My Son is Autistic

I had a wonderful talk with a friend the other day who reminded me of something very important; we love Collin for who he is and the challenges he comes with.

During the course of our talk my friend compared Autism to a Wooden Leg. She said had Collin been born with out a leg  we would love him no less. We would take that challenge for what it was. We would put his “wooden leg” on him and go on with the day. We wouldn’t make a big deal about it and we wouldn’t treat him any different because his leg was a bit different form other kids.

This opened my eyes so much. Autism is Collin’s wooden leg.  Yes he is different for other kids his age. He comes with challenges that are all his own, but he is still Collin and we still love  him. I wouldn’t  be telling the truth  if I said I wouldn’t change him for the world. The truth is I wish he didn’t have Autism.  I wish he would be able to do  things a ”normal” 2 1/2 year old does.  But if he didn’t have this “wooden leg” I would miss out on so much.

I would miss out 0n his sweet spirit, and kind heart.  At times I forget how close he still his to our Heavenly Father. (My mom even says that’s why he can’t talk, he still knows too much).  He has an amazing way of knowing just what people need.

 Last week we had a death in our family,  after the service we were at my in-laws house having lunch with about 60 people. We had been there for about 45 minutes when  Linda (the m0ther who lost her son) came in. Without anyone prompting him Collin ran over to her and hug her with all his might.  It was like he knew she needed to know she was loved.

There are many things I would change if I could. But  Collin’s “wooden leg” is teaching me every day. Just because he carries it around with him doesn’t make him different, it makes him who he is.  A little boy who will go out of his way to hug someone who is having a bad day, then go off as if there was nothing special about it.