Night Before Christmas--autism style

As my older son builds a contraption with a fishing net, masking tape, toilet paper and soap boxes, the following showed up in my inbox with impeccable timing:



'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house

The creatures were stirring, yes, even the mouse

We tried Melatonin and gave a hot bath

But the holiday jitters, they always distract

The children were finally all nestled in bed

When nightmares of terror ran through my OWN head

Did I get the right gift, the right color and style?

Would there be a tantrum or, maybe, a smile?

Our relatives come but they don't understand

The pleasure he gets just from repeating and focusing

They say "He needs discipline, just a well-needed smack"

"You must learn to parent" and on goes the attack

We smile and nod because we know deep inside

The argument is moot, let them all take a side

For only we know autism's procession

The struggles and triumphs, achievements, regression

See, what they don't know and what they don't see

Is the joy that we feel over simplicity

"He said Hello!", "She ate something green!"

"He told his first lie!", "She did not cause a scene!"

"He peed on the potty, who CARES if he's ten!"

"He stopped saying the same thing again and again!"

Others don't realize just how we can cope

How we bravely hang on at the end of our rope

But what they don't see is the joy we can't hide

When our children with autism make the tiniest stride

We may look at others without the problems we face

With jealousy, sadness, or even distaste

But what they don't know, nor sometimes do we

Is that children with autism bring joyous simplicity

They don't get excited over expensive things

But we jump for joy over the progress work brings

Children with autism try hard every day

They make us proud more than words can say

They work even harder than you or I

To achieve something small, to reach a star in the sky

So to those who don't get it or don't have a clue

Take a walk in my shoes and I'll assure you

that ten minutes in you'll look with respect

at the little child who no one ever expects

To be larger than life because he's so quiet or so different

before being judgmental perhaps you should try it

Our holidays are different, they're special, it's true

Wondrous children make it so through all that they do

But our joy is no less, my lights just as bright

as I look at my child and say "Merry Christmas, good night".