Autism Parenting: Probably the best 'view' in the world

Can you think of the best 'view' in the world?  I bet it's not the same as mine.

I've been fortunate enough to see beautiful sunsets over electric blue seas and sparkling snow covered mountains but I've never had a view as precious as the one I had one evening last week. 

I wasn't on a beach, or a mountain, I wasn't even outside.  I was putting my children to bed. Ahh.. there you go, it's one of those beautiful 'watching my children sleep' stories.  Nop, good guess, but not right.

That would indeed be a wonderful view.  With two of my three children having autism and one of those with extra ADHD and anxiety thrown in for good measure, it is a true delight when they are asleep when they should be. But it was what happened before they settled down that was wonderful.

David is five years old and similar to 25% of individuals with autism he is mostly non-verbal. He makes sounds and noises and is just starting to make syllable shapes that can be recognised by those that know him.  But without a reinforcer such as his Makaton sign language it can often still be difficult to understand what he is saying. He often uses echolalia, the echoing of words he's heard to respond to you or a situation.

It was a while ago he started echoing 'na' when we said 'night night' to him.

"David.... bed.   Lie down"   (David darts across the room, stands on his bed as asked, then quickly dives under the covers)   "Night night, David"

"Na"

I kissed him gently on the forehead as I do every night, "Love you"

He puts his hands on his chest.. "View"

Say it again - out loud this time. Crossing hands over your chest (heart).  He's saying, 've-you'.

No one else was there to see me pause.  No one else was there to see me smile. No one else got to see me experience the best 'view' in the world.  He may just be echoing but I didn't care.  This was a first.  And while I stood for what seemed like a moment bent over the bed, the day had turned into night.  The light faded quickly in the room but the light in my eyes sparkled. Night night son, I love you too.

Links
Our blog - Why I'm so happy my son has echolalia
Our blog - Why my chatterbox goes to sign language classes
Our blog - Speech sounds developing with Toy Story
Our blog - The miracle of light through a curtain: Autism and sleep

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