My son played today!

January 18, 2002

I would like to share a good thing that happened today since so many

bad ones have occured lately. I was with my son at the pediatrian's

office for a follow up from the ER (last Friday he tested positive

for the Flu, RSV, and a double ear infection) when a boy came up to

my son and stood before him. Inside I started to cringe because I

know how these things play out. Child comes and invites him to play

or asks him a question and my child ignores them, babbles back a Toy

Story line, or walks away.

The boy then asked my son, " What's your name? "

My son looks him in the eyes and says, " . "

As I am picking myself off the floor my son then says, " What's your

name? " Oh my god, this is like those dreams that I have all of the

time about how he can talk-but not really.

The other boy answers, " BJ. "

My son says, " Hi BJ. "

I am looking around at the parents in the room with chills running up

and down my body knowing they must know what a miracle this is. Is

my heart still beating, am I in heaven? I guess they don't see it.

Their kids have been doing this for years with no effort.

The boy says, " Come on lets play in the house. " They go into

the playhouse and start pretend cooking and then taking turns

knocking on the door and saying " Who is it, " and " Come in. " I move

over to where the house is and look through one of the cracks near

the window shutters (so I can watch them). Normally I am watching to

make sure he is not knocking someone down or being made fun of, or

losing it because he is overloaded-not today. I watched him continue

to play in the house as 3 other boys gravitated to them one-by-one.

The doctor came out and asked the boys if they could be a little bit

quieter but to keep playing, she just couldn't hear the patient very

good on the other side of the wall. stopped, turned to Dr.

Liu and said, " Okay. " She stopped and stared at him among the other

boys. She looked at me in shock and said " Hello Ms.Madore. " I knew

she understood the joy I was feeling. I was so proud that my son was

being reprimaned for being " a boy. "

I wish it could always be like that. What a feeling to be almost

normal, not having to excuse him and explain about autism or carry

him away during a horrible tantrum. We flew below the radar today. We

went undetected. I can replay that scene in my head over and over and

hold on to that feeling through some of the harder times, as they

always come too often. Today I am feeling strong. I felt a flash of

success. I can say " Go ahead Autism, make my day! "

Theresa Madore

San , TX

Mom to 3 yr old

& 5 yr old

January 19, 2002

In a message dated 1/18/02 11:48:43 PM Central Standard Time,

autismzone@... writes:

> I wish it could always be like that. What a feeling to be almost

> normal, not having to excuse him and explain about autism or carry

> him away during a horrible tantrum. We flew below the radar today. We

> went undetected. I can replay that scene in my head over and over and

> hold

What a blessing! I know exactly how you feel. People think your weird when

you get all excited when you kid responds or speaks spontaneously. We were

at the childrens museum and my pdd nos son says to me while eating lunch,

" mom what do you got? " I nearly fell to the floor. The mother I was with

(while she knows 's history) really didn't appreciate it like I did. I

LOVE those Moments however few and far between. It's like a preview of how

they might eventually turn out and it gives us parents the HOPE we need to

keep on going! Thanks for sharing!

Pearland, Tx

January 19, 2002

Wow! The other parents must have thought you were a complete nutcase,

but we " get it " ! Congratulations on a wonderful day. Trina