Shhhh......it's a secret.

So here's the thing.  I hate that whole "Autism?  Oh, wow.  I don't know how you do it."  Well, here's how I do it.  I get up, I do what has to be done.  I repeat.  Now I certainly realize that there are parents out there who make another kind of choice (bite my tongue, bite my tongue, bite my tongue) but all in all, it really just is what it is.  Having said that....

I don't like when people act like it's nothing either.  I once heard a woman, who worked with children who have SIGNIFICANT developmental disabilities, say that she understood how those parents felt because she had twins and that was really the same thing.  It takes her twice as long to bathe and feed twins as a singlet.  It's harder to find a good sitter.  No difference between that and cerebral palsy, or autism.  Uhhhh, yes there is.  Because those twins started walking at 18 months, talking at 2 years and if they don't become financially independent people who get a driver's license, go to prom, have a first job, first kiss, first marriage (ok, hopefully they have just one) it's not because it was developmentally out of reach.  It's because they had really stupid parents.  Which I think they do.  And they will still get to experience things in life that Sam won't.

Basically, I don't need a parade, but don't you dare steal my thunder!!!!

This brings me to today's "thank you."  I was commenting about finagling a particular situation that I think   will be more challenging because of Sam's autism.  When someone voiced an opinion that it was no different than what other parents do, one person stood up for me. The dissenter had a total right to that opinion and was not necessarily offensive or mean, but it was still nice that the other person had my back.  Especially because this person is not one of the million warrior moms (no, that term was NOT made up by Jenny McCarthy) I know who would take out a linebacker for overstepping a boundary about developmental disability.  I am not giving any more detail, because it wouldn't make a difference to the reader, and the "thank you" recipient is the type to prefer anonymity.  Besides, this is such a common scenario, it could have happened any day.

Basically, it's a Carly Simon, "You're so Vain" kind of moment.  I BET you think this post is about you.  Deep down, I kind of hope you do.