For the sake of privacy, I have changed his name.
This is number 1 of the 6 reasons I know I'm blessed...
This is Mr. Not-So-Neurotypical (or Mr. NSN).
I met him when he was just barely 4 years old, not long after the doctors had given their best medical explanation for why he did things a little differently than other kids his age.
If I'm being honest, that was during a time when it was really difficult to look past his symptoms and see the who-he-was in spite of the what-he-did. I remember how a simple trip to Wal-Mart could easily turn into an unprecedented melt down.
He is almost 21 years old now and still prefers to move about life in patterns that are as safely predictable as possible.
However, over the years that we have spent together I've come to more fully understand that he is so much more than a diagnosis or unprecedented melt downs.
He is a soul who offers genuine hugs and infectious smiles.
He is the co-worker who is predictably punctual and dependable, capable of offering detailed knowledge and help to his teammates and customers alike.
He is the big brother who buys his little sister's snacks or games for the Wii. He is the young man who is just trying to figure life out... just like we all are.
I won't say that our time together has been without a heaping share of challenges, but without even trying I fell head over heels for this young man. Effortlessly, I discovered that for every challenge that came with his diagnosis came double the amount of endearing reasons to love him.
We may not be biologically related, but in my soul he is fully and completely my son, my number 1 of 6 reasons that I know I am blessed.
Comments
Post a Comment