Mornings in our home are stressful. Not the normal form of stressful, they are insane. The boys both engage in a play of echolalia that would drive a normal, sane person up a wall. They love to hear themselves talk, make noise and imitate things they have heard. This goes on for as long as they are together. In a home where there is only one autistic child, this may not happen, since there is definitely a synergistic element. In our home, it explodes, into a cacophony of baby voices, chatter, high pitched squeals and irritating sound effects. I have a friend that says "I don't know how you get through it". Honestly, I don't know how I do. It goes on sometimes for hours(on the weekends) and the noise is often deafening. Add to that their fascination with stuffed animals and animating them and it seems like an episode of Barney when they practice whining and high pitched chicken noises.
How is that for a slice of life? I don't post often about the difficulties of living with autism. It has become such a part of our daily regimen that I sometimes forget that it's not normal. Today, I realized it is only not normal but would tried the holiest of saint's patience. I also post this so that other parents, possibly with recently diagnosed children with Asperger's or Autism will know they are not alone. There are many of us. My day is full of a constant stream of prayer, asking for patience, meekness and courage. It is through them that I see my weakness. Through them that I must rely on God for my strength. I could not imagine raising my boys without my faith. I will "slice of life" more on another day.
(UPDATE: I had to go back at edit my grammar for fear Catholic Grammar Girl would catch me. I didn't have coffee this am so I did the best I could)
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