I suppose I should write something on autism considering this page did start as a page about autism. Here we have a holiday poem-- just for you. Streaking, squealing, Flapping too, Its the holiday season, Heres a story for you. A family tale, A glimpse inside, A day in the life, Heres the autism side. We have our own traditions, As families do, Some of them may look strange, even odd to you. Our kids may strip down, Naked and happy, Keep the wifi going, We may get flappy. Dont be alarmed, Its something we do, No need to stare, Well calm down in a few. Presents are lovely, Thoughtful too, If your gift seems not to matter, Its nothing personal toward you. Give us some time, Some space to explore, Well usually surprise you, With a look, a smile, a thank you or more. We want to be included, In the festivities of the day, Let us negotiate our involvement, In our own personal way. The season is exciting, Theres a lot of changes. It can be hard for us to adjust, Our moods may come in stages. Our kids may not like Santa, Or his presents, They may be uninterested, In the holiday essence. You may see us trying, Picture schedules and supports in hand, None of it may matter, As our kids make their final stand. Theyre done with this business, They have nothing left to give, Theyre holidayed out, This long season has hit them where they live. When it seems to be over, You will know, Youll be left wondering, Where did they go? Autism is a different operating system, It has been said, And, after a lot of holiday bustle, Youll may find us in bed. We need our down time, To get away from it all, Please dont disturb us, No need to call. Weve spent six weeks, Trying to navigate the season, Weve done the best we could, Everything within reason. There were parties, events, Socialization for days, Santa, elves, Expectations were raised. Its hard to process, To deal with it all, The schedule changes and overstimulation, Our nerves are raw. We appreciate your understanding, As we manage this time, Its not easy to navigate, But, well make it just fine. P.S. On the flip side, Some of us will celebrate on, Our decorations will stay up, The season cant be gone.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 23:33:51 +0000