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Not many people understand kids with autism. My son is one of them. Here is a BIG Thank You for all those who have made our journey beautiful.
2nd April was World Autism Awareness Day, and April is Autism Awareness month. I have written this to thank those heroes who have helped us and who have made this journey beautiful. To those who do not know my sonny boy, many of who have not even met him. To those who do not understand Autism but do understand a child.
You saw my son having a meltdown in the children’s section while surrounded by colorful books, and you saw him lying on the floor and me coaxing him to get up, surrounded with my purse, his bag, and a load of books around us. You witnessed the indifference around us, and you decided to approach us, and bend down to our level and offered me water and held him when I had a sip.
You helped me gather him up and waited for him to calm down and accompanied us out of the store. You didn’t say a single word to me but smiled. And then I knew people are not that bad.
There are many things we don’t agree upon. Your views about life are totally different from mine. But still, you invite my son to your home to play with your daughter. You invite him to birthday parties and ‘bor nahan’. And now I know, how the difference of opinions of adults need not interfere when it comes to our children.
When sonny boy looked at you while we were waiting for his father to collect luggage, and you actually looked back at him. He smiled and you smiled. You laughed and you melted. He hugged you and you loved him. I knew then that love is beyond language, time and space.
When you are doing what you are doing because you love children, and you want them to have a beautiful and equal chance at life. I know now that not everything is about money.
Your songs and music have been saying and calming and has helped us avert major meltdowns. I know that music is not limited to age or to disorders.
When you return his smiles. I know that people acknowledge goodness and innocence.
When you talk to him even if he doesn’t respond, and when you try to feed him even when he refuses, when you let him take off your bindi and put it on my forehead, and when you bring over your kids to play with him, do you know how beautiful you are? I know, now, that compassion is very easy to practice.
You reached out after years of silence after hearing about him. When you stepped into my house again after years, to meet him and hug us, I know the apprehension you must have felt. You turned to be the friend I thought I didn’t have. I know that broken bridges can be mended.
Your texts and calls go unanswered many times, but you take the trouble to dial my number. I want you to know that I feel blessed that you still think of us. You taught me that friendship doesn’t depend on daily conversations.
You haven’t met my sonny boy but the unreserved blessings you have showered upon him, the love you have shown us has reinstated my faith in the world… thank you for picking me up when I fell down. You showed me that blessings from the heart never go unanswered.
You don’t know why my son refuses to play or respond to you, but you still persist, and you still give him a smile and approach him. You show me that children are God’s way of telling the world that he still believes in mankind.
Thank you for showing me the way, for guiding me, mentoring me, teaching me and sharing your inspiring stories with me… I wouldn’t have been able to do anything had it not been for you guys. You guys are those heroes who don’t need capes!
For understanding my reasons and letting me go, for telling me that the doors are always open whenever I want to return. You showed me that my work was appreciated, and that same level of commitment is all I need for my son.
Autism has brought us closer. And I can’t thank you enough for pushing me to keep doing what I am doing…
Monday, 2nd April was World Autism Awareness Day. I know that for a neurotypical family, Autism is incomprehensible. Yet you chose to see the child and not his labels. You chose to see the fight in him, spark in him. You celebrated his tiniest achievements with us. You made us happy. I can’t thank you enough. So I dedicate this day to you!
Image source: shutterstock
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UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
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