| I saw a post by another parent on a message | | | | inherent in the disorder makes it difficult for many |
| board and it began this way, "Today is my autistic | | | | parents to "celebrate" a "happy birthday." It takes |
| son's birthday and I am sad..." I recalled all the | | | | time, and above all a very difficult spiritual concept |
| many years past that I felt the exact same way. | | | | called "acceptance," to actually have fun on the |
| This was a sentiment that it was impossible for | | | | birthday of a child with a significant cognitive/ |
| many people to understand but I bet other | | | | developmental delay. |
| parents of children with autism do. The reason for | | | | Today, my son's birthdays are an absolute blast. I |
| the sadness is certainly not that you regret the | | | | suppose this testifies to how far we have both |
| day they were born! Parents of children with | | | | come (more me than him.) He is fifteen now and |
| autism love them with one of the strongest, | | | | doing much better than before. Yes, he is still |
| fiercest loves ever seen on this planet. | | | | significantly delayed in certain areas, particularly |
| The reason for the sadness is because a birthday | | | | speech. Interestingly though, on his birthdays now |
| represents a significant milestone- a date of | | | | I rarely think about the delay anymore. He is very |
| importance that cannot be ignored. Every year, at | | | | happy and he is doing very well. His birthdays are |
| various times but certainly on birthdays, parents | | | | joyful now. Perhaps they are celebrations of the |
| of children with autism face the indisputable fact | | | | absolute warfare I feel we have been through. |
| that although their child might be twelve or | | | | To those parents who are sad on the birthday of |
| thirteen chronologically, they are far younger than | | | | their children with autism, to you I say I |
| that developmentally. This creates an | | | | understand. I have been there. One day in the |
| understandable pain and anguish in the parent. This | | | | future you will be happy on his birthday, I promise |
| highlighting of the developmental differences | | | | it. |