Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

     During the holiday and Christmas season, Cole gets really excited about two things:  Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and watching the ball drop live in Times Square from New York.  I can say this hypothetically speaking, but when I say Cole is obsessed with the New Year's Eve Ball Drop, he is OBSESSED with this once a year phenomenon.  I am thankful for New Year's Eve, simply because this was the first thing that engaged Cole in learning.  I knew from the time Cole was two years old, he was special.  I also knew Cole was my kid and anything he did was cute, so I didn't think much of it when he would keep repeating "10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, happy new year 2003!".  

     By the time 2004 rolled around, I knew Cole had a learning difference.  The timeline for Cole's progression and seeing how other children were progressing with speech did worry me.  What if he can't catch up in school?  How am I going to get him potty trained and talking by the time he is three?  These were the questions that I had in the back of my head that needed to be answered, but I didn't know who to turn to for help.  I asked  Cole's pediatrician at the time if he had any references for speech therapy for Cole that could help him.  I told Cole's doctor that he wasn't potty trained at his three year old well-check up, but that didn't seem to bother him.    I also told him that I feel Cole needs speech therapy.  Doctors can see many children in one day, so I don't discredit Cole's former pediatrician for not listening to me or picking up on Cole's differences.  However, I knew once Cole was officially diagnosed having autism, I had to change pediatricians.  This was the best decision I made for Cole, me, and my husband.  Cole had the best private speech therapist from kindergarten until sixth grade named Pat Minter, who I credit with giving Cole a voice.  Ms. Pat worked so hard every week with Cole that by the time Cole reached sixth grade, you would never know he had a speech diffiency.  

      I did not know what autism was, but I was about to figure it out in 2005, thanks to the help of an article that was published in the magazine, Dallas Child.  I may have not known what autism was in 2005, but as we look ahead, ten years later, I consider myself an expert in this field.  I hope my blog helps you understand that people with autism are different; however, that does not make them dumb, stupid, or retarded.  I have heard people call others stupid or retarded, simply because of their ignorance towards a disability.  I really feel sorry for people that are so ignorant, simply because they can't see the good  or worth in a person who has autism, downs syndrome, or other learning/physical difference.  I have learned so much from Cole, simply because I haven't limited his thinking.  I knew when I was pregnant with Cole, he was going to be given every opportunity in school and at home to thrive in life.  I also knew that when Cole was diagnosed with autism, my world turned upside down.  The news that is given to you in a meeting telling you your kid has autism is quite an eye opener and shock.  I questioned my parenting skills and wanted to know, "why does my son have autism?.  Once the shock wore off, I knew what I had to do:  keep giving Cole the education he needed to thrive in and out of the classroom.  Cole is now in seventh grade and the life he has is something that he has worked really hard for.  Cole had a lot of help from me and his best friend, Archer, to make, establish, and keep incredible friendships with a lot of his friends, simply because I was not going to be that parent that hides her son from the world.  I credit Archer with being Cole's first very best friend, and because of this amazing and caring soul, Cole is happier than I have ever seen him.  Archer is one of those rare breeds; he loves Cole like his brother.  He would move mountains, run in front of a train for Cole, but most of all, he has always stood up for Cole.  I credit Archer's parents, Ryan and Amy, for giving Archer a strong foundation built on unconditional love, rules, and boundaries.  Because of Archer, Cole has a normal life. There are not many people that open their hearts and home to a kid with autism; I know because we have been there.  Ryan and Amy love Cole and because of them, we are better people.

     Fast forward thirteen years later, the countdown is still a staple in our house!  I love watching Cole get so excited about New Year's Eve, simply because this is his favorite holiday of all time.  Cole still does the countdown every day, whether it be at school, in the car, out in public, or at home.  This is our normal and I love our normal! We may look funny when we are walking across the street and we start to countdown from 10 to 1 in February, then end with "happy new year", but that is us.  I am forever thankful for "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" with your host Ryan Seacrest, simply because this was the first tool in Cole's life that helped him express his words.  Don't give up on your child; you will never know what is going on in their brain.  Sometimes a brain is just so big and full of ideas, that your child can't speak what they are thinking.  I know there are people living with autism that never speak; however, there are plenty of people that do talk who shouldn't!  Love one another, be kind to strangers, but most of all, make your life on Earth one to be remembered for the good that you do in other people's lives.  Happy New Year 2015!