I was sitting in a local coffee shop having a latte with a friend last weekend when I noticed she was wearing a bracelet, much like the colorful ones you see folks wearing to help spread awareness or advocate for a loved one. Hers read, “Autism”. I told her I really liked her bracelet (in my mind I was projecting to the future thinking how awesome it would be to have these made for our new Highline Special Needs PTA). My friend told me that she has three sons; one of which lives with autism and another that is pending evaluation for ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). She said the bracelet is a reminder for her to be mindfully present with her son during the moments they share together and to do her best to see the world from his perspective.
In our world today, we are constantly challenged with keeping up with our emails, text messages, voicemail, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, U name it! Our kids, special needs or not, no doubt, must have anxiety just watching us try to keep up with everything going on in our own world. My son, who is 5 and lives with developmental delays and autism, pushes my phone away sometimes when I’m not being mindful to his needs. I don’t think I have to explain the guilt feeling that comes over me when he must do that. We are consumed with “real-time” life which gets so much of our attention and it just happens out of nowhere. Our kids, however, need our attention more than we ever realize.
I’m so very thankful for my friend and the message she sent me that morning. I am also grateful for our newly formed Highline Special Needs PTA. I believe together we shall become better educated in the world of special needs with resources we will learn about and sample from. We will learn to be better advocates for our children and create opportunities for them in a community that is connected, challenging and encouraging. Best of all, we can all support one another by being present, as well as mindful of each other’s needs and the needs of our children.
I don’t know about you, but I am going to find me one of those bracelets!
