Traveling Show

mouthymariah:

This is my nephew, Caleb. He’s 3 years old and he’s autistic. He’s the most amazing kid I know. He was born 6 weeks early and didn’t even weigh 5 pounds. He didn’t walk until he was about about 18 months and didn’t start talking until he was almost 2. Was so worried for what the future had in store for him and just wanted to make sure everyone in my family stayed healthy (I’m a nurse by the way) so there would always be someone to take care of him. I’m a little OCD about always being prepared for things. Well, anyways, this kid is so awesome. He knows sign language, and is constantly surprising us all everyday with something new. Building things, reading already, being helpful around my house. And he’s a very loving brother to his other siblings which is rare for an autistic child to be able to show feelings like he does. I’m so very proud of him. He’s also taught me quite a bit about patience. I have to remember that nothing comes easy in life. And for him everything is a little bit harder. And yeah he gets frustrated but he pretty much has it all figured out. Today he started speaking to me in Spanish! I don’t speak Spanish! Apparently he picked it up hanging out at my grandpas farm. My grandma is a melon farmer in Indiana and most of the employees speak Spanish. It just gave me so much hope for him. He’s like a little genius. As much as we all wished he wasn’t born with autism, I think what cards we are dealt in life are given to us for a reason. Shame on me for ever wishing his life to be any different because I almost believe with every bit of my heart he has helped make my life better. I just hope he’s as proud of us as we are of him.

Try not to use OCD as a synonym for over-planing.  I over-plan but will not belittle the experience of people with OCD by comparing it to my tendency to smother fun.  Also, does he know about this?  Does he want this?  What about his parents?  Autism is stigmatized.  This child is too young to make an informed decision about whether the world should know.  Please respect his privacy.