subject: What I Learned While Raising My Thirty-Seven Year Old Autistic Son [print this page] What I Learned While Raising My Thirty-Seven Year Old Autistic Son
There were so many times I felt like giving up and felt beaten down, but my love for my son kept me going. Brandon has taught me so much and these are just a few of the lessons and tools I learned while raising him:
1. Don't listen to others when they say your child can't do something.
2. Always trust your instincts and trust your heart.
3. Be respectful, especially when you think it doesn't matter.
4. Being different can be beautiful.
5. Encouragement builds self-esteem.
6. Always listen to the silence in between the words.
7. Having and giving support helps to soothe the soul.
8. Taking care of yourself first gives you the strength to carry on.
9. Gratitude is a powerful tonic.
10. Hope and believing will take you through any storm.
11. Kindness is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
12. Never giving up is key.
13. ACCEPTANCE is the Answer!
There is no other way I would have learned all these wonderful tools and lessons, if it weren't for the love I have for my son. Not only has he made me a better person, he has given me a purpose. I always knew as a young child that I would become a speaker, but I never knew what the subject would be. Because of Brandon, I am an Autism Motivational Speaker, and I love what I do.
I cannot thank my son enough for silently demanding that I grow and change every step of the way. He made me see life though his eyes and taught me to how to dig deep within, and be creative, and think outside the box. Yes, it took time to see the good and to be able to switch from feeling negative to being positive. But once I surrendered and accepted my son just as he was, our relationship completely changed for the better.
Amalia Starr is a Mother, Autism Motivational Speaker, Independent Living Coach and Author. Starr's youngest son, Brandon, is thirty-seven years old. He has a form of autism called Asperger's, plus intractable epilepsy, and severe learning disorders. The professionals who worked with Brandon said he would never be able to live alone. They were wrong. Brandon has been living on his own for more than twelve years, enjoying his independence. There is HOPE! For more information on how to help your child with special needs reach his or her full potential please visit:http://www.AmaliaStarrSpeakerAutism.com, and accept Starr's offer of a free phone consultation.
Follow Amalia on Twitter at:http://twitter.com/autismmomexpert
