I WILL SHAKE YOUR FOUNDATION!

[Demeter]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-stagliano/i-will-shake-your-foundat_b_57945.html?view=print


when it comes to my kids...do not look askance at them lest I rip into you. But today my own foundation shook a bit. My three girls have autism. As such, they have the privilege of attending summer school for free! And today was field trip day. My elementary school children, Gianna and Bella, were going to a farm. No problem there. My middle school daughter, 12-year-old Mia, was off to the mall with her class. Mia's summer school class might be called the "MH" room. MH stands for "multiple handicaps." Yeah, it's an old name, but the schools haven't found an acronym for "the hodge podge of kids who cost us a small fortune" that trips off the tongue, so "MH" it is.

Some of the children in her class are obviously and profoundly challenged. Some are physically disabled and also hard to miss. My Mia looks typical at first glance. She is tall, slender, has big blue eyes and thick, shining brown hair.

As I prepared breakfast I envisioned the mall full of middle school girls shopping for back-to-school clothes with Mom. Rolling their eyes as Mom searched for demure outfits while they sought out miniskirts to display their pre-teen scoodly doodly to the boys. Grabbing t-shirts that read "Tramp in Training" and giggling. And then noticing the clutch of special education children, including my Mia, lumbering toward them. And staring.

Hot tears spilled down my cheeks as I packed Mia's snack and few bucks for a new hair scrunchy. (Part of the trip means making a purchase so the kids can practice their social skills.) All I could think of was the ostracizing glares from the kids in the mall. Kids who would be l laughing at my Mia and thinking rotten thoughts. I became seriously sad.

If you have a typical child who can laugh with friends and take care of her own safety, and yes, choose her own clothing, slutty or otherwise, for God's sake get on your knees and give thanks. Do NOT tell me that you're tired of your kids' sleepovers or that soccer camp is so expensive or that you look fat in your swimsuit so you just "hate" summer. I look great in a swimsuit. You wanna swap lives?

Until you live the life of an autism Mom, you simply have no idea what's it's like to send your child out into a world that is nowhere near ready to embrace her. Some days it slaps you upside your head a little harder than others.


====================================================================================================


TODAY MY AUTISTIC DAUGHTER, AGE 24, TURNED THE HEAT ON. TWICE. AFTER A REPEATED COMMAND NOT TO TOUCH THE CONTROLS OR OPEN THE WINDOWS UNLESS I SAY TO. (I HAD THE AIR CONDITIONING ON).

TOMORROW I'M GOING TO HOME DEPOT TO BUY A THERMOSTAT LOCK BOX. WHO IS THE JAILOR, AND WHO IS THE PRISONER?