BRITISH NANNY: Open letters on autism

Mar 28, 2018 Spotlight News Parent Pages, Parenting Columns

#NationalAutismAwarenessMonth #Autism #Parenting #ChildrenWithAutism #April #AutismAwarenessMonth #BritishNanny #TheSpot518 #SpotlightNews #ParentPages #CapitalDistrictParentPages

April is National Autism Awareness Month, and in recognition, columnist Sharon Cole and her daughter Delia are sharing their thoughts in a pair of open letters. For more information about Autism Awareness Month, visit www.autism-society.org.

Just For Today

by Delia Thompson

Just for today, little one,

I’m going to forget that you’re autistic

and remember that you’re a child.

For this brief shining time,

I will only see the beauty of you and your world.

I will marvel at the spun gold of your hair in the sunlight.

How can anything be so impossibly brilliant?

I will see the blue-green of your infinite eyes

and not worry if they focus on me.

I will admire your concentration

and not mind that it isn’t directed in the usual way.

Your smile and laugh will bring me joy.

It won’t matter what caused them,

they are marvels unto themselves.

Through your eyes, I will delve into the unseen,

looking at the world with that perspective unique to you.

I will see your lines of leaves and stones

and share your happiness at their precision.

I will close my own eyes

and let the textures you explore overwhelm my senses.

Spinning in circles with you,

I will let go until all is lost but the dizzy.

Just for today,

I will close my books and ignore the research,

the worry, the “shoulds” and the shadowy future.

You are my baby, my son, my love.

Today, we play.

Dear Families

by Sharon Cole

Just for today and every day,

I want you to know that when I see you,

I see only the love you have for your child.

I see that you spend many sleepless nights

And hold tight to the dreams that seem to slip away.

Just for today and every day,

I will see your child through the eyes of that same love.

I will hold on to that dream and be its keeper

As it spins into a million other beautiful dreams

On to the road less travelled.

Just for today and every day,

I will guide your child to his authentic voice.

I will listen with my whole body.

He will feel heard and valued

As he whispers all his secrets.

Just for today and every day,

My face will light up each time I see your child.

He will know that learning is an adventure

And that each moment is possibility

Waiting to happen.

He will always know that my day did not begin

Until that moment.

Just for today and every day.

Thank you for sharing your precious child with me.

Your child’s speech
therapist,

Miss Sharon

Sharon Cole is a speech-language pathologist and proud grandmother based in Brunswick. She is the owner of Vocally Clear Communications PLLC. Vocally Clear’s goal is to promote effective communication for all ages. She can be reached at Vocallyclear.com or message her at “British Nanny” on Facebook.