, I was saying "it ain't over until it's actually over.  No matter what the doctors and nurses said, as long as my baby is still breathing, it's not over so I'm going to keep on praying and crying and begging God for my son to live until there's no more reason to pray!" Thank God, I didn't need to get to that point. My son made it through that night ( I really hate thinking about that night). I can't even get past that moment to work on my next book but that's another story for another post.  Let's get back to this one.  So when people are surprised at my tenacity, at how hard I fight for my son, they should understand one thing:  I'm not going to give up.  I'm going to keep fighting for him, for his well-being, for his chance at independence and at living a good life. They need to understand what I went through and where I'm coming from to truly understand how I became the mother, the woman I am today and, why I don't just accept platitudes and excuses.  I'm the girl who doesn't back down, the girl who doesn't stop trying, doesn't stop fighting to get her son what she feels he needs to get better, to move ahead. I will always choose to fight until there's no more reason to fight, but until then, fight I will. My son has taught me to be persistent, to be bold and to seek answers. He needed me to become that mother. I didn't see it right away but it got clearer as time went on.  So now, when I have something to take care of, especially when it comes to my kid, I don't give up. If people try to write him off, to portray him as something he's not, as less than he is simply because they don't understand his needs, or sadly, because they do not want to take the time to get to know him, do not want to really help him, I speak up. I do not accept preconceived ideas and judgmental attitudes and I can smell them a mile away.  I'm the girl who makes phone calls, seeks information, researches the problem.  I talk to people, voice my concerns, ask questions and ask for help, too.  I don't always get what I want, what I hope for but it doesn't cross my mind one minute not to to try.  If one thing doesn't pan out, I try another. If one person doesn't listen or doesn't help, I keep trying, keep looking until I find someone who will listen because I've learned to do that: Not to give up until there's no other choice but to give in. I didn't think I had it in me. But apparently I do. By the grace of God, I do. 

Guess Who's a Teenager Now and... Guess what He Did That Made Me So Proud?

March is a busy month in our family, a month where the two main men in my life celebrate their birthdays, 10 days apart from each other. First comes my son, then my husband.  Life's been so full of activities, deadlines and unplanned emergencies that I didn't even get a chance to blog about my boy's special day. But it was quite special.  To celebrate becoming a teenager, he spent his birthday at one of those arcades places. so popular with teenagers and, bonus for mom and dad, it had a restaurant right there on the premises. All you had to do was walk from the arcade into the restaurant without ever having to step outside and so, that's what we did.  C's cousins and a friend helped him welcome his teenage years by blowing tickets on games, claiming prizes and eating lunch.  The cool thing was: They had their own tables. Of course, hubby and I were not too far; in fact we were sitting right across from them but, the server went over to their table and took their orders, even if he had to check with us for confirmation because, after all, we were the ones footing the bill. :-)  I was so proud of my boy.  Guess what he did? He asked for chocolate. But that's not what floored me. What floored me was that when the waiter did bring it, C sent it back clearly stating "I asked for cold chocolate." He sent it back guys! All by himself!!! He communicated his needs and clarified his order. How about that?!! Not bad for a language impaired 13 year-old, for a child who only started vocalizing just a few months shy of his 5th birthday.  When I think of my boy during the first few years of his life, of all he had to overcome to get to where he is today... Is it any wonder that I'm willing to fight so hard for him. He deserves a fighting chance, a chance to try and live the best life and, that's why we do all we do for him, his dad and I.  We know autism is a challenge. We know his medical issues are a challenge but with every day, every month, every year that passes, he proves to us over and over again that our efforts are not in vain. Case in point was that beautiful moment that we got to witness.  Our son expressing himself and communicating his needs gruff voice, unclear articulation and all.

The experience itself wasn't exactly perfect; C couldn't actually eat the grilled cheese sandwich he had ordered because of his sensory issues. He had a hard time chewing; wanted to spit out the food and had to be reminded that he was in public and therefore, had to show good table manners but, that? That moment when he sent the waiter back with the hot chocolate with no hesitation, no pause? That was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to get up and dance, shout even but people would have probably thought I was losing it so I sat there quietly, proudly looking on as my son asserted himself without my help. He doesn't know it but that was the best gift he could have given me that day.   So proud of him!!! Happy 13th Birthday to my Teenager!!!!