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We’re gifted with the ability to see in color. In nature, light creates the color and the movement of colors. Hence, it can be said that colors are the smiles of nature. In fact, color has the great advantage of making things more energetic. My mother always loved yellow because to her its energy illuminate optimistic and happiness. In her passing, I too find myself seduce by yellow. Yes, many people do have color preferences for various reasons. The vast colors of the world was intended to give us great pleasure in life.  However, for M this could feel as if the world was whirling around with too many hues of color causing the colors to blur. Thus, making processing difficult. This could have been a major factor inhibiting M from choosing a color preference. In fact, each week M could pick different color leg castings. However, during these times M has never indicated a particular color preference until today. M said the word “oange” aka ‘orange.’ I asked M again just to be sure I heard correctly. M loudly proclaimed “oange.” We had been working on color words for a while.  In that moment perhaps M amazing mind processed the color orange to feeling good or warmth of love. As crazy as it sound, I did a happy dance. I was proud of M making a color choice. True there is a single color that hold the meaning of life, it’s the color of love. However, M taught me being different is what gives the world color…M will be rocking the orange leg casts.

Simply an autism mom learning

Most of the time the word infectious is use to convey a disease or a disease-causing organism. However, this same word could imply the ability to influence others in a rapid manner. Often we underestimate the power of a smile or the smallest act of caring. In fact most smiles are started by another smile creating a contagious affect. This act of smiling can have the potential to turn someone day around. For M a smile is like free therapy and a universal welcome. There used to be a young lady that worked in the education office with me. She had a smile that lighted the whole office reflecting to others that there was a caring person inside. Whenever M would visit the office she would smile and say “HEY!” Hence, her smile gave a positive countenance making M feel comfortable. Overtime, M started smiling and saying “HEEEEEEY” not only to her but to anyone coming into the office. Yes, she had infected M.  Few things in the world are more infectious/powerful than a smile. M felt confident in being self around her. Thus, M became sociable. Noteworthy when she left to go be with her beloved overseas, M kept looking for her in the office saying “Heeeeeey.” In time others now affected by Ms’ smile started smiling and saying “Hey” back to M. The young lady may never know all the good that her beautiful simple smile had on others, especially M. This experience with M taught me a smile can be the key that fits the lock of everybody’s heart.

Simply an autism mom learning

Grief is painful. However, if it’s transform into remembrance, then you’re magnifying the person lost and giving something of that person to others, so they can experience something of that person. When I think of my mom it brings back  memorable moments cooking together, laughing together, dancing together and tears of sorrow/ joy together. Sharing my unforgettable memories of my mom with M may inspire hope and create a bridge to the future. She had a special connection with M. Their close bond started on the day M was born. As M grew, my mom had a way of communicating with M that transcended words. One of the most beautiful thing about my mom was that she could see M true colors shining. I remember the countless doctor appointments with M how my mom was right there. After each visit she would get M to look into her brown eyes and state “You’re smart and you can do anything you set your mind to do, never forget that.”  M face would light-up when ever my mom was around. It was because of my mom love that M finally started eating some types of food. Although my mom died one month before M received the official diagnose of autism, she had loved M unconditionally. In honest, I worried would M remember the countless moments of love, time, understanding and compassion my mom bestowed on us. A few weeks ago while in the den, M glanced up to look at some pictures I had on the wall. M pointed and said “Nanna.” In that moment I cried. M taught me memories of my mom life, love and compassion will continue…in M.

Simply an autism mom learning

Life is full of making human and mental connections. We learn from every one of these connections. The learning from those connections is what will help illuminate our world to endless wonder. In fact even a brief connection with a person, thing or idea can change the way a person think about themselves. The beauty of M ability is the way M process the world and learn to connect with it. Thus, what looks simple to others can be a milestone to M. I remember when my father used to pick M up from pre-school everyday. He would take M across a huge bridge to go home. Everyday as they passed over the bridge my father would say “M water…look M water.” Some days had pass before M finally pointed and repeated “waer” aka ‘water’ as they crossed the bridge to go home. M had made a connection not only with my father but with the water under the bridge. Noteworthy, my father called me at work happy that M said water. My father experience with M taught me that life is about making connections and learning; waiting and growing; practicing patience and being persistent. Additionally, M taught me to cherish our human connections because that can make life worth living.

Simply an autism mom learning

The word explosion has a two-fold meaning. It undertake the tone of violent or destructive shattering of something. On the other hand, this word can denote a rapid or sudden increase in amount/extent of something. In the case of language, it starts as a spew that leads to a kind of explosion. The development of language is part of the growth of personality, character and reflection of ourselves. Hence, words are the natural means of expressing thoughts, ideas or establishing understanding between people. There are many children like M that started with no language. However, with early intervention along with speech therapy many autistic children can overtime develop language on a large-scale. In this month alone M has developed an explosion of language. In fact M has started using two-word sentences on some occasions versus one word. One day I was in the middle of cleaning the kitchen when M came in and stated “oom com.” In honesty, I at first did not understand what M was saying. However, M was persistent in repeating “oom com.” Finally, M grabbed my hand and lead me to the den. It done on me M was saying “room come” aka ‘come to the room.’ M proceed not only point to the television but stated “t.v. pleaseeeeee.”  Not only that M shocked me by saying “I wa” aka ‘I want’ to express exactly what program to watch. M explosion of language is a special kind of beauty that has taught me there is no limit to M’s learning, which means there is no limit to M’s world.

Simply an autism mom learning