#2

You are Blessed

It may feel more like a curse sometimes, but having a child with special needs brings with it abundant opportunities for grace. It slows you down and allows you to enjoy the little things - a calm quiet day, a hard-won skill, a spontaneous hug, a pleasant converstaion.

Where other parents are driven to find their children's success in high gfrades and high scores on the playing field, you are granted the privilege of focusing on the things that really matter, teaching your children how to love and care and communicate on the most basic level.

You know what's important, and because you're not caught up in trivialities you are able to appreciate that so much more deeply. Miracles happen every day, if you only know wehre to look for them.
Terri Mauro
**********************************************************************************

Again, a very timely valentine. It's such a roller coaster of good and bad days. But mostly I see progress and the sweetest girl. Last night we went to Pasta/Bingo night and S sat with all her friends. They truly see her as S - not S with autism. And YES I have learned to look for the miracles - to really see day to day life. I've also seen J step up to be a GREAT advocate. I was told of a situation at daycare where other children were saying that S couldn't do the computer and J stepped right in and defended his sister. We are ALL growing. :-)