Daddy wants to write you a letter and say thank you.

  • Thank you for asking questions
  • Thank you for adapting and embracing your autism diagnosis
  • Thank you for being proud of who you are
  • Thank you for teaching me to see the world differently

Last weekend we played together in the city, thousands of people around, noise, lights, sand. It was hard for you. We held hands and embraced this adventure together, remember the fun we had?

You controlling the fireworks, you swam at the beach and we walked through the shops enjoying plain cheese pizza for dinner.

It was great the your wore you headphones and brought sensory toys to help when you became overwhelmed, I’m proud of you for trying new things. I think it helped you heaps.

Riverfire

You make my days fun princess. I go to bed each day not complaining about the lack of sleep, a new slime stain on my floor or even that a weeks worth of groceries was used in the backyard for play.

I fall asleep grateful, grateful that my life is full of adventures, laughing, craziness and sneaky cuddles.

They are my favourite btw, cuddles that is. Thank you for random cuddles, I know you don’t like them too much, they are so special to me, and I treasure each one. While we are saying more thank yous, thanks you for constantly trying. We know that going outside is hard, reading people is hard living with 5 others at times is hard, but we tackle this together.

This year has been busy, and you have been bombarded with doctors, therapy sessions, medication and routines. It’s been exhausting, tough and we both wanted to quit, although nearly one year on we are both stronger. Home is a safe place, a place that it’s always okay to experiment, test theories and if needed meltdown. No judgement there, just unconditional love and acceptance .

I was remembering your plan at your new school, you made up a way to explain your autism to your friends. At the point of introduction you apologised. You stated you might say things that may upset them, I’m loud and sometimes and can be rude. I was so proud, that was a very grown up decision to make.

Did you notice that this choice has made school so much easier this year and you have so many friends?

Well done!

Lastly thank you for the laughs, you make me laugh everyday (some days you don’t mean to but you are so funny) you are litteral, see  the world your way and have the most inappropriate houmor.
Keep trying, keep dreaming and keep proving the others wrong.

Love you sweetie,

Dad