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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

It’s a relief to many to hear the rain. It’s the sound of billions of drops equally coming together to fall like a sudden outbreak of crashing glass. Water when it hit the earth instantly can become a puddle, fast-moving stream or a raging flood. Yes, even waterfalls or the outer ocean crashing on land are beautiful elemental sounds able to transport us on a relaxing journey. However, many children like M struggle with perceive sound made by someone of something. True auditory relate to the sense of hearing and hearing the faculty of perceiving sounds, M have difficulties with both side. M suffered countless ear infections which in turn affect the auditory range. However, once M had ear tube placement acute hearing became an issue. We took M to a local car hop eatery. All of a sudden M got extremely agitated and placed fingers in ears. We immediately checked M  for possible irritation or worse a bug bite/sting. Nothing was found, yet M was screaming/crying all the while maintaining fingers in the ears. Then all of a sudden we heard a loud blasting sound. A train was coming. For some the sound of a train can be romantic or nostalgic but for M it was a audio-sensory nightmare. In fact, M apparently heard the train well before we actually seen or heard the loud blast. We never did get to order and till this day M still become agitated when passing near this particular eatery. M taught me that everywhere you go there’s a soundtrack even if you can barely hear it and that our memory store those soundtracks  whether positive or negative.

Simply an autism mom learning