A moment of grace

A commonality in my posts is the timing; I tend to write after my son goes to sleep.  When he is at peace, wrapped up in a lightweight blanket, window open with the gentle breeze blowing his now too long hair, it seems as if autism is far, far away.  Hearing the rhythmic breathing and being able to give him a kiss without hearing the loud piercing of a scream or feeling him pull away when I try to hug him makes my heart sing with joy.

Sadly, the moments of real connection and peace do seem to come, at least in recent months, only while A is off in dreamland.  All his obsessions  (Little People, Blues Clues, Buzz Lightyear, Presidents, House/Architecture, Birthdays, Weather and Build-A-Bears) over the years, during sleep, probably inhabit corners of his mind. 

In the darkness, I reflect upon his journey.  I remember the moments that brought tears of joy to my eyes.  The first time he talked- really talked- when he was 3.5.  The first time he said goodnight and I love you.  The first time another child asked him to play.  The first time he made it through standing on the stage with his class during an assembly, singing and reciting a poem nearly in-sync with the other kids.

Having relationships with other autism moms is both a blessing and a curse.  Today, I cried hearing every other parent in the room talk about, in different ways, how their child talked too much, or talked about things that seem so grown-up.  My son has no friends- he wants no friends. He doesn't talk very much.  Finding out the details of his day is a bit like pulling impacted wisdom teeth as he only answers yes or no questions about the learning he has done.  Will he get to where those other kids are?  Will I get to the place my fellow moms are in- seemingly handling it all with grace?

As sleep threatens to close my eyes, it seems like a moment of grace and respite to enjoy my little boy, about to turn 12 and not so little anymore.  I will sleep peacefully tonight.