Seeing the green grass in my own yard.

For the most part, I spend so much time trying to keep my head above water here that I don't think much about how other people's lives must be. I don't take the time to sit back and think of how "easy" it "must" be to be a NT parent but when I do I feel bone tired. I wonder, what must it be like to go to the park and sit on the bench with a cup of coffee and have a conversation with another parent knowing full well when you look up your kid will be right where you left him? What must it be like to go to bed at night and not sleep with one eye open? To not question if your kid will still be in the house when you wake up? What must it be like to never even have to hear the word autism much less have to word consume your life? I started thinking about these things today and I started feeling so tied, drained, exhausted.

Then I asked you what the best thing about being a special Needs parent was for you. You gave me some pretty good answers...

"How much joy I get from the simple things like my son saying "I love you" unprompted, or when a change doesn't bring a meltdown."

"That its helped me realize what really matters. That I can see through nonsense with people and although we all have problems, noting that I am relieved to not get caught up in nonsense. I have more important things to do."

"That they have shown me love and patience I never knew possible and the innocence and love I see in his eyes... ♥ He doesn't have to talk I know how much he loves me he shows it in his eyes :D"

"Learning from our son to live in the moment and find something funny in every day!"

"Acceptance and unconditional love :-)))"

"Simply stopping to look at all the colors, animals, sounds and all the little things she finds interesting. It's nice to stop and look around! I often times wonder if people with NT children ever stop all the running and just simply look around at all the beautiful things in life."

"She helped me be a more relaxed parent. I appreciate the little things. Sometimes you have to just let things go and have some fun. No matter what "fun" is. It can be a lot of things with a SN child."

"Same as all the above comments - the joy he gives us and the things he teaches us everyday :)"


and I have to add my own...

Then I realize the question I am asking is "What would my life be like without him?" and the answer is- not worth thinking about.