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Key To The Door
sing 'Hickory Dickory Dock'?" I
run to the piano and begin play-
ing. Or I read Goodnight Moon
n these early days after my
for the zillionth time. Or I try to
son's autism diagnosis, I must
make him understand a new
learn all I can — and fast. I'm
word. Who knows which moment
racing against time; I must reach
it will be when I finally
that part of my son that I
reach him? I can't let any
can't find now.
of this learning time go to
I'm trying behavior
waste.
modification, music,
Or will I ever reach
speech therapy, playing
him? His future stretches
with the neighbor's dog,
out before me, and I'm
swimming, reading —
frightened. Will he ever
anything that will get my
have a girlfriend? A mean-
baby to interact with the
ingful relationship with a
rest of the outside world.
colleague?
Or worse yet,
Elizabeth Thomas
I think, maybe this treat-
will he ever be able to
AppleTree
ment or that therapy will
hold down a job?
Staff Writer
crack open the part of
I've battled so hard to
him that is lost to me. I
get Mikey into a special-needs
become agitated as I wonder:
program that the educational staff
Where is the key to unlock his hid-
invariably answer the phone with
den self?
"Oh, it's you again, Mrs.
Thomas." I can't let this deter me,
though; I do what I must for my
son.
On the other hand, I can't push 1-1
so much that I anger anyone
whose help I might need in the
future. It's a fine line I walk, and
one that has me reaching for
aspirin too often after frustrating
conversations.
But I must force myself not to
But I'm becoming too frantic in
dwell on the dark side of my situa-
my desire to help develop the part
tion. We have bright, happy
of my son's brain that isn't normal-
moments with Mikey when he
ly processing language or experi-
seems to be improving.
ences. I'm having trouble relaxing
"Mommy," he said once, stutter-
even for a moment. The war I'm
ing a bit. "Mikey's 4. Mommy's
waging for my son is too intense.
6." It took him ages to spit these
Each battle is important. That
words out, but I was thrilled —
means if there's a quiet moment in
even if I am 39.
our house, I say to my son: "Do
I've learned that sometimes it's
you want to play piano and
as necessary to wait as it is to
take action. And, most important, I
must not forget that he has as
Elizabeth Thomas lives in
much to teach me as I have to
Hampshire, England, with her hus-
teach him. ❑
band and two children.
Elizabeth Thomas
AppleTree Staff Writer
I
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Who knows which
moment it will be
when I finally reach
him? I can't let any of
this time go to waste.