April already?!

April showers, bring May flowers.

How are we already in the fourth month of this year?

A third of the way into 2014!

April is Autism Awareness Month,

now I know as I have been told in the past

every month as multiple things

that the goal is raising awareness

of.

I like to share

ones that are a big part of our

every day life.

And yes, with Autism

my goal is to ping it also

in preparation for the

local 5K fundraiser event.

For this month it also brings

our Bitty's Birthday.

This time has gone so fast

and

he has grown so much.

He also teaches us things on a

daily basis.

Some of the big ones are indeed

helping us maintain patience,

understanding

and

not passing judgment.

Not only for ourselves but towards others.

This is a big thing in our society

for sure.

It sure seems (trying to not be judging)

that everyone is in a hurry,

expects they are owed everything or anything,

mad if they don't get it

and

quick to add their two cents to anyone.

Just think of the days when

you are in your car.

Going the speed limit or maybe a tad over

but this doesn't stop people

from being behind you

way too close

or

throwing their hands up (while tail gating also)

when someone doesn't punch the gas

the moment the light turns green.

(And you will see someone blowing through the most recent light that turned red.)

I used to always be in a hurry

and

some days are later than I want to be

and

it does bug me.

We have appointments to get to,

if you are late you get charged,

if you are late you don't get

as much time.

This is big when you look at it in the eyes

of therapy appointments.

If I am late Logan gets less time

with the wonderful people

who help bring him out of

Loganland.

I don't want to do that to him.

Some days we are just late,

I try to take deep breaths,

I give them a heads up,

I let them know I understand

he will have less time

and

apologize for being late.

Some days it's because

getting myself and others ready is hard.

No matter how early I try,

we still run late.

It could be due to shoes not being what they want,

clothes,

potty battles,

or just

an all around

fit-tastic morning

where one of the kiddos

or

heck some days

me,

having trouble regulating ourselves.

Everyone has an off day on patience

or

focusing to complete a task/goal.

That said for others it is even harder

and

it is fierce.

On those days or moments when things are rough,

a lot of times it is Bitty and his Autism.

He can be really put up a fight.

That said, we are glad he is so small.

We work on helping him grow

and

keep weight on.

He is so small, heck the other day

someone asked if he was 2!!

But, I say if he was the size of our other 2

and

he goes into full meltdown mode

it would be even more difficult to work with.

He has a time limit of being in a crowd/busy playground/outside in bright sun..the list goes on.

He did really well at the 5k the other weekend.

He is almost 5 and we brought the jog stroller.

That is another topic of judgment, we see.

People thinking you are encouraging your Children to be lazy.

When I see or hear people say that I step up

and say, “Things aren't always what they seem.”

That doesn't usually pan out well

but with the goal of

making people aware it should be said.

Not rudely, just matter of factly.

We all at times find ourselves thinking things

the biggest is telling yourself that

it may not be what it seems.

Be kind.

We bring a stroller because Logan

gets over stimulated.

The noise, the crowd,

the idea of mass chaos.

To him he doesn't see the organization,

he needs clear cut lines and boundaries.

Then add anxiety of being near people.

Will they touch me?

Will they be too loud?

Will they smell funny?

The lights are too bright?

And he goes into meltdown mode but that stroller

offers him comfort, seclusion,

it is like blinders for a horse.

The stroller helps him tune out that he is a crowd.

He will shut down

into a blank stare,

he doesn't feel safe in a crowd

but that stroller offers him security to

stay a bit longer (so our other 2 can keep enjoying it)

but we soon

leave just out of respect and kindness of his struggle.

Our Bitty will snuggle,

when he wants to

and his

snuggle is different from most kids.

He will handle crowds

but heck, like at Church

or

even last night watching a movie with us.

He has to sit being only near

one person.

He prefers to be on an end.

End of a pew where he doesn't feel trapped,

or like last

night he sat next to me on the end of the couch.

*Actually, particular enough he prefers to sits only on a far right end *

As in the below image:

Bitty is the star.

He will move around but always comes back to the star location.

It was the first time we all ever have sat down

and

watched a movie together.

Usually our Boys can't sit still and most movies

are watched while on feet,

rocking,

or

literally running around from room to room.

When they do sit,

some are on the floor,

some on the love seat,

some on the couch,

they don't sit and are just in the room

standing.

Last night all 5 of us were on our couch.

Bitty next to an arm rest and me.

We were amazed and snapped photo

but to get all of us in it

I had to move Bitty to my lap.

He did not scream

but in the photo he was not happy

being that close.

And that is just fine.

We got a photo

and

it captured the moment in it's entirety.

We will cherish it forever.

Just a little rambling insight of

what is is like for us

on a few tiny aspects of the

Spectrum.

And how about a "typical" chat with him

that is not started by him.