Full Circle
I’m proud to say that we have come full circle! In 1 week we will be turning the page and welcoming April. Because this month is dedicated to autism awareness it has conflicted me for many years now. How should I feel? Should I embrace the world or should I shut it out? For many years I felt like shutting it out but this April is much different. This month marks the one year anniversary of launching my blog!! I set out to do something and I exceeded my expectations and that, my friend, makes me happy! Unlike many previous Aprils, I feel more accomplished, less lonely and like a valued, appreciated contributor. All the things I needed to feel as I was slipping into a state of worry and despair throughout the winter. I learned my words have been helpful to others as I met some younger moms that felt lost. Moms not living in the special needs world have thanked me for teaching them things that they in turn have shared with their kids! I love when I hear kids have been affected by my posts, some moved to tears, and they are inspired to be more kind, inclusive and sensitive to others. Best thing I could hear as I forge on. After many years I have been able to find purpose in my pain and have finally found a #tribe that have wrapped their arms around me and have given me the love and boost I desperately needed. The camaraderie has felt #aumazing!
Reflecting on autism and its far reaching impact the past year resulted in many ups and downs and honestly I think that will always be the case. Just when I feel somewhat content something happens so I have learned not to get too comfortable and to enjoy the easy moments. I think mastering autism is impossible. I don’t think it can be done because we all live in a state of constant flux. But oddly enough, autism is not my focus today. I want to acknowledge the concept of personal growth and how in this family there was an abundance of it. Woohoo!! Personal growth in my children makes me feel like we are hitting our marks and eventually we will get to the finish line. It makes me feel happy and that all the baby steps are adding up. In my world all I need are steps forward to give me peace of mind that we will get to where we need to be. We are on our own #lunderful time and I’m good with that. I’m not going to elaborate on all the events that bring me to this conclusion but some things I have to recognize. The video Brian’s wonderful therapists sent to me on my birthday wishing me happy birthday was priceless and left me with a continuous smile for a month! I am not sure they will ever completely understand the magnitude of the joy they gave to me. Such beautiful feedback I received when sharing it on social media reminds me of Brian’s vast cheering section which is sometimes easy to forget in the day to day. While living on his own at college, Donny overcame many significant challenges and turned what could have been a very negative experience into a positive one. It was very rewarding to see him putting into practice all the coping strategies he has learned over the years. I saw a lot of love being shown to siblings as they supported each other and as they supported me with my new endeavors. All Good.
With all that has happened the past year and fourteen blog posts behind me, the Lund bus continues to roll! I’m so grateful to be given the opportunity to be a part of a written collaboration that has been life changing, in a positive way for once, allowing me to continue my commitment to autism awareness on a bigger platform and doing my best to promote acceptance and compassion. I can call myself a published author, a lifelong dream! It’s amazing what you can do when people are cheering you on. I’m thankful this April for my friends and family who have kept me going thus far and for the new #ausome moms that have just entered my life even though it feels like I’ve known them forever.
I am actually looking forward to this Spring!! As opposed to past Springs, I’m not grieving the baseball games that never existed and yearning for the bleachers I never sat on. Instead, I’m prepared to embrace the new transitions coming at us with as much grace as I can gather and I will support the #ausome moms any way possible and thankfully I know they will support me! Together we will anxiously await our book….. It’s Going to be Aulright….. and hope our stories resonate and help others who need it. I will continue to accept that my normal is anything but and will keep trying to make everything a little bit better. The one thing I won’t continue to do is to allow myself to feel alone. The past few months have shown me I am anything but that. I know there is a very special community of ladies out there trying to positively contribute to the world and finally I have found my adult niche. I’m an #Ausome mom and if you’re raising a child with autism you are too! So, this Ausome mom is sending lots of love and unconditional friendship to you and all special needs moms! I hope you feel the love today and every day after, and that love provides you the encouragement you need to keep at it. You too will find your purpose and peace, just give it time.
Let’s rock autism awareness month! Step out of your comfort zone and make a difference. I promise you, the tiniest gesture can go very far!
#keepbeingausome
I am actually looking forward to this Spring!! As opposed to past Springs, I’m not grieving the baseball games that never existed and yearning for the bleachers I never sat on. Instead, I’m prepared to embrace the new transitions coming at us with as much grace as I can gather and I will support the #ausome moms any way possible and thankfully I know they will support me! Together we will anxiously await our book….. It’s Going to be Aulright….. and hope our stories resonate and help others who need it. I will continue to accept that my normal is anything but and will keep trying to make everything a little bit better. The one thing I won’t continue to do is to allow myself to feel alone. The past few months have shown me I am anything but that. I know there is a very special community of ladies out there trying to positively contribute to the world and finally I have found my adult niche. I’m an #Ausome mom and if you’re raising a child with autism you are too! So, this Ausome mom is sending lots of love and unconditional friendship to you and all special needs moms! I hope you feel the love today and every day after, and that love provides you the encouragement you need to keep at it. You too will find your purpose and peace, just give it time.
Let’s rock autism awareness month! Step out of your comfort zone and make a difference. I promise you, the tiniest gesture can go very far!
#keepbeingausome
#itsgoingtobeaulright
#doubleausome
#ausomemoms
#doubleausome
#ausomemoms
#itsaulgood
